I Believe in You

Family

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism. I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug. I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery. I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God. I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
Conrad and I officially graduated River Valley University on June twenty seventh of that year. Taking the hippocratic oath and obtaining our MD.
"I can't believe he didn't come." He muttered as we walked hand in hand through the crowd to where my family stood waiting.
"Who?" I asked.
"My father. We haven't seen eye to eye in some time but this is a big step for me." He sighed.
"Come celebrate with us. We'll have a good time." I assured him.
"What if they don't like me?" He asked looking down into my face.
"They're going to love you. Don't worry." I smiled at him.
"Okay." He sighed still clearly nervous.
"Dr. Meghan Bishop. Honey, we are so proud of you." My dad smiled at me walking the rest of the distance towards us to hug me.
"Thank you, daddy." I smiled at him.
"Dad, this is my boyfriend, Dr. Conrad Hawkins."
"Mr. Bishop." Conrad said reaching out to shake his hand.
Dad's hazel eyes appraised Conrad before shaking his hand.
"You're a soldier." He stated.
"Yes. I'm a Marine." Conrad confirmed.
"You can tell. Just in how you hold yourself. You're clearly nervous but you push it back. Thank you for your service."
"Thank you, sir."
"James, please." My father winked at me.
I smiled at him. I knew my father. He'd analyzed Conrad's movements and his proximity to me. For the time being he was pleased with what he saw and that was enough for him.
"Come meet the rest of the family, Conrad." My dad smiled at him and touched his shoulder as we walked over to my mom and siblings.
My brother and sister looked very disinterested in the whole affair but my mother's green eyes lit up upon seeing Conrad and I.
"Oh my gosh. You must be Conrad Hawkins. Our daughter speaks so highly of you." She rushed forward to hug him.
He looked at me and I nodded so he gently hugged her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bishop."
"Oh please. Sarah is perfectly fine." She smiled at me and hugged me while speaking to him.
"Hi, mommy." I sighed hugging her.
"Okay. I see him. Can we go home now?" My brother Logan complained.
"No, Logan. It's your sister's graduation and we're spending it together." Dad said gently but firmly.
Logan huffed angrily.
"Teenagers." My mom shrugged at Conrad.
"Conrad here is a Marine." My dad said wrapping his arm around my mom.
"I bet that's incredibly dangerous." She said looking at him before we started walking to their car.
"It can be, yes ma'am. I'm a medic so when I've been overseas it's been on the front lines." He answered.
"He's so polite." She gushed at me.
I smiled at her.
I could tell Conrad wanted to touch me in some way. Be it with his arm around me or his hand in mine so I reached over and took his hand silently.
My dad drove us back to the dorm so Conrad and I could change and they could help us finish packing the last of our things for our move to  Atlanta.
Conrad and I both were chosen for the internest residency at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta starting in mid September and decided to stay with my family just until we could find an apartment.
Elena and Logan took my car back to my parents house in Atlanta while my parents, Conrad and I loaded our entire lives into Conrad's pick up truck.
"Conrad, just follow Sarah and I." My dad said.
Conrad nodded and we climbed into the cab of the truck.
"How are you feeling?" I asked him as he pulled onto the road behind my parents car.
"I'm good, babe." He smiled at me taking my hand.
The drive from Savannah to Atlanta took roughly four hours but I noticed we took a different freeway exit than I normally did when I came home.
I ignored the feeling deep in my stomach that something was up until we turned down a long driveway I was thoroughly unfamiliar with.