It's been a few months since I came back from the Philippines. I was back to my job, my career, and the urban surroundings that I called home. I was also back to my work in the office, to the numbers and the amount of money that I was handling yet was never mine.
As a consequence to my two weeks leave, I was assigned to the field, to a branch of the company in Boston, which was on the other side of the country. I was to fix some stuff there, like I was the best person to do it. I was to stay there for a month, and within that period of time, I met someone I never expected to meet.
"I think it's eczema, Amber," Kris told me when I showed her a stubborn rash that had developed on my shoulder and wouldn't go away. Kris was my partner on the job. She was also my friend. She actually volunteered to assist me on my month-long assignment in Boston.
"Eczema?" I protested. "Why would I get eczema? I take a bath every day, you know."
"Maybe you got it from the Philippines?" she assumed.
"That's impossible, Kris. It's been more than three months since I got back. If I got if from the Philippines, it should have flared up a couple of months ago."
"Well, I think you need to see a doctor. There's a good hospital on the next block. You should give them a call and set an appointment."
I took Kris's suggestion seriously and called up the hospital. I made an appointment with a certain Dr. Smith, a dermatologist, and I was scheduled to see her the next day, at four in the afternoon.
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The next day, after work, I dropped by the hospital for my appointment. I thought it would just be an ordinary checkup, something I got to do every now and then. But when I came inside the clinic, I was stunned by the familiar face of the doctor.
My God! I thought. Is it her? Is it really her? She's beautiful!
"Good afternoon," the doctor greeted me. "Miss Amber Cornwell, right?"
I nodded my head as a response. But I was really completely taken aback.
The doctor's brow twitched a little. She seemed to have noticed the way I was staring at her. "Is there anything wrong, Miss Cornwell?" she asked me.
I shook my head. "N-Nothing. I'm sorry..."
She smiled. "Very well... Why don't you sit down, Miss Cornwell? I'm here to substitute for Dr. Frida Smith. She's not available today. But I'm also a dermatologist. My name is Dr. Jules Santiago."
At that moment, I wanted to pick up a phone and call Mike right away.
Oh my God, Mike! I wanted to tell him. You're not going to believe this!
