PROMISE

TWO: Meet Dr G

AMANDA

THINGS WERE NOT looking up. Everything was a hot mess. I was late. Late. On my first day at work. I stood unmoving gazing up at the tall hospital building looming over me towards the sky. It stood in its magnificent splendor while l procrastinated going inside.

Seconds and more seconds passed as l took several deep breaths trying to calm my nerves. A welcome sense if nostalgia overwhelmed when l stepped inside. It was strange how a new environment could somehow feel an awful lot like home.

That monumental sense of belonging had diminished over the years to near numbness. I smiled heading further into the hospital. There wasn't any time to reminisce past memories.

After settling my thoughts, l walked over to the receptionist furiously typing away on her computer with a phone over one shoulder. She seemed to be on an important call so l simply leaned over the counter and waited for her to finish her call.

She raised her head like she was seeing me for the first time and returned my smiled.

"Okay Mr Ndlovu. I understand. I'll be sure to take your requests and concerns to the Head of the hospital....yes. I'll be sure to pass her the message. Thank you for calling Pretoria Hospital." She hung up and gave me her undevided attention.

"Hi my name is Amanda Dube..." I started to say.

"Oh you must be the new assistant surgeon. I have been waiting for you." My pulse picked up.

"You have?" I asked.

"Yes. Mrs Smith informed me of your arrival. She instructed me to direct you to her office as soon as you arrived." The cheery smile never left her face even as a few nurses dropped different tons of files over to her. It seemed like she was swamped with too much work for only one person.

"Okay thank you. Let me not take up any more of your time. You seem rather busy."

"You have no idea. We've been inundated with complaints from investors and past patients. It's too much work for one person."

"I'm Lilly by the way."

"Amand...oh you already know that." The phone rang.

"Its okay. You're just nervous. Don't be. You'll fit right in." That made me feel significantly better.

"Thank you." The phone continued to ring and she snorted grabbing it.

"Sorry I have to take this." I smiled.

"Its okay. Can you direct me to her office please?"

She nodded then called over a nurse passing by.

"Thando please show Miss Dube to Mrs Smith's office. She's expecting her." I thanked her and swiftly followed after nurse Thando, my mind thousands of metres away. It was an effort to hide my excitement as we rode the elevator to the third floor. The hospital layout was ao stunning it increased my eagerness to start working there.

We got out of the elevator and then suddenly stopped at a closed door at the end of the hallway.

"Just knock twice then go in." Thando's voice seeped through my subconsciousness.