Only Two Of Us Read online

  "I'm not in a bad mood, just a little tired." I worked hard this week.

  "Does all this bad mood have to do with such a picky doctor?"

  Okay, get started.

  "I told you I'm not in a bad mood," I repeated, intending to dodge.

  - You did not answer my question.

  "Has anyone ever said you're boring?"

  - Wow! The case is more serious than I thought ... You fell in love with it! That's awesome!

  - You been on drugs today? Did I just get out of there and clean up bad companies? I moaned again.

  - He is married? He insisted.

  "I do not know, and I do not want to know."

  "I bet he's got someone, and that's why you stayed like that.

  I took a deep breath before I completely lost my temper.

  "Anne, I think you're talking to the wrong person. Hello! Get connected! It's me, Stephanie,

  Your weird friend, remember?

  - Give up. I know you more than the van thinks. And how he knew ...

  This motherfucker seemed to guess my thoughts. How could she penetrate the

  my mind with such ease? And I was not even close to her!

  In spite of that, he would not give his arm to cheer, never.

  "Have you seen Mom?" I asked in a vain attempt to change the course of the conversation.

  "She's fine, but do not change the subject." If the guy is not married, he's still in the match.

  - Anne, do not fill! Go and see if I'm around the corner!

  "You'll have to pay me for that bet," she teased.

  - Dream ...

  "That's what we'll see," he challenged.

  - I have to hang up, my cell phone is ringing. Bye-bye, I typed, pulling out of that

  torturing conversation.

  ***

  The end of the month arrived, finally offering a relief to receive my full salary. Fur

  Less could make a snack a little better than plain bread with coffee every day.

  I had already sent most of the money to my mother and she gave me the good news that it was

  she almost certainly got a desk job in an architecture office. It was good

  indication of a friend who placed her in a position of advantage over the other candidates, and, for

  improve even more, you would not even have to take driving to get to work because you

  located a few blocks from our house. I was very happy, not only for the financial part, but also

  for finding that she reacted, coming back to life.

  Juninho also had a good improvement with the new boot, but still showed

  revolt. I assumed we would have to be patient with him, it was not easy to lose a father.

  I say it ...

  I have never seen my body to be sure, although in time there was not much to doubt.

  The weeks went by, and I, trying my best to show efficiency at work, mainly

  standing next to Dr. Richard. It was very difficult to be so close, especially when I found the

  his eyes scanning me. I knew very well that it was pure professionalism, and yet it always remained.

  breathless. In fact, it was enough that he called me by name so that my heart

  throat.

  On a certain day, I went to the hospital early and was surprised to find an old acquaintance

  of my mother, who was doing chemotherapy treatment there. She moved to São Paulo many years ago and

  brought with him his niece, a very sweet little girl, for not having anyone to leave her with. Normally,

  children were not allowed in that sector, but she

  influential in the hospital, only for that day.

  The little girl played with a red ball in her hands - those soft ones that do not bounce - and in

  At one point the little ball fell and it fell under a stretcher across the room.

  I soon got ready to get your toy. I did not think it appropriate that a child

  put his hands on the floor of a hospital, carrying infectious agents.

  I then propped up the clipboard of the medical records I held on the next stretcher, and I crouched down to pick it up.

  When I got up, Dr. Richard had an AB + blood bag, ready to offer Mr.

  Dario, a very observant hemophiliac. This one warned him before he would make the transfusion, because his

  blood group was different: O-.

  It was the last straw.

  Dr. Richard went whiter than usual and turned furiously toward me.

  "Did you put this file here?" He asked, sharply nervous.

  - Yes but...

  As usual, he would not let me explain.

  "Nurse Stephanie, did you happen to get your diploma?" You know what could have happened if I

  transfusion with this blood that is marked here on this sheet?

  This time I could not bear it. Not only did I not answer him, but as I darted through the wing, hiding,

  at all costs, the tears that flowed down my face against my will, entering the bathroom of the

  employees. I felt too fragile, there was no avoiding it.

  Why did I have to go through this?

  If I still had some guilt ... But no. It was no use trying, studying, working hard ...

  Anything. Absolutely nothing.

  Already it had been aiding him for almost three months and day after day the requirements changed. I would ask one thing and then

  said to be another, the dosage of the medications had been made wrong, the amount of blood bags

  was never correct, the exams were not the same requests, errors in the medical record,

  phantasmagorics that vanished ...

  In short, there would always be a failure, some reason for complaint, even though

  claims were unfounded or even, perhaps, purposeful.

  And the worst: how, after all this, could you still like him? Could not. It was unfair! So much man

  out there and I had to be interested precisely in someone who only mistreated me? Was not enough

  everything that had already passed? It seemed to be some kind of plague, a curse! Urgently needed to gather

  forces to react. I would like only those who liked me, and the change would begin at that moment!

