Strings & Stitches

Chapter 8

The weather around this time was usually rainy and cold, but the day outside looked bright and sunny from Gahyun's patient room. It had been a while since she last had a chance to take a walk in the hospital garden, so that is why she asked Yoohyeon that morning to take her out for a while. Even if she mostly had to be in a wheelchair, she knew she definitely needed some fresh air.

Gahyun herself wasn't too big a fan of being in a wheelchair, but she understood that they couldn't take any risks with her disease. Especially since her condition had worsened a bit lately. Nothing to worry about, but small things that made life a bit more uncomfortable.

Yoohyeon was happy to agree, and they were soon already in the garden. It was early in the morning; Gahyun had gotten used to waking up early, staying in the hospital for weeks usually does that. The doctors always come for a check-up quite early.

Out of all the nurses, the young girl had the best bond with Yoohyeon. Mostly because they weren't far apart in age. Some of the other nurses were already grandmas and talking to them was usually a bit awkward. "Any news from Doctor Siyeon yet?" the patient asked, looking around at the different flowers.

Yoohyeon slowed down her walking, not pushing the wheelchair that strongly now so that the younger girl could look at the flowers freely. "Nothing much, but I think you're getting a new test tomorrow. Siyeon says it's important to know everything before setting the operation date"

"Another test?" There have been multiple tests in the last weeks and that just tired her out. "Isn't it clear what you need to do?"

Yoohyeon struggled to answer, "It's not that... It's just that the surgery is a high risk if you don't know every detail. But all of the results have been perfect for it, you don't have to be worried." She replied and continued on walking. Both of them knew that, of course, there was a lot to worry about, especially about the operation and its risks, but Gahyun didn't pry on that for long, deciding to do what she wanted to do in the first place coming here: clear her mind.

She had wanted to go outside the hospital walls and maybe even visit the city park again. The hospital garden was nothing compared to it. Much smaller and way more artificial. In some way, it didn't even feel like being outside.

That's why she didn't want to continue on complaining. She couldn't wait for this surgery to happen so she could freely carry on with her life. Take the exams, apply for law university, start studying. Thinking about staying in those same white walls was painful. "Is this something you want to do?" the question broke the silence after a few minutes, looking up at the intern.

"Hm?" Yoohyeon took her gaze to the girl, "What do you mean?" Asked the intern, hoping she wasn't dozing off and missed something Gahyun had said.

"This? The nursing job you have to do as extra work."

"Oh! Yeah, why not? The biggest part that made it okay is probably the fact that I got you to be nursing for and not someone else who's..." Yoohyeon didn't want to finish the sentence, but she realized she didn't have to, because Gahyun chuckled, knowing what she exactly meant. Some of the patients could be really exhausting, especially for a trainee. "And being an intern means that you just have to do absolutely anything that the hospital could ask of you. Even the documents"

"I bet you get to do the most boring jobs that the actual employees don't want to do." Companies always took advantage of interns like that. It was a little unfair but at the same time, there was nothing that you could do. "What about that project?"

"Oh, you remember that," Yoohyeon smiled, finding it really endearing how Gahyun would always memorize all the details. "It appears that the surgery will be hepatectomy, which means you have to remove a part of the liver. Minji already told us our roles, too..." She mumbled then, the stress and pressure of being a main operator coming back to her senses.