Goddess Kiss

Chapter 1.2

The streets of Athens were alive with the sounds of the city.

The city was a noisy mess of honking horns, chattering voices, and trolley bells.
I navigated the winding roads, my mind already focused on the patients waiting for my care.

“Just another day in the life of Dr. Louise Korres,” I thought as I pulled into the hospital parking lot.
“Saving lives, one cheese-filled bread at a time.”

Grabbing my doctor’s bag,
A worn leather satchel containing my stethoscope, scalpel, and ever-present pocket-sized notebook.

I stepped inside the hospital.

The scent of antiseptic and the faint hum of medical equipment greeted me like an old friend.

As I hurried down the hallway, my coffee cup slipped from my grasp, sending a cascade of dark liquid onto my stethoscope.

“Oh, dear,” I muttered, face turning red.
“This is going to be a long day.”

Navigating the bustling hallways, my doctor’s bag slung over my shoulder, my mind raced through the day’s schedule.

 “Kalimera, Dr. Korres,” a cheerful voice called out.
It was Maria, the receptionist, a warm smile illuminating her face. She was a calming presence amidst the chaos.

“Kalimera, Maria,” I replied, returning her smile.
“Busy day?”

"As always," she said, her eyes twinkling. 
"But that's what we do here, isn't it?  We make the impossible possible."

I nodded, feeling familiar warmth spread through me. The hospital was more than just a place of healing; it was a community, a family.
We shared a common purpose, a dedication to helping those in need.

“Dr. Korres!” A voice boomed from behind me. It was Dr. Dimitri, head of surgery, a gruff but kind man with a booming laugh and a heart of gold.
A legend in the medical field, he was a brilliant surgeon with a sharp wit and even sharper scalpel.

"Dr. Dimitri," I said, extending my hand. 
"How are you?"

"Busy, as always," he said, shaking my hand. 
"We're Doctors, isn't it?  We keep the wheels of medicine turning."

He patted me on the back, his eyes twinkling with mischief. 
"I hear you've been having a rough morning, Dr. Korres.  What's got you so preoccupied?"

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to confide in him.
 
"It's a long story," I said, my voice a low murmur. 

"But let's just say that my world has been turned upside down."  Dr. Dimitri raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. 

"Well, come on then," he said, his voice a low rumble. 

"Tell me all about it.  We've got time for a good story before the real work begins."  I hesitated for a moment, then decided to confide in him. 

"It's like that old Filipino proverb," I said,

" Walang utang na di pinagbabayaran.  It means that No debt remains unpaid.  I feel like i'm in debt to the universe now, and I don't know how to repay it."

As I walked down the hallway, I couldn’t help but smile.

I moved from patient to patient, a symphony of beeps and buzzes, the rhythmic hum of medical equipment, and the constant chatter of nurses and doctors.

It was a familiar routine, a well-oiled machine of medical care.
But amidst the chaos, there were quiet moments of connection, a reminder of why I chose this path.

I stood by the bedside of Mrs. Vasiliki, a woman in her 70s, her eyes sparkling with mischief despite her frail frame.
She had been my patient for the past week, recovering from a complex heart valve replacement surgery.

“Kalimera, Mrs. Vasiliki,” I said, voice gentle.
“How are you feeling today?”

“Much better, Dr. Korres,” she replied, voice a soft rasp.

I smiled back, heart warming.

I am a doctor, a healer, a man of science.
But sometimes, the best medicine was a little kindness, a little compassion, a little time spent listening to the stories of those who needed it most.