She was Mrs. Fuentez, the wife of the head of the most powerful mafia family in the region. The owner of the very hospital where I worked.
I entered her room nervously, unsure of what to expect, but to my surprise, she greeted me warmly. She was sitting up in bed, smiling as though nothing had happened.
“So, you are the doctor who saved me?” Mrs. Fuentez asked, her eyes bright and full of life despite the guards stationed outside her door.
Trying to maintain professionalism, I replied humbly, “It was not just me, Madam. There were many people involved in saving you, the emergency personnel, nurses, and the specialist who operated on you.”
She laughed, clearly amused by my modesty. “Yes, but I heard it was you who kept me alive long enough for them to do their part. That was what I mean, Doctor....” She paused, waiting for my name.
“I am Dr. Lily Hale. You can call me Lily.”
Since then, Mrs. Fuentez and I have exchanged many words. The more we talked, the more I realized she was not the intimidating woman I had assumed.
In fact, she was incredibly warm and kind, with a sharp wit that often caught me off guard.
One afternoon, as we spoke about everything from hospital gossip to her plans after recovery, I suddenly noticed the time on the wall clock ticking away.
“Oh my God, it is already time for my ER shift,” I said, slightly panicked as I rose from my seat.
She laughed softly. “Don’t let me keep you, dear. I am sorry for taking up your time.”
“No, no, Mrs. Fuentez. I am happy to talk with you. Truly.”
I meant it. Despite the pressure of her family’s reputation, she made me feel at ease. It was strange, given who she was.
I smiled, gathering my things. “I will come back when it is time to check on your condition.”
“I look forward to it, Doctor Lily,” she said with a fondness that warmed me, her smile lingering long after I had left the room.
Later that night, after finishing my shift, I returned to her room for her routine check-up. But when I opened the door, I saw him, the man from the cafeteria who had mistaken me for someone else.
“So, you are the doctor who saved my mother?” The man's deep voice caught me off guard. I froze for a moment, taken aback by his presence.
"Mother?" I repeated, glancing at Mrs. Fuentez, who beamed as though she had just discovered a hidden gem.