Captive hearts

The winter air washed through my cheeks as I took a look at the light blue hospital buildings. It's quite a gigantic place with more than three buildings. Doctors and nurses were already striding up and down the see through corridors. I was going to part of that for three weeks. I thought, taking a deep breath before walking up the hospital entrance for my general surgery rotations.

A smell of medications hit my nose as soon as I walked in, there were people sitting together against the enamel grey chairs, some pacing up and down, they looked like a family. Some people were sitting scattered across the chairs looking agitated.

07:56 am, I am just on time, my first teaching lecture starts at 08:00 am. We're doing clinical practicals mostly in final year and a few lectures from the surgeon who will also supposedly show us and mentor us on how to perform the surgeries.

My phone rang and it's mom number, I continued walking as I answered the call.

The voice is the phone is not who I expected"Hi sis phiwe." It's Lulo, my eight year brother.

"Hi Lulo, where's mom?" I ask.

"I don't know." Says Lulo.

"Mom is sleeping in her room." Answered Lulu, Lulos twin. I don't know what's been up with her, since dad left things that have never been the same. It seems like she went through a deep depression that she wasn't able to get out of.

"Sis phiwe." Whined Lulo

" Yes nana, "

" At school they said we can't go if we don't pay for the fees. They say we can't come to school." He coughs.

"Where's mom, can you wake her up? I gave her money to pay, where did it all go? You know what baby. When you see Aunt Nozipho, tell her to send me a please call me okay." Aunt Nozipho is our neighbour who usually helps in situations like this. "I'll sort this out s..."

Lulo starts coughing more.

"Lulo, are you okay?"

"I'm helping him." Says Lulu.

He has a lung disease since he was young. We've been hoping he can get a lung transplant for a while now but it's just not the case.

I hear heavy breathing, then he coughs up one more time.

"Do you have your nebuliser with you?"

"Mm..yes. " he coughs.

I hold on to my tears.

"Sis phiwe?"

"Yes,"

"am I going to die?"

"No baby, no you aren't going to die. When I become a doctor and have money our lives will be so much better and you'll have your new set of lungs okay. You'll be okay. No one is dying okay. "

"Mom says she wishes I was dead sometimes."

" She doesn't mean that. " I catch a breath looking at the wrist clock. 08:01 am. "Listen, I'll call again soon okay. "

I rushed to the lecture room. Dr Makwetu is the one who is scheduled for this class, he was also my orthopaedic supervisor last semester. The class was already in progress. A dark tall man in a white coat stood in front already teaching, he had this cold feel about him making me uneasy. He surely isn't who I was expecting.

"....and the anatomy of ..." he continued

I sat next to my friend. Phelisa,

"Where's Doc Makwetu?" I took my note books out of my bag and some stationery.

She shrugged while concentrating on what the surgeon lecturer was saying.

"Excuse me Miss." I lifted my eyes up. His eyes are looking right into me.

"Me?" I asked my heart starting to pound.

He walked slowly towards me my heart started pounding faster, his gaze never leaving mine. He stops when he's right in front of my desk.

His eyes stone cold, stares right into mine.

"What is your name?" He asks in a ruspy voice. The class went silent, everyone is looking at this interaction.

I swallowed.

"I'm Simphiwe. Simphiwe Ndlovu."

"Simphiwe Ndlovu, now, there's a few things you have to know about me. I don't like late comers and I certainly don't appreciate yappers who interrupt my class. Are we clear?"

I nodded.

"I can't hear you."

"Yes sir."

"Good." He grimiced then waltzed his way way back to the front.

"I'm Dr Xulu, " his gaze landed to me " for those who weren't here at the beginning of the lecture." He continued to speak to the class at large. "A General surgeon and I'll be taking some of you for your general surgery rotations."

"Let's continue with the anatomy of ...."

What a way to start my new rotation.

~

"You my friend have a death wish." Said phelisa as we packed our books after the lecture ended, going to put lockers.

"I wasn't expecting to be late...it's just that Lulo called and the call was longer than I expected and you know how things are at home." I put my things in my locker. We were already shown the basics about the hospital yesterday and everyone has a locker where they keep their belongings. This is the girls side and we get to scrub in here too. Which is what we were doing, we'll be seeing the full schedule on who we're allocated to. I took off my white coat and wore pink scrubs. This hospital is well known for having the best surgeons so there's quite a number of them which makes me happy because the probabilities of scrubbing in with Dr Xulu is so slim.

Phelisa scrunched up, "how is the little man doing?"

I sighed, "Worse," I say hopeless "I was hoping that by now, at least would have a scheduled surgery for the transplant but that doesn't seem to the option. And there's still school activities I have to pay for." I pitched the bridge of my nose in frustration, taking a deep breath. "I can't wait till I finish this year so I can start earning and support them fully and live with them you know friend."

"I can actually send you a few Rand's for t-"

"It's nothing I can't handle Phelisa. I'm okay. Don't worry about me."

"It's just a loan." She insisted. We walked to the student lounge.

"I'll make more money this weekend," I stated

"You mean the bartending job you hate ?"

Zola, my boyfriend walked in.

"Ladies," he sat next to me already wearing blue scrubs.

"Good morning." I said.

"You reckon it's a good morning?" He asked me.

" Isn't what everyone says as a greeting in the morning?"

He poured water into a glass.

" You pissed off the surgeon. Not a great impression." He took a sip.

"Yeah I know. I won't crossing paths with him again so that's great."

"It seems like he'll be making the living hell out of this rotation. "

Phelisa snorted" Yeah studying will be crucial for this one. Like everyday. "

"Times two if he's your supervisor." Zola said. We shared a laugh. I already feel for whoever will be scrubbing in with Dr Xulu.

"Like we don't already attend for 12 hours already." Zola said.

I chuckled. "You said you wanted to be a doctor."

Zola laughed. "Yeah hey. We're almost there though." I feel something moving towards my hand. I look at his hand, he's reaching out for my hand, my heart starts throbbing. I cleared my throat brushing my hair with both my hands avoiding the whole hand holding thing. I can feel him glancing at me. He also clears his throat then stands up.

"I'll go check the schedule." He fakes a smile. I smile back at him.

What's wrong with me? It's just a hand touch and he's my boyfriend. I let out a breathe.

"You won't believe this!" Said Zola staring at the schedule that was just pinned on the wall.

"What?" I and Phelisa get up to also check the schedule.

My attending supervisor is Dr Xulu and I'll be scrubbing in with him in most surgeries.

Great, just great.

___

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