  I washed my face to disguise the swelling in my eyes and went into the hall, determined to speak with

  Dora.

  "Dora, I want to ask my accounts," I demanded, defeated. God only knew how much it hurt to have to do

  thinking about the consequences of this act.

  "Do you want to leave the hospital?" Because? You were doing so well! She said worriedly.

  "I think you know why." I can not take it anymore. I do not have cheap blood.

  "I'm sure he would not want you to leave like this," he insisted.

  - No? For, in my opinion, it's just what it looks like he'd like. If I mess up, I should do even a

  big favor. The guy is going to drop fireworks by getting rid of my company!

  "Cheating on you, Stephanie. Dr. Richard likes your job.

  "If you like, you have a peculiar way of demonstrating, do not you think?" I moaned.

  - Yes, he's a really difficult person, but ...

  - You're an exceptional professional. The best I've ever known, "I finished, admitting. - But this one

  argument is not enough, and not even my financial difficulty, for me to be forced to

  hear unfair accusations from someone who can not stand me. I got tired of punching a knife. For me

  does not give more.

  Dora scratched her head at the dilemma. He had exhausted his repertoire and would have

  problem in the hands: where to find another nurse that fit the rigid standards of perfection

  required by the supreme doctor? In fact, if a little intimacy allowed, I would tell her that she was deluded. He no

  he needed helpers and the impression he had was that he only supported them so he would not be different

  of the other t
eam members.

  "I will not leave a competent professional as you leave here, just trade some

  Shifts, okay?

  I thought for a moment about the importance of that job for me and I nodded,

  accepting

  "For today, I'll dispense with it." You do not look good to me. You can go home and rest, "she allowed.

  with generosity.

  And do what at the pension? Watching the moldy roof, full of infiltrations, or the beautiful ones

  peeling blue walls, distilling lamentations? Or, who knows, whimpering?

  No! Enough!

  I had to face the problems head-on. He could have lost a battle, but he had not yet

  white flag in surrender.

  "I can work today, as long as I no longer have contact with him," I said,

  hurt

  "I'll see what I can do," he promised.

  I went back to the ward still feeling the swollen face and took the pills to be administered to

  among ward patients.

  And there it was in the opposite direction ...

  I lowered my head so that I could not see the hurt stamped on my face - lamenting the fact

  not be able to let go of the hair and hide me even more - and I went on, pretending not to notice his

  presence.

  I think Dr. Richard noticed and decided to change course. I stepped back in response and he did the

  even, only he managed to be faster, holding me by the arm. I pulled my wrist back and looked

  anger, but my eyes betrayed me and the tears began to roll again. Once again, I will come back to

  front, trying to wipe the face with one hand. When I got to the other wing, he was already there.

  waiting.

  How did he do it? I was surprised.

  The worst thing is that the way I was positioned there was no way to escape; therefore, it would not have

  way. She would have to listen to him. Practically cornered, I could not keep my heart from accelerating

  find your eyes landing again on my lips before you start to speak:

  "Stephanie, I've heard rumors that you want to leave."

  How did he know that? The hospital walls must be paper!

  "Nurse Stephanie," I corrected. "And you do not have to pretend you care."

  - I care, yes, and ...

  "Ah, doctor, spare me!" I've had enough time to realize how relevant I am to you

  on here. But do not worry, I will continue in this hospital out of necessity, at a time when I can not

  make mistakes to bother you. And if you'll excuse me, I'm going to buy another diploma right now!

  I said sharply and ran away, finally closing the contact.

  ***

  After that day, time decided to crawl with unimaginable slowness, or at least it was this.

  the impression he had. The routine of the hospital intensified and I became more and more involved with the

  patients, employees, doctors and other health professionals.

  It was necessary to take life forward. It's no good thinking about things that never

  would happen. Every now and then, I heard a little joke about being one more that could not handle your

  on duty. I avoided talking about it, but it seemed like he was a singular figure in that

  place. Reports of successful bone marrow transplants, sudden cures, and miraculous treatments

  they popped on and on. And even on days when the doctor was not on duty, sporadically

  found

  On one of these occasions, when I left, he was parked in front of the hospital with this

  fucking blonde So many places to meet in this metropolis and they had to stay right there?

  All punishment in the world should be little to my poor soul!

  What harm have I done to God?

  I suspect until he saw it when I went down the stairs and, to avoid contact, I tried to walk in the hand

  contrary to the pension, going around the block.

  Ava, oblivious to my feelings, seemed to caress her hair, as if she had been comforting him.

  I could not imagine what could make the doctor know-all that expression.

  ***

  A few days later, he came down the hall. I had already finished my shift and

  I talked animatedly with Iris and Dr. Luciano, who told some funny jokes. The Doctor.

