Only Two Of Us

by Cassandra Russell

  he was looking for someone. I ended up squatting and hiding my head under the window for reflection.

  Was he looking for me?

  I got up sneaking up enough that only my eyes were exposed and I noticed,

  disenchanted, that a car had just parked right in front of him and from inside came Ava,

  with whom the doctor exchanged a few words and left at once.

  How foolish of me! Of course it was not me he was after! Where did I get such nonsense? Never

  I meant absolutely nothing to him. Why did I believe that someday it would be different?

  God! How I wanted to turn that page, to change the course of my life. But how? Was

  attached to that job, chained to a sign ... I wanted to be able to get out of there and get somehow

  a clue to my father's whereabouts. Despite all the evidence, there was still a

  hope deep in the breast. Only I knew how much I needed his shoulder and his hug now.

  He would understand.

  That night, again, I struggled to sleep. And I only did it when the day was almost dawn.

  Chapter 10

  A week later. Six in the morning.

  It would be a dream to hear my cell phone playing at that hour, just on my day off and then when

  Have I managed to trick the damned insomnia?

  Even before I took the courage to open my eyes, my hand felt the

  until you find the rabid device and touch it close to the ear. Why did I invent it?

  a polyphonic ring so annoying and loud? I complained to myself.

  Oh, I remembered! Just to make me wake up ...

  "Stephanie, is that you?" Said a voice on the other end of the line.

  "Hmmm, hmmm," I confirmed, still in a lethargic state.

  "Sorry for waking you up so early. It's me, Dora.

  - Oh ... Hi, Dora. Some problem?

  "Yes, or I would never bother you in your day off." I need your help.

  - Speak.

  "There was an avalanche of sick nurses today. Two of them were diagnosed with

  Rotavirus, one is feeling sick and the other has lost a relative. Chaos has settled in our industry.

  - Already understood. I'll be there in half an hour, "I promised.

  - Thanks. I knew I could count on you.

  "Ah, just one detail. Who is the...?

  I was going to ask who the doctor was, but Dora hung up the phone first. She did not

  put it back next to him, put it on? Damn it! I would not call back just to show weakness in the

  in front of her.

  I got up practically dragging myself and I went right into the shower, brushing my teeth inside the boxing

  same. I put on a pair of jeans and the first T-shirt I saw in the front, analyzing through the window if there was

  risk of feeling cold. By the clear sky, I truly believed not. I thought about having a quick coffee for

  to remove weariness, but the soluble powder had therefore ended up something drinkable only in the hospital.

  I reached my narrow walk, past the bulletin board to observe the scale of the

  on the day. To my relief, it was Dr. Roberto's day.

  Except that the night shift was his.

  My brain was already starting to figure out a way out without having the possibility of bumping into each other.

  through the corridors later.

  - Hello! Is my favorite nurse come to visit this poor lonely doctor? Paid off

  Dr. Roberto. "I thought I'd work alone today." What happened to the rest of the world? They took

  disappearance tea

  "As I heard Dora say, it's a virus that makes the nurses evaporate," I teased.

  - I just hope that sleepy face is not the first symptom, or I'll have to continue

  working alone, "he sneered. - What did you do last night? Did you date too much and forget to sleep?

  I rolled my eyes in irony.

  - Quite the opposite. I fought with my boyfriend all night. One day I'll introduce you. O

  His name is Pillow and his nickname, Desmilinguido.

  Dr. Roberto gave a low laugh and shook his head, refusing to believe my version.

  "I'll wait for you at the clinic, comedian."

  "I'll be there in five minutes." It's just the time to change clothes and have a coffee in the machine

  to "scare away the virus".

  Even jammed with patients to attend, I enjoyed working on my day off. Staying at the pension was worse

  and Dr. Roberto made me feel better. He treated me like a dear uncle and I never needed

  raise my guard to defend me from any attack. I only started to be apprehensive when the

  of the expedition approached. I knew that Dr. Richard was never late, and just in case he found it

  my pulse quickened.

  - Some problem? Asked Dr. Roberto, noting my sudden change of mood.

  "It's just ... a headache," I said.

  You slept badly. You should get up early to rest, we've taken care of the last patient.

  "I still have half an hour to change duty," I intimated.

  "Go on, Guria," she encouraged. "Today was not even your day. You can let me blame myself, still

  I'm going to stay longer to organize some papers in my portfolio.

  I did not believe that I had achieved this providential dispensation so easily, with my hands kissed and without

  less ask or make up an excuse. It seemed even heard in my prayers!

  I changed quickly, and instead of taking the elevator, I went down the stairs. I heard that

  joy lasted as soon as I arrived at the entrance of the hospital: it was pouring rain and the temperature

  had declined rapidly.

  Beauty. He wore a simple T-shirt and had not brought the umbrella ...

  I looked at the clock to see if I could still wait for some time, hoping the rain would cease,

  but I gave up. It was not advisable to run the risk of meeting him. I just doubled the bars of my pants.

  and set out for the sacrifice.

