The Book of Literary H'Enjoyment.

W is for White Walls.

"Quick! Thandi! Bring the blood! The patient is going into shock!" Dr Choi, the surgeon screamed at me as I scrambled to the blood bank to retrieve the O+ blood contained in a transparent sachet.

Sweat dripped down my forehead past my eyebrows and into my eyes. I hissed gently at the sting the salty liquid attacked my eye with.

"Here it is sir!" I said pointing the blood at him. Like a numb skull.

"This is why I dislike the junior nurses being in their theater with me! Attach the blood to the drip! And insert the syringe into the patient girl!" Dr Choi yelled quickly stitching up the patient as I obeyed sucking my teeth at the idiocy I just displayed.

Minutes later, the patient's heartbeat stabilized and we all let out a sigh of relief. I'd made up my mind. I was never coming into the theater again. Doctors indisposed or unavailable, they would have to find a replacement for me. I was going to stick to tending to the sick in their wards, not this bloody warfare called surgeries.

"You did well today sir." I said washing my hands alongside Dr Choi.

"Mm. Thank you. I've been thinking Ms. Thandi, perhaps the theater isn't the best place for your skills, what do you think?" He said as he dried his pale wrinkly hands.

"I was thinking the same thing Dr Choi, I wanted to request if I could be moved back to my former placement. I would be more comfortable there." I replied.

"Very well then. I would send an email to Dr Park." He said walking as I followed.

"Dr Park? Park Hyungseok? The psychologist?" I asked excitedly. I'd always wanted to work in the psychology department. And Dr Park was incredibly handsome, I mean TV personality handsome, 30 and single.

"Yeah, what's that look in your eyes? Is that a twinkle of love I see? Oh what do you young people call it these days? Crash? Oh yes! Crush hmm." Dr Choi said wiggling his eyebrows as I burst into laughter.

This was why everyone, young and old loved Dr Choi. He was a feminine looking aged man, okay not too aged, just 57 . But he loved to act as though he was born since the First World War. Yes, he loved to act that ancient.

"Anyway yes, Park Hyungseok. He told me he needed some help, so I thought of you. So would you be willing to work with him? Wait why am I asking, you have been smiling like a goat since I mentioned his name. Go on. Go and meet him, tell him I sent you. I'll send the email later, all this formality is killing me faster than this damn back ache." He said winking at me before I began to make my way to the door with 박 형석 written on it .

I knocked. Once, twice, thrice.

"Yes?" I heard from inside.

"May I come in?" I asked opening the door. Just a little crack.

"Oh, Miss Matube, of course come in. Dr Choi said you'd come around today. Sit down." He said getting up and pulling out a seat for me.

Oh wow. I'd heard stories of his chivalry, but I didn't know they were true. How did Dr Choi inform him that fast? Sneaky old man .

"So how are you, Miss Matube?" He asked smiling and I noticed how his eyes disappeared into little crescents when he did, and his teeth shone under the bright lights.

"I'm very fine, thank you. How about you?" I tried to make small talk just to keep hearing his melodious voice.

"It's going fine. A bit stressful since it's just me handling stuff." He said and I nodded.

"So how was your experience in the theater? I've heard a lot of scary tales from people who've worked there." He asked sitting up and propping his palms under his chin staring right at me. I felt hot.