Love?

~ Chapter 1 ~

Ever since I was young I always wanted to be a doctor. I didn't like people who slacked and didn't appreciate the education system. I never enjoyed school, but I acknowledged and valued it. That's how I achieved my goals. If I ever have children I will make sure they are just like me when it comes to achieving their goals in life. That's my next goal. To have the courage and strength to build a family. However, now I should focus on my job.

The hospital I work in is the best hospital in Maine. We don't get a lot of violently hurt patients seeing as Maine is a peaceful state, but unfortunately most patients are diagnosed with cancer. We treat a lot of different cancer patients, our most common patients are diagnosed with lukemia. To be more precise, Acute Lymphoblastic Lukemia, or ALL for short. Thankfully the doctors here are very talented and we have the equipment to cure it. Hence why we have so many patients. Currently I'm treating a patient called Lianna Jenkinson. She is only 10 years old and her family travelled all the way from England to get treated by Harrison Oswald Hospital. She's been here for almost 2 months and she's been doing well. The only thing about Lianna is that she has developed stage 4 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. CML can be cured with the right treatment, but when discovered at stage 4 the chances are pretty slim. Lianna's family came to our hospital as soon as they found out about her condition. I am trying my best to help her, and to be honest she's doing very well. Cancer is different in all people who have it. Some treatments that work on a certain patients might not work on others.

This is why I have faith in Lianna because although she is young she is a strong girl and I'm almost positive that she will get through it. Her family is supportive and her big brother helps with the payment towards her treatment. I'm a professional and I don't normally connect with patients in order to maintain competent, but I feel a weird connection with Lianna. Which is why I am determined to try my best to cure her.

"Dr. Kim?" Dr. Dave Winchester walked up to me holding a clipboard.
"Yes Dr. Winchester" I said with a fake smile. "What's the problem?"
"I'm sure you've heard that I'll be getting a promotion soon and I'll be your new boss. I don't mean to brag about it, but I just thought I should notify you" he said with his head held high and a massive grin on his face, as if he was some sort of king.
"I hadn't heard, but congratulations(!)" I said with a smile, I was ready to leave when he stopped me again.
"Oh! Dr. Kim?"
I scrunched my face then relaxed, and turned around.
"Yes Dr. Winchester?" I could tell my face wasn't as happy as I was trying to make it.
"You are coming to the ceremony tonight where I will be getting my award correct?" he said with obvious pride.
"I..." I didn't know how to tell him I wasn't going to be there without hurting his feelings. I hate the guy but his awards and promotions are his pride and joy, I could never bring myself to hurt him.
"Dr. Kim you are coming, aren't you?" He looked like he was about to cry. I quickly came up with something on the spot.
"I...My grandmother is seriously ill and I have promised her that I would come visit. I'm so sorry that I have to miss your big night, if only it was tomorrow I might have been able to make it." I made the most sympathetic face I could and waited for his 'okay' so I could get out of there.
"Hmm...Correct me if I'm wrong Dr. Kim but didn't your grandmother die last year?" I had forgotten about that, but i didn't let my face show it.
"Yes, she did. But I'm talking about my other grandmother. I'm going to see my mother's mother" I said with a slight unnoticeable grin.
"Oh okay. I hope she recovers." He said.
That was my cue to leave. I nodded and was finally set free from him. Dr. Dave Winchester is one of the finest doctors at Harrison Oswald Hospital, but he's so stuck up, posh and damn right annoying! He's one of those few people in this world who actually use words like 'flabbergasted' and 'nonchalant'. Despite that I still respect him the same as everyone. I believe that no matter how annoying or mean a person is they still deserve to be respected. I've always believed this. When I was young it wasn't co-workers, it was teachers and students. No matter how much a person hurt or annoyed me, I always showed them respect. It's something I can't help doing. For me respect is just as important as eating and drinking. I have my parents to thank for that. They brought me up so I was respectful to everyone and my manners were always on point.

My parents mean a lot to me. Without them I would not be the person I am today. They gave me everything I wanted, they only ever said 'no' whenever my requests were too greedy. My father always taught me to use money wisely and not be greedy. My mother taught me to be respectful and caring to everyone. Together I believe they are the greatest parents ever, but I guess most children think the same about their parents. Being my parents only child is lonely at times, but they tried their best to ensure I was never lonely.

I had never been good at making friends. My only childhood friend was Min Seo. We weren't very popular at school, but we had each other. She was the closest thing I had to a sister. We were inseparable. We were separated when my parents decided to leave South Korea and come to America. My dad had been transferred and we had no choice but to move. When I was due to start school I was embarrassed about my name seeing as it was Korean, I asked my parents if I could change my name just for school purposes, and as always they said okay, as long my new name sounded like my old one. With that in mind I changed my name from Cho Hee to Joy. I was satisfied with my new name but it didn't make my social life any better. I was, once again, alone. I had learned to be alone. From 3rd grade onwards I was known as the loner at my school. I didn't let their accusations bring me down though. I might have been alone but I was happy. Very happy actually. I had no one to backstab me, whoever had something to say to me they said it to my face, and I appreciated that. As I grew older I became more and more independent. Once I graduated from university, I found a job with no struggle whatsoever. Everything was perfect. So I decided to move out and get my own place, and I did. My apartment is simple but classy. It's exactly how I like it. The whole building is empty except for the first floor. It is occupied by an elderly couple. They don't bother me and I don't bother them. We're civilised. Apart from that, the building is empty. I prefer it that way.

I continued with my duties and check ups on the patients. When my shift was over I made my way to collect my belongings from the staff room. As I walk in the door I see Annabelle sitting at a table drinking coffee.
"Hey Joy!" She said with a smile.
"Hi Annabelle. How are you?"
"I'm great! Have you just finished your shift?" I knew she was going to ask me that, I also knew she was going to ask me to go shopping with her. She's tried multiple times to get me to go with her.
"Yes" I replied hesitantly.
"Awesome! Do you wanna go shopping?" She said, as if it was the first time she had ever asked me.
"I'm actually really tired. I wanted to go home and rest. Maybe another time Annabelle. But thanks for the offer."
She looked at me. Made the sad face she always does, and said "Okay I guess you should rest".
I smiled and nodded at her then picked up my stuff and left.
Annabelle Beier is a transfer from France. She got moved here from Royal Francis Hospital in Paris. She's only been here for a year but she's settled in amazingly well, it's like she was here for years. She talks to me quite a lot. She's something like a friend to me. I don't have friends at the hospital, I have co-workers, but Annabelle is a bit more than a co-worker. She puts up with my weirdness and awkward socialising skills. I guess she's the closest thing I have to friend here. I don't talk to her out of the hospital. I feel like I would be intruding in her personal life, and I don't want to do that. So I mind my own business.