The Dental Student

D o c e

B r y a n 

My chief told me that a group of psychology students would be coming in to get MRIs for their class, so that means a bunch of appointments the next few days.

One of the first appointments was today, starting with my ex-girlfriend, Willow Samuels, who is 3 years younger than me and is, apparently, trying to get her DDS. Our relationship kinda ended badly, so let's see how this goes.

I walk into the MRI room and see a tall figure standing there anxiously, starting to pick at her hangnails, one of her many bad habits.

"Oh, Willow. Hey." I said, catching her attention and getting sent a glare.

Yep, this will definitely be fun.

I get her set up in the MRI and I can't help but notice that she watches my eyes, she always thought eyes were intriguing, especially mine.

I decided to suggest music, because if it's one of your first times in an MRI, it can be noisy and uncomfortable, but when I suggest it to Willow she gets all defensive, but eventually she caves in.

Willow starts asking for the music, "Can you put on- I remember." I said, stopping her. Her favorite band isn't easily forgettable, she always talked about Vampire Weekend, and practically fangirled over them.

I begin the 30-minute process of an MRI and wait for her scans to come up.

It took about 15, before the first ones came up. 

My other fellow radiologist and I began to analyze the scans, because that was part of our job and we should probably check them anyways. 

I noticed something on Willow's scans but decided to take a closer look, in case I was wrong. 

I went to go zoom in, but the other radiologist was already doing it.

We both had the thought that this spot on her scans was not good, at all.

I made sure to mute the speaker for the MRI so that the other radiologist and I could discuss this in private, in case it was something. 

He looks at me, we both knew what the other was thinking, we see it way too often: brain tumor.

The rest of Willow's scans came up, confirming what we originally thought.

As resident radiologists, we would have to take this up with our chief and the chief of this hospital, so we didn't say anything to Willow, because what we say might not be medically accurate, as we are not doctors but radiologists.

I really hope this tumor is treatable and that it doesn't put a damper on Willow's future.

Willow and I may not be together anymore, but I still care about her well-being and future, especially if it's going into the medical field, we always need more dentists and doctors.

I just have to send Willow on her way and head to my chief to tell them about her scans, as soon as possible.

I tried super hard not to be awkward when talking to Willow, but I can only do so much.

And she obviously saw that something was wrong with my personality, she knows me too well.

But I can't worry about awkwardness, I wait for her to leave, and immediately go find my chief, who happened to be in his office, thank god.

"Excuse me, chief, I need to talk to you and Chief Williamson, when you both have a minute, it's about a patient's scans." I asked him as I entered his office.

"Very well, I'll contact the Chief for a consult right now, and fetch the scans before the Chief comes. Let's meet in the scan conference room." The radiologist Chief, Dr. Green, responded back before I quickly head out of his office and to get the printed scans.

I arrived to the conference room before either of the Chiefs and began to cover the whole room in Willow's different scans.

The Chief of Radiology and the Head Chief walk into the room together to see me waiting anxiously in the middle of the room.

"Dr. Miller, present please." The Head Chief says in an intimidating tone.

"Uh, 20 year old female, simply came in for an MRI for the psychology classes, but when I was viewing her scans, I noticed this." I explained and began to point to the spot in the middle of her brain scans, the tumor was no bigger than a ping pong ball, but it could still be very serious.

"And did you notify the patient?" My Chief asked.

"No, sir. I made sure to get your consult and confirmation first before I even mentioned anything." I answer, both chiefs just nodded.

"Thank you, Dr. Miller, you are excused." My Chief said in which I left and hoped that they would give Willow the help she needed.