The crown of life

Chapter Five: Overview

For the first time, I was furious with Molly for signing me up for some dating app against my will. She knows well that no one will love me when they see this horrible scar on my face; instead, they'll mock me even more, either to my face or in writing. Jesus, what picture did she use? I thought as I walked towards the examination room where a patient was already waiting impatiently.

"I apologize for running out like that." I said as I entered, trying to apologize.

"It's alright. There's no need to apologize, doctor. Are you the doctor?" James stood up and extended his right hand to me.

"Yes, I am Dr. Sutton, a dermatologist." I said politely and shook his hand.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Pamela, and I'm 15 years old." Pamela finally spoke up.

I quickly sat down next to her on the bed, turning away from her brother, and placed my hand on hers.

"Let's hear what happened." I asked cautiously.

"My older brother and I wanted to live together because I no longer want our parents to keep us apart." she said cautiously, as if she were at the police station and not at the doctor's.

"Alright, and?" I asked again.

"When we got to his cottage where he moved this year, I got hungry and wanted to make myself spaghetti Bolognese. When I put the water on, it boiled in a second, and as I tried to add the spaghetti, half of the boiling water splashed onto my face." she told me without any hint of self-pity.

"Where were you during this time, Mr. Haas?" I was compelled to ask him.

"I was unpacking her suitcases." he answered politely.

"Why do you have different last names if you are siblings?" I asked both of them.

"Because our stupid parents got divorced and took one child each. I went with mom, and he went with dad. And mom changed my last name to her maiden name." she said with bitterness.

"One more thing. Your ID and driver's license, if you have one, Mr. Haas?" I asked her brother.

He reached into his pants pocket, pulled out his wallet, and then took out his ID card.

"Doctor, here is my ID. I don't have a driver's license because I haven't taken the driving test yet. I came by taxi to get my sister." he said, handing me his ID.

I took his ID and looked at his birth year. He was 18 years old, at least something was right.

"Thank you. But you'll need to call your parents because the burn is serious, and your sister will need facial reconstruction, which requires both parents' signatures." I said, handing back his ID.

"Will my sister look like a crab for a while?" he said somewhat arrogantly.

I sensed his arrogance the moment I first entered the room.

"I don't want my parents. I don't want them." Pamela kept repeating, almost in tears.

Not knowing whom to address first, I went to the table to get gloves and place cold compresses on her face. As I put on the gloves, I watched them talk.

"You'll look as red as a crab, sis." he said mockingly.

"James, this hurts terribly. You heard the doctor; I'll need facial reconstruction. How will my face look then? I can't even imagine. This wasn't a good idea. We are both stupid." she said, holding back tears.

"I did all this for you, and this is how you repay me." he shouted.

"Hey, no shouting in the hospital." I said softly.