The world is as silent as if it ended in the night. The sun is still resolutely below the horizon and the street is as dark as some old-school black and white movie.
Crystal's eyes snapped open before dawn from a long restlessness. She had fought for too many hours to stay dreaming, and she knew there was nothing left to do but get up. She got up, turned off her alarm. and walked into the living room, where he stood in front of the window for several minutes.
It was still dark. She couldn’t remember the last morning she woke to darkness. Behind the bare trees, she could see the street lamps are lightening the road vaguely.
She didn't think twice before walking outside. The cold wasn’t the biting but the slow seeping kind. She didn't bother the cold weather, she felt she was doing something important, surveying the nature, taking in something she saw many years ago: the darkness before dawn. She sat on the bench in front of the tree as her heart started getting heavier. She has everything, but she has nothing. She felt very empty.
As she closed her eyes, she felt the heady pull of her broken dreams, beckoning her back to go back to the past days and resolve all the mistakes of her. Mistakes? Was it just mistakes? She was drawn to the lies of a person. He wasn't a lie. But she was a lie to him, a bet! A drop of tears escaped her closed eyes.
Even after seven years it still gives her pain, the uncured wound is still there inside her heart. He is the person she can't forgive, yet can't forget. His memories were the soul torturer of her. She couldn't escape them, or hide from them; they were the worst kind of monster. She clenched her hands into fists and looked at the empty dewy wet road.
She doesn't know how many hours she was sitting there, but when she rolled her eyes around, the rising sun already cast a rosy hue across the morning sky.
As she stepped into her house, she saw the maid preparing breakfast. This housemaid is like her family now, she is always there when she needs her. "Good morning, aunt." Crystal smiled at the maid.
The maid stopped washing the dishes and turned to her. "Good morning, Miss. You wake up so early today. I saw you sitting there, but thought you want to be alone."
"Thank you." Crystal appreciated that. That's right, she wanted to be alone. Taking a soft breath, Crystal walked in the kitchen and work in hand to hand with the maid.
"Good morning. Ms. Crystal kelly."
Crystal's face curled up with a smile when she heard the familiar voice. She looked at the person who just came in. "Good morning, Mr. Alex." She paused as she glanced up at the clock which was ticking at 7.15 am. "You're early today."
Alex came beside Crystal as he pressed his lips together and pretended to look sad. "I missed my Princess so much. I think it's time for me to shift here."
The smile on Crystal's face faded as she heard that. Shift here? She got nervous.
Seeing her nervous expression, Alex let out a smirk. "I'm joking. You look prettier when you're nervous."
Crystal hit him stomach with her elbow, glared at him.
Alex looked around, when he didn't see the expected person, he looked back at Crystal. "Where is the young lady? She supposed to wake up when I'm here."
Crystal laughed softly. "She said yesterday that she can sleep alone now because she is a big girl now."
Alex laughed too. "That's right. She isn't a kid anymore. But I'm just worried about her mother. She is still a kid."
"Yea. Alex." Crystal glared at him.
"mom. uncle."
Both of them looked at the beautiful little girl who was coming downstairs by the stairs with her tiny footsteps.
Alex grinned and walked to her. When she came, he gently pulled up. "Good morning, princess. How does Anne know her uncle is here again?"
Anne kelly smiled. "Good morning. uncle. I heard your voice. You're going to my sports with me, right?"
Alex nodded. "Of course. I promised you. That's why I wake up so early today and rush here."
Anne grinned and kissed his cheek. "That's why I love uncle so much." Then she looked at her mother who was in the kitchen. "mom should marry uncle."
"Yea. Anne." Crystal glared at her daughter and stopped what she was doing as she heard that. ah! really. This girl.
Alex smirked as he put Anne down and stroked her nose. "Your mother is hanging on something. And she doesn't want to forget your dad." The smile on his face faded.
Crystal's heart suddenly got heavier again. She hid the hurtful expression and looked at him. "You're the one who doesn't give me a chance to forget him. You always bring his topic for seven years."
Alex sighed deeply and turned to her. "I just bring the topic. But you miss the person alone, you cry alone. Even your daughter knows this. And also bringing his topic is a kind of reminder for me."
Crystal furrowed her brows confusingly. "What reminder?"
"That my best friend is a crazy person. She wants to be mother Teresa." Alex teased her.
Crystal scowled. "Then what about you? Why don't you find a girl and get married?" She grinned as she remembered a girl. "Yea. What about Rose? She seems to like you a lot."
Alex titled his head as he sat on the couch with Anne. "Who is that?"
Crystal sighed. "Just tell me your ideal type. I'll find a girl for you."
Alex smirked. "I'm too handsome to match with a girl."
"Then marry a boy." Crystal said through gritted teeth.
"mom. I'll marry uncle. When I'll grow up " Anne interrupted into their conversation. She needs to stop them before they start fighting.
