The Patient

5. EVERLASTING

Mindy fell asleep trying to concoct a plan of action. Thus, her dreams appeared to be a consequence of her decided activities. She dreamt that she was talking to the attending physician of Mr. Morgarojo.
She dreamt that she was talking to the head nurse. She dreamt that she was talking to the sister and brother of the old man... And then she was talking to the old man himself...! And what he said struck the core of her being, making her cry out in pain! And then she was running away from him, calling out to the one and only person who could ease her pain!
"Uy, Didi!!! Huy!!! Wake up! You're having a nightmare ! Wake up! It's already nine o clock in the evening!! Didi!!!" her sister was shaking her to wake her up. " aren't you on duty tonight? You might get late!!"
Mindy sat up and blinked. What was that the old man was saying? What brother and sister? Why did he seem really concerned about me?
Mindy took and drank the glass of cold water offered by her sister. " Thanks so much ! " she said. " what a dream! "
"You seemed so deeply asleep, you can't be aroused earlier, so I ate my dinner ahead. But then you started talking in your sleep, and as if you were running away from something or someone, then you were crying and calling mama's name so I decided to shake you awake!" her sister explained. "What was that you dreamt of?"
"I don't remember now... Did I call mama? I wonder why...?" Mindy brushed her cheeks with her palm and felt it still wet with tears.
" Your dinner is there on the table, better eat now while it's still warm. I have ironed your uniform for you earlier, too. "
"Thanks, Ate Weenie, how can I manage without you!?" Mindy pressed her sister's hand to show her appreciation for her elder sister's concern and thoughtfulness.
"Of course I should take care of you! After all, you're all I've got now in the world!" retorted Weenie.
It's been five years now since their parents passed away, and it was Weenie's support which got Mindy through college. Now that she has a stable job in a hospital, Mindy has been trying to convince Weenie to finish her own college education.
Weenie was on her final year of Medical Technology course when their parents died in an accident. She stopped and started working as a sales lady in a mall to support herself and her sister from then on.
While eating her dinner, Mindy had a glimpse of the news in the TV with Weenie, Afterwards, she prepared herself to go on duty once more.
Mindy hurriedly took her bath and got through her grooming activities. Within an hour, she was ready to commute to the hospital.
Two days of twelve hours duty, an off day, then two twelve hours duty days again, then two days off duty. This was her routine schedule every week.
Weenie had twelve hours duty in the mall, too, but six days a week. Sometimes, even that one day off is forfeited, in favor of some mall wide sale. And her employer has not given Weenie a regular full time permanent job position, even after five years of on and off job contracts. No social security benefits, no overtime pay, no hazard pay, none of the allowances that the government require for employers to bestow on their regular employees were given to job order employees, such as Weenie.
Mindy knows it's time for her elder sibling to finish her own education and move on to a more stable job.
Also, Mindy had been trying to to fan up the long standing relationship between Weenie and her boyfriend, now that she has her own lovelife.
Weenie and Nico had been childhood sweethearts, and the distance that separated them now did not diminish the flame of love that they felt for each other. Or did it? Nico's family moved to the USA two years ago, and he is now employed in a large hospital in LA as a lab technician. Mindy knew her sister used to talk with him daily over the phone, early in the morning, before Weenie prepared to go to work. But she has not noticed her sister doing this lately... maybe because of her own duty schedule? Weenie goes to work while she is still in the hospital and comes home while she is still asleep after night duty these days... and on her off days, she is usually with Keith...
Mindy hoped she and her sister would have a love life like their parents' ... just like her and her mother's favorite flowers-
EVERLASTING!
(*£*)