Forever Unfinished

Chapter 23

Now

Soon enough, Max faced public disciplinary action after being accused of sexual offenses. Julia's situation was finally getting dealt with, mostly with help of Uncle Alvaro who pressed the Medical Board to take some action. It was hard to report someone when you were subjected to such a horrible experience as sexual abuse. It is humiliating and tremendously exhausting, standing up and demanding justice. Because Uncle Alvaro had influence, the process took much less time than it normally does. I was glad for her, but it still had me thinking there could be a lot more done in situations like this in other parts of the country.

I decided to join various campaigns in which issues like this were being dealt with. I joined prevention campaigns against gender violence, which helped women with the process after they lived through these situations and made awareness to prevent future events from happening. I also joined mental health campaigns in which we did promotion of mental health and focused on the eradication of the stigma associated with people with mental disorders. I was just a beginning but it felt like a good start in which I could add my little grain of sand in any way I could.

Julia applied again for the residency program. She wasn't going to continue as a second year resident when the year ends like the rest of us but at least she felt comfortable enough to pursue her dream, even if that meant she had to wait another year to start it all again. Uncle Alvaro told me that one day that I bumped into him at the hospital. It was nice that he updated me and I was glad to know she was going to reapply. I saw her the day she came to the hospital to leave some papers. I was in a hurry so I didn't recognize her at first. After I doubled back and saw her, I watched, arguably for too long, surprised to see her at the hospital.

She recognized me and smiled. I think I've never had an actual conversation with her before, other than small talk and medical talk. She walked over to say hello.

"Hi Roberta, how are you?"

"Julia, it's good to see you. I've been fine, in a hurry most of the time, but things are great."

"I'm glad. I wanted to thank you," she said but I couldn't remember if there was a reason that explained why she was thanking me.

She realized this and added, "I read every statement the hospital staff made when they were investigating the case. You were one of the few who actually said things had to be done. I'm grateful for that."

I remembered that, when the whole thing started, I wasn't sure I felt it was my place to say something about it. When everyone gathered at the resident's break room I even fled the scene in order to avoid being questioned. Later that day I was called to Dr. Cisneros' office. The only thing I told him back then was the truth.

My phone buzzed inside my scrubs, informing me that I probably had to leave soon. I checked it real quick confirming if I had to leave but I didn't.

"Do you have time to grab a coffee?" she asked.

"Sure."

We walked to the coffee stand from outside and bought two coffees before sitting on the back patio.

She told me about her life after dropping out of the program. She was open to talking about her therapy sessions, and told me about a trip she took with her mom that helped her cope in more ways that she could explain, not revealing much details. She asked me about the wedding and I told her about how exhausting it is to plan it but that I was excited. After an hour passed I felt confident enough to ask her my next question because I genuinely wanted to know how she was.

"How are you holding up after this?"

She took a quick sip from her coffee cup and took a long pause as she thought about how to phrase her next answer.