The Power of Time

Миллер Павел

Maxim looked at those nervous and unhealthy faces and he felt more and more uncomfortable. It was very unpleasant to hear rude speech. Office door opened, and the overweight woman had to leave her position. Maxim entered the office without procrastination and shut the door at the face of the next patient.

– It is already 2 pm Maxim, why did not you come earlier? You understand that if something happens with you, I shall be responsible for that, – Doctor Vera Petrovna was worried. Her anxiety was so obvious that it was nonsensical to try to conceal it.

– I am very sorry… – Maxim started but at that moment the office door opened and the obese woman broke in with an angry speech:

– What is going on?! I was waiting here from the early morning and still can’t be admitted! For how long is it going to take place?! Young man, why did you enter without waiting in line? I have warned you…

– Ma’am! Leave the office and close the door behind you! Right now! – Loudly but calmly said Vera Petrovna with a lot of confidence so that the woman became dumbfounded and stood frozen. Max started to shake and felt disgust to remain in the hospital, keeping in mind that he could not stand hospitals in general. He had to hold himself not to jab the woman out and said quietly:

– Should I give you assistance? Or you would leave by yourself?

– Don’t waste your own time, – Vera Petrovna continued to explain to the closing door.

After the check-in he ran out of the office and ran in the troubled foreperson of the sick patients. It felt as if he had hit his head on the wall – wave of their emotions and sensed strong pressure, his heat beat fastened again, footsteps became faster. It was as thought he had flied through the crowd of angry people, rushed by humiliation and evil looks that created noise in the head. He made it to the hospital porch, inhaled fresh air, which felt really fresh after the hospital odor and felt that his feet were taking him further, as if the ground had left his feet. Maxim rolled from the porch quickly and could not stand up. All of the sudden the head started to spin and he felt nausea. He could not say for how long he stayed there. When it became cold he moved and tried to stand up but could not do that. Then, grabbing the hospital handrail, Maxim lifted himself with the arm force and touched ground with feet. Standing on the feet appeared very difficult, left foot hurt badly… After some time Max took a look at the porch again. Even the head stopped spinning when he saw that all the steps were covered with thick, even layer of ice!! This is where he traumatized his left foot when he was falling from the porch rolling on those steps… Maxim took an effort to step on the foot and almost fell down, so he grabbed the rails again. Only after he had straightened the foot totally, grinding teeth from the pain, Max limped to the closest house and sat on the bench. He started to sweat, and then felt coldness and thought:

«I need to go home, even thought that is the last thing I want to do».

III

– One, two… Open your eyes!

In front of Svetlana’s eyes strange figures were moving, which meaning she could not recognize. She felt awkward lightness, like she had no body and couldn’t sense hands and legs. It felt good, comfortable, and thoughts didn’t torture her. Freedom carried her away on the wings and showed infinity of its capabilities. Svetlana enjoyed the feeling of lightness and purity when nothing drags you down, doesn’t immobilize movements. However, at the same time she understood that lack of feelings was there more then anything else, like the surrounding emptiness inside and outside… Suddenly she felt shaking in her hands, feet and all over the body. After some time, she realized: "I am laying and I am cold!" Pain which appeared out of nowhere was languishing and she was quietly moaning not being able to move. She was thirsty and had no strength to open eyes.

– How is she feeling? – asked the surgeon who came in the room and looked at Svetlana.

– She does not move much. Breathing. Don’t worry, we are keeping an eye on her and if something happens we will let you know right away, – livened up the patients.

– Hmm, she is not gaining consciousness for quite a long time, – said the doctor checking pulse and looking at the clock. – Was she talking today?

– No, but she was mumbling. The meaning of her mumbling is clear, as thought you are going through something with her, but what is not known.

Doctor looked attentively at the talkative female patient in her sixties, with some gray hair and piercing eyes, so understanding, that it was not possible not to admire kindness of such person.

– What is wrong with her, doctor? Something serious, right? I have a feeling she lost something spiritual and her soul is suffering, can’t accept it.

Evgeni Dmitrievich saw various kinds of people during his practice but that patient, Lidia Petrovovna, was a very interesting and complex human being. He was not even trying to understand her. Her gaze depressed him and instead of giving her an answer, Evgeni Dmitrievich caught himself having a desire to ask for advice on the problems in which, more then likely she did not know the answer.

Not paying attention at feeling cold and bedeviling thirst, Svetlana lay still. She turned into ears and tried to understand what had happened to her. By that time, she realized that she was in the hospital and more then likely went thought a surgery…

Evgeni Dmitrievich, keeping his hand on Svetlana’s forehead, was looking at Lidia Petrovna and did not know what to say to answer her question.

– You faced an exceptional case in your practice, young man. I see that it concerns you. Please stop worrying, medicine won’t be able to help in this scenario; she will only feel better if she goes thought the analogous experience, artificially created by another person.

– But how! Things like that don’t exist?! – Doctor rebelled when he understood Lidia Petrovna’s words. – It just can’t be that the organs of the body are almost dead and malfunctioning but at the same time all the diagnostic tests show no abnormality! It can’t be true that characteristics of vital functions are negative and at the same time well – performing! It is not possible!

– Everything can be explained, – Lidia Petrovna appeased him with her calm old voice, – it is essential to find the cause of the disease to treat a patient, right?

– But medicine can’t explain that, this is what I am talking about.

– That means that it exists somewhere else. Do not worry; psychology and psychiatry have no power over the strength of emotions that were growing over years.

Evgeni Dmitrievich tried to understand everything he had acknowledged from the woman’s words. How can she see the unknown so deeply? It is the first time she sees Sveta, who is unconscious! Judging from her words, she understands everything about medicine… This is very strange!

Door of the ward opened and young nurse with the frightened face looked into the ward and said:

– Evgeni Dmitrievich, there is an emergency surgery coming up, operating room number seven. Lidia Petrovna is being discharged from the hospital today. Surgeon took a look at Lidia Petrovna as if was letting her know:

«We haven’t finished the conversation yet but won’t see each other again. Fair well…» When he touched the door handle he heard:

– Don’t worry about her, in a year she will be pregnant and the delivery will go good. You did more then you could, she should thank you for that. I wish you good luck and happiness…