  Richard came just as he was saying the end of the anecdote at the foot of my ear,

  leaving the iris out, irritated. I laughed, and when I turned my face, I realized with bewilderment that he

  watching us, displaying a stern expression and leaving at once. Apparently, only I had noticed the

  your presence. The people inside kept talking. I tried to ignore the fact and return to the conversation,

  as if the brain could pay attention to anything else after that ...

  A few more weeks were gone and I found that nice patient, Mrs. Dulce, who came to do,

  it seemed, his last battery of exams.

  - Hey, baby, how you doing? She asked.

  "Well, what about you?" Wow! Looks like we've got someone practically healed here ... Already with another

  face! I praised him.

  "I think Dr. Richard will release me." After he started to answer me, I

  time for another, "she said, all excited.

  "I'm very happy for you, he's really very competent.

  "And beautiful too, is not it, my child?"

  "It's ... It's beautiful." I sighed, trying to divert his image from his head.

  "You still have not given the boy a chance?"

  "Chance of what?" "I pretended that I did not understand the question.

  "You know damn well what I'm talking about, he's still interested in you.

  "Where did you get that, Dona Dulce?" I asked, losing my temper.

  "I did not get you anywhere." I see with my own eyes, I'm not blind. Incidentally, the doctor who

  tried to disguise looking at that clipboard, when I said that he thought you were nice and he took advantage

  to ask if I had seen her in my last treatment session.

  "Did he ask for me?" "You could not believe such a thing."

  "Oh, yes ... I wanted to know if you looked happy," he announced.

  - Of course. - Laugh at the impossibility of the thing.

  - You are laughing? She demanded. "I had to see the disgusted" I do not know "that he gave when

  The young man who was treated before me questioned where the "nurse-cat" who helped him went.

  This is good! Great news!

  Since when was he not grumpy? And how many other nurses -

  that I, even - should not have tried to help him after me? It was clear that the patient did not

  knew. The poor woman was out of date. It did not seem right for a lady at that age to go out alone on the streets

  in that state of mental confusion. Imagine what could happen to the poor in this world so

  violent...

  "Next time, come with me, will you, Dona Dulce?" - I recommended, retreating with

  a smile on his lips.

  "The worst blind is the one who does not want to see what's in front of his own nose," she said.

  loud and clear, mistrusting that I left close by doubting his sanity.

  At that same shift, before I left, I would talk again to Dr. Luciano, who

  lately he had become a very nice friend. I would show him an antique ring that

  my grandmother and it contained a different symbol. I was always curious to know what it meant

  that embossed design and used to wear that jewel in his right hand. He came from a

  family of antique dealers, soon became interested in the piece and took my hand to look at it closely.

  "It looks more like a symbol of nobility." It is probable that he had some noble ancestor in his

  family, like a Baron or a Viscount, "he remarked.

  "I think I heard something abou
t it from my mother, but I do not remember very well. I won the

  ring her when she was still a little girl, "I explained.

  "Nowadays, it is not difficult to find the family tree online. If you want, I can

  help do the research - volunteered.

  "Oh, of course. As soon as I have a time ... "I blurted out, noting that he discreetly stroked

  my fingers immobilized by his strong hand.

  "You have long fingers." Does he play the piano?

  "No, I have no vocation for music," I said, bringing my hand back.

  Almost in parallel with our conversation, Dr. Richard passed behind us and practically

  flew into your living room. Intrigued, I could not resist the urge to spy on him. I was curious to know what he

  it was there.

  I asked Dr. Luciano to leave, saying that I had forgotten my cell phone in the locker room and I

  I look softly through the crack in the door.

  He lay with his fingers drumming nervously under his desk, totally impatient. In

  Then he stood up, shaking his head as if he were fighting with his thoughts and

  looked in a mirror in the corner of the room. He closed his eyes with a pained expression,

  when he finally opened them, he punched the mirror, breaking it into a thousand pieces.

  I ended up making a fuss of the fright I took and he discovered, in surprise, the intrusion. When did you come

  my direction, his blue eyes darkened, perhaps because he was in the shadows.

  Automatically I lowered my head and backed away, the pulse accelerating a thousand an hour.

  "Stephanie, wait a minute," he said, in a husky, husky voice.

  Jesus! Could not he even speak my name so I would shake from head to toe?

  "I'm sorry, Doctor. It was ... inconvenient on my part. I apologize. - I tried to justify the

  unjustifiable and left beaten.

  - Wait, no ...

  It was all I could hear, because without even thinking, I was already running away again. I felt like

  tremendous coward. I could not remember behaving that way before I met him,

  But he had to come close so he would not be destroyed. The attraction he wore on me was

  animal, so I had to move away, to protect the bit of self-love I had left.

  I ran through the streets at such a speed that I arrived at the inn in less than three minutes, sweating in

  spouting and extremely breathless. I was leaning in the window of my room to breathe better and behold,

  from up above, I saw him walking down the street, looking both ways, making it clear that