  And what a sacrifice! Brrrrrr! It's cold! He could barely see anything within two inches of his own

  nose, such is the intensity of the storm.

  Well, I did not see it, but it looked like some funny, yes. It was enough that the tapir here was walking

  about ten meters ahead so that a car could deviate from its normal course and went on purpose

  in a huge pool just to give me a full bath. The driver, the author of the feat, laughed

  situation and shouted:

  - Uh! Parade on the catwalk, cat in the tub!

  - Delicious! - supplemented his partner in the hitchhiker.

  The men who crossed my path practically stopped to watch me. I looked down at the

  my clothes and I screwed up.

  Oh yeah! Now the service is complete! I grunted. She was going to make the boys happy,

  cold and parading through the streets in the São Paulo version of "miss wet tee"!

  I cursed loudly and wiped my face with my forearm, longing to keep

  calm and not call attention even more, after all, I should have burst my share of bad luck that day.

  Or is it not?

  For the sake of no, I would only feel secure when I was locked in my room. I looked at both of them.

  (or worse): cross the front of the hospital and get to the

  pension by the shortest way - in the eminence of finding it - or to go around the block of that

  way, running the risk of getting a cold.

  I did not titubeei. I thought it was the least harmful cold for my health.

  I think I paid a heavy price for being so fearful. I discovered a few steps after I chose the

  wrong side. Two boys passed me, one on each side, and the one on the right tried to pull my bag

  without success, since I had the very carioquíssimo custom to be seized to her like a tick. If the

  thing was already ugly to
my side with the little salary that had, imagine if it lost or was

  stolen

  Except that the second guy could not escape. He held my left wrist to twist it

  and he plucked the steel watch that was there, and fled at once. Pain caused by twisting

  was intense, it even caused a small cut in the place, but it bleed a lot. For one or two minutes only the

  What I did was squirm in my purse.

  Immediately after some people crowded around me, Lia and two other nurses

  Climbing to the night shift recognized me.

  - Stephanie? Lia asked, puzzled.

  I did not take enough breath to respond.

  - My God, what happened? She crouched, holding up her umbrella.

  - I was robbed. They took my watch. My voice faded. - I hurt my wrist.

  Without even realizing it, she was already back in the hospital entrance, pushed by them.

  "Where do you think you're taking me?" I released it instantly.

  "To the hospital, is not it obvious?" Said Lia.

  "I'm not going to the hospital, I want to go home."

  - She's hurt. You need an X-ray and a bandage.

  He took my other arm and pulled me further in.

  "There's nothing fractured here," I mumbled, countering it.

  Stop making drama. Let us now go to the orthopedic sector - practically ordered, and your

  friends came leaning me to the elevator.

  "Lia, I can not go to the hospital like this!" Can not you see? I'm dripping, it looks like

  I came out of a waterfall bath!

  The allusion was perfect, including the temperature. I shivered from head to toe.

  "Would you rather be in pain?"

  "I prefer," I said.

  "Do you want something to cover before then?"

  She could not refuse.

  - Then fine. "She pushed another button on the elevator, opening it on the floor I

  feared Come on. He pushed me into the hallway.

  - No! Not here! I whispered in despair, pressing the panel button to see if the door

  elevator reopened.

  - Let's just get your coat! She raised her voice, willing to persuade me at all costs.

  - Why the panic? Not in your ward? Asked the other nurse.

  A voice interrupted their dialogue. The voice I was so afraid to hear.

  "Have not you noticed that they are in a hospital, where we stand by silence?" - Dr.

  Richard criticized.

  I shrank from behind the girls. Luckily it was the lowest of all.

  "Dr. Richard, is it your shift today?" Said one of them, melting.

  "I have not seen him for some time. Have you got another assistant? Asked the other, wanting to call the

  attention.

  "Doctor, it was not our intention to speak so loudly, but it's that ..." Lia tried to explain herself.

  "Nurses, there are patients resting on this floor. If you would like to continue the conversation,

  go to their rooms or come home. - He was emphatic.

  Taking advantage of the fact that they distracted him, I went out finely, literally squatting, in the

  reach the ladder.

  "We were just trying to succor a colleague. We did not come to the hospital to gossip, "he complained.

  friend of Lia.

  - Help? The tone of his voice changed.

  "Stephanie, show the doctor your ... Stephanie?" Wow, where did she go? "I heard Leah's speech to

  far, making me hurry up. - Doctor ...?

  Five seconds. That was the time it took until his steps practically stuck in mine.

  - Stephanie! He whispered to me.

  I decided to pretend I did not listen, though my heart showed signs of little resistance, ready for me.

  to betray.

  - Stephanie! He cried.

  "You're talking loud, Doctor. You're going to wake the patients, "I warned, not having the courage to turn around.

  He lost his composure and wanted to hold me by the wrist, just on that wrist,

  forcing me to turn the body forward. I covered my mouth with my other hand to contain the howling that formed.

  in his throat as his incredulous gaze swept through me, leaving him gaping. Already

  I no longer knew whether I was shaking with pain or cold or with the fear that he might see me like that.

