A collection of short stories and scenes

A way out

Shifa checked her watch. What once was a wondrous act, now an obsessive kick. She had traded one of her most expensive possessions: a gold chain and locket for it. Watches were a rarity in mountain towns like Ursa. Shifa owned the only watch in hers. It told her that it was now half past four. The sunset was a few hours away but living on the east side of the mountain meant Ursa would be in the shade sooner. She was tasked with the rounds today. The new medkit drop would be arriving soon and she needed to document the counts of medications in stock and what had been prescribed this month.

She brushed off the sawdust from her clothes and stood. She took one last look at the valley in the evening sun before heading back into her town. These breaks were precious to her. She returned home to grab her medication inventory log and pencil and headed out.

"When will you get your aunt the antibiotik?" her uncle called from his carpentry shed.

"I've told you many times - I can't prescribe medication. She needs to see the doctor." Shifa responded curtly.

Her uncle waved dismissively. "We don't need the doctor to know that. She'll just steal money from us."

Shifa shook her head and walked away.

She walked through the few streets in Ursa, knocking on doors and asking for medicine counts reaching the doctors house just before sunset. She checked her watch again, half past six. A little faster than the last time she did the rounds. She smiled to herself and knocked.

An older woman swung the door open. She wore a loose print robe tied at her waist, her greying hair pulled up in a bun that was slowly coming apart. Her pallid face was one that had seen many births and deaths in Ursa.

"Here for the counts." Shifa said.

"Yes, yes, come in. You're letting the cold air in." she hurried Shifa in and gestured to the cabinet where the medicines were stocked. Shifa smelled liquor on the doctor's breath as she stepped past. Rarely a good sign.

Shifa kneeled in front of the cabinet, pulled out the medicines and started counting. At least the doctor kept her stock organized, it made Shifa's job easier. Most of the townspeople had their medication tucked into the randomest of places and an average visit involved them searching every nook and cranny for it.

"Painkillers running low?" Shifa called out shuffling through the box that held them.

The doctor grunted an assent from the kitchen. "More patients reported stress injuries this month."

Shifa sucked on her teeth. "You're overprescribing. We'll run out even with the regular med kit drops."

"Our people are getting old, there's not a lot of diseases these medicines can cure. Everyone works every hour of the light. The best I can do is ease their pain." the doctor said, her voice getting louder in annoyance.

Shifa knew not to anger the woman when she'd had a few drinks but she couldn't stop herself this time. "There are too many patients keeping a stockpile. You know there could easily become a black market in these conditions. They warned us of this when we first agreed to the medkit drops." she said sternly.

Shifa heard the thump of her steps first before she saw the doctor's arm dive and haul her up by the collar. Her back pressed uncomfortably against the wall the doctor held her to. Shifa glared into the doctor's eyes, now clearly bitter with drink.

"Don't tell me how to do my job, child." the doctor spat in Shifa's face, letting go of her collar suddenly. Shifa hit the floor knees first and winced. She turned back to the cabinet, readjusted her shirt and continued counting. They didn't exchange a word for the rest of her visit.