You're My Reason

ii.

CHAPTER TWO

//

BROKEN

"Alex!" I called down the hall.

"Hey, what's up? I got a surgery in like 20 minutes," he said, before stuffing a chip in his mouth.

"Yeah, you sure look awful busy," I shook my head, "Look, I need you on that JPA tumor case. Dad kicked me off."

"Wow, what did you do?" he raised his brows at me.

"That doesn't matter, just please take the case for me?" I frowned.

"Can't. I already got plenty of cases," he said, stuffing another handful of chips in his mouth.

"You seriously don't want that case? This a once in a lifetime surgery. There have only been two other surgeries."

"I got plenty of other one in a lifetime surgeries," he said, grabbing another handful of chips, "Gotta go."

"Great," I mumbled, "Thanks again, Alex! Appreciate it!"

God, now what was I going to do? Their only other option was to transfer them to another hospital. This sucked. What were the odds of this?

"Oh, Dr.Dixon!"

I turned around and saw Aly.

"I-I just wanted to apologize for my husband. I-I'm not sure what happened in there-"

"Aly," I placed my hand on her arm, "Don't apologize. Your husband's obviously just wanting what's best for Sammy, and I totally understand. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to transfer Sammy to another hospital. We don't have any available doctors for her right now. We can discuss some hospitals if you'd like."

She shook her head,"Sammy's been to seven different hospitals in Washington. All of them have turned her away. They say her case is too advanced and they don't like the odds. You're our last hope, Dr.Dixon. I-I don't know what we'll do after this."

"I'd really love to help Sammy, but if your husband won't allow me, there's not much we can do," I frowned.

"I-I'm going to talk to him," she nodded, "I'm not sure what he's so upset about. Do you have any idea? I shouldn't be worried should I?"

"No, no," I lied, shaking my head, "I don't know. Don't worry, like I said earlier. He just wants what's best for your daughter."

"Aly!"

"Oh, there he is," she turned to look at him, just down the hall from us.

"Aly?" I knit my brows together.

"Yeah?" she turned back to look at me.

"Do you think maybe I could try talking to him?"

¤¤¤

"Have you found another doctor yet?" Mr.Preston asked, crossing his arms.

"Uh, no, not exactly," I looked down to my feet, "Look, Mr.Preston. I know what you think of me, okay? You think I'm some drugged up addict who shouldn't be anywhere near your daughter or even any patient."

"I've already told you we want a new doctor."

"I started using when I was 22. I had just graduated college and I was accepted into medical school. I had great things ahead of me, but I wasn't happy. I'd smoked weed since I was 14, without any problems, but one day I decided I wanted more. I tried LSD and I loved it. It was-" I shook my head, a smile creeped up on my face,"Life changing. I started to trip pretty frequently and I started to mix in with the druggie crowd and eventually was coaxed into coke and heroin. I loved the high I got from heroin. It quickly became my drug of choice. For six months I used it nonstop, until I almost overdosed. It was bad, I almost failed out of medical school too. I decided I was done and I went to my first NA meeting. It changed my life. I got clean and I made it through medical school. I recently celebrated ten years clean. But lately, I've been feeling like I want to use again, that's why you saw me at that NA meeting. I was trying to stop myself. I don't know your story, but I know you're an addict too. I know you know what it feels like to be judged or profiled for being an addict."