  - O ... O ... What happened? His stuttering reflected a mixture of worry and embarrassment.

  "Release my wrist, please," I practically begged, moaning.

  He responded to my request robotically, and then his eyes panicked as he noticed the

  blood dripping from his hand.

  - I ... I did ... that? He asked hoarsely.

  Did the guy think a simple arm restraint would cut my wrist or make him swell? Should have

  drunk before coming to the hospital ...

  "No, Doctor," I reassured him. "That was the work of an assailant who took my watch."

  As if he was restraining himself to no longer look in my direction or to the blood, he closed the

  eyes and turned his face, immediately entering the employees' bathroom with arms outstretched,

  probably to wash their hands.

  This is good! I thought with irony. A haematologist with disgust of blood! You should have warned him that

  I do not have any communicable disease.

  - For God! What happened, girl? I thought you were already gone. - The questioning came from

  Dr. Roberto, who just got to the hall.

  After hearing my story, he made sure to wash and pass an antiseptic on the wound,

  covering it with a small bandage.

  - I will prescribe medication to relieve pain and edema by twisting, also a certificate for

  that he can rest tomorrow, "explained Dr. Roberto.

  The idea did not please me. She hated staying in the boarding house alone.

  "I do not want to miss work, Doctor," I said.

  "It's an anti-inflammatory that can cause drowsiness," he insisted.

  "We have few nurses. I can work using my right hand.

  "I can not forbid you, but I would not advise you."

  "Roberto is right," interrupted Dr. Richard, entering the room. "And besides resting,

  radiograph, apply ice, and immobilize the site. Naturally not with plaster because of the wound

  exposed.

  He knew that his concern as a professional overcame any indifference. Dr. Richard liked

  to heal and save people, regardless of who they were. This injustice could not accuse him,

  omission was not part of his vocabulary. The problem was that my brain could not

  to separate things. Since he did not have any more affectionate feelings for me, I did not want him either.

  like my doctor.

  "I did not break my wrist," I ratified, shivering again.

  "The correction of sprains is also done through immobilization," he countered seriously. -

  Can I examine?

  "I do not think we have disposable gloves of your size in this room," I denied in irony, though

  afraid that he would fulfill what he proposed and approached.

  - Gloves? He did not seem to understand the indirect yet, he was referring to his fear of contamination

  by my blood.

  And as soon as a flicker of rebellious insight kindled in his eyes, I was soon

  firing

  "Well, thank you for everything, but I must leave and go to bed early because tomorrow I will be here again.

  And I left the room.

  ***

  As I well announced, the next morning I was at my shift.

  I had to agree with Dr. Roberto. I actually got sleepy as he had warned me, maybe

  even more by the uncomfortable pain in the wrist - that throbbed all night and again did not let me sleep –

  than by the medicine itself.

  Around noon, drowsiness gradually increased,
so much so that I decided to change the

  meal for an apple and sit on a table, leaning my head on the other arm to take a nap and

  leaving the injured wrist free, stretched out on the surface. The room was discreet and designed

  nurses, and the table was behind a storage cabinet.

  Despite the pain, it did not take long for me to embark on a deep sleep, from which we

  to dream of a refreshing sensation of relief ...

  I awoke when Dora walked into the living room with the key of the closet in her hands.

  "Sorry for the noise, I did not know you were sleeping here," she lamented.

  - Not alright. I shook my head to keep from falling asleep. - It was about time ...

  I was forced to interrupt what she said when I fixed my eyes on my bruised wrist and noticed a

  kind of immobilizing it.

  - Who made this? I jumped up from the chair.

  "Who did what?" She wondered.

  "Who put this hold on me?"

  - I have no idea.

  "Has Dr. Luciano come back from the cafeteria?" "I supposed it might be some more of your jokes."

  "You're in a whisper with Iris down the hall, why?"

  "Someone not on this call has been around?" "I did not want to touch Dr. Richard's name."

  not to raise the hare.

  - Of course not! Why so much suspicion?

  I sighed relieved by the statement and had to acknowledge: if, as usual, Dr.'s intention

  Luciano was going to play me some piece, in the end, it gave me an immediate well-being. O

  pulse stopped hurting and getting a neurotic in nothing would favor me, only to draw attention

  of colleagues. The best thing to do was to take everything in sports.

  "Not at all." "Do you want help distributing some material?"

  Chapter 11

  Eleven

  After months without returning to Rio, I got a ride to visit my mother with one of the

  nurses from work, who would go to a marriage of a relative. That was very important to me. At the

  background, he was very lacking in family and dying of longing, too.

  Juninho had grown fast, thinned, and read almost everything. How did you know he

  he got himself a literary book, which he apparently loved.

  Mama looked a lot better, too. He began to work and also to do

  Custom made jewelery. He even managed two fixed stores to resell them.

  "They look beautiful," I praised her pieces, encouraging her. I spent a few minutes quiet, tidying up