"Ah! I feel bad for my daughter." Crystal said as she took the knife and started to dice the potato, teasing Alex.
Alex sneered. "Aren't you going to her sports?"
Crystal shook her head, a soft sigh escaped her lips. "I have many appointments today. How will you go with her? Don't you have any work?"
Alex pursed his lips. "I have. At evening. Brain tumor surgery."
Anne widened her eyes. "Will, you cut her head?"
Alex nodded. "Yes."
"uncle, they don't die when you cut their head?" asked Anne anxiously.
Crystal shook her head as came to her daughter. "Anne. Stop talking already and eat breakfast with uncle. I'll go to my room and get freshen up. I need to rush to the hospital."
"Alex is here. Don't worry about Anne." He assured her.
Crystal let out a relieved sigh. "I can't think anything without you. Thank you so much."
"Don't. I feel uneasy. Go-Go." Alex pulled her to the stairs.
After about half an hour, Crystal came to the living room after getting ready. She was wearing a blue blouse and jeans with a ladies' watch and opened hair.
Alex and Anne who were sitting, waiting for her smile. Crystal sat on a chair to take her. "Why did you wait for me? You'll be late. it's already 7.45 am." She said as she took a bite of toast.
"I'll get ready when you'll leave." Anne said as she smiled sweetly.
Alex who was sitting in front of Crystal copied the smile of Anne. "Yes. mom should leave now."
Crystal glared at him before looking at Anne. "Anne. You have to listen to aunt after coming back from school. Don't annoy your uncle so much. okay?"
As Anne nodded, Crystal stood up and took her purse. "Alex, call me if she annoys you too much. See you in the evening. Bye." She came beside Anne and kissed her cheeks before leaving.
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After parking her car, Crystal stepped into the hospital and came to the reception. The receptionist bowed her. "Hi. Dr. Crystal Kelly."
"Hi. I'm searching for Mickhel. Call him and tell him that I'll go to the morning round." Crystal said before leaving. Nurse Bona followed her.
Crystal checked up her hospitalized patients’ progress and issues from the previous day and night are discussed on by one. If needed she made suggestions for further care.
After talking with the call team, she started the morning round. A nurse followed her.
"Can you move your fingers?" Crystal asked the patient. As he moves his fingers, she smiled. "Congratulations. You're improving." Then she turned to his guardian. "You can take him home now if you want. Meet me after one weak. He'll be on full rest for 4 months. No pressure on his feet. He'll take the medicines regularly. He'll be alright."
After finishing the morning round, Crystal went out of the ward and went to her office.
She glanced at the nameplate on the table. Dr. Crystal kelly.
Becoming a successful doctor was the aim of her life. She was born to be a doctor. Though she is from a middle-class family, she has sufficient now. But happiness? The happy woman whom she used to be. Where is that happy Crystal? Yes, Anne is her biggest happiness. But when she thinks about Anne's happiness she feels she is the worst mother. When she asks about her father, Crystal just tells her he left us. She just ignores her when she starts asking why! Anne doesn't even get the chance to see her father.
Crystal came back from her deep thoughts as she heard a knock on the door. "Come in."
A youth man smiled at her brightly and handed some reports to her. "Dr. Crystal. Here is your today's schedule."
"Thanks, Mickhel." Crystal said as she took the reports. Mickhel is one of the residents in the hospital. He had a crush on Crystal since the day he saw her.
"Today is going to be a long day. Should I call the first patient?" Mickhel asked.
As Crystal nodded, gave him permission, Mickhel went outside. And after a minute, a middle-aged woman and a boy around 16 came and bowed.
Crystal smiled and also bowed, "Sit please." When they sit in front of her. Crystal took the first report. "You Jomin Gu, right? You came yesterday. Feeling better after wearing the belt?" She asked the boy.
"yes." As he nodded, Crystal turned to his mother. "I saw his MRI report. His ACL is injured. I'll show you on the computer." Crystal and they turned to the computer screen. Crystal clicked the mouse on an image.
"The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL runs diagonally through the middle of the knee and serves to support and stabilize the three bones that meet in the knee joint: the tibia, femur, and patella. An ACL injury or tear is known as a “sprain”; sprained knee symptoms caused by minor ACL injuries may include tenderness and swelling, while more serious, complete tears will cause instability, a reduced range of motion, and a high degree of pain and swelling." Crystal explained.
Moving her gaze from the computer screen, she looked at his mother. "Surgery is typically only recommended if the ligament is torn. Your MRI report shows that it's grade III that's mean it's torn. But don't worry."
As the patient relaxed, Crystal continued. "You'll have a minor surgery. This process usually involves reattaching the torn ligament or replacing it with a piece of healthy tendon. We will make a few small incisions and drill little holes in your calf and thigh bones. The graft is attached to the bones, which will grow around it. It will take several weeks or even months before you’re able to resume your normal activities, and you’ll need a program of progressive physical therapy to restore your range of motion."
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