"Doctor Neil! Doctor!" A man in his mid-forties shouted at top of his lungs and runs as fast as he can when he saw the glimpse of the white two-story building in front of him.
Carrying his ten-year-old daughter in his back he ignored the sweat covering his face and runs twice the speed he has earlier towards the building. His arms and legs feel sore due to running for almost two hours from his home to get in here, as a result, his legs buckled several times on the way here, but that did not stop him to stand up and continued running as he has this unwavering determination to bring his sick daughter to the hospital.
Although the man's face is sweating and is covered by anxiousness he ignored the scream of his muscle pain as his daughter needs urgent help, and now as he nears the gate, his heart feel a little joy but he doesn't fell on it too much as he knows as well that this will not completely erase his fear for his daughter's health.
"Sir Patrick! Help me! Please... My daughter!!... Sir Leo!" The man screamed in helplessness as he is getting near the hospital gate.
The said the two-story building is been surrounded by huge trees, the chrysanthemum flowers are planted on both sides of the pathway and started to sprout, giving off its vibrant violet colors and sending everyone its message of getting well.
Its front gate is been shielded by two knights wearing a white uniform with the symbol of a serpent coiled around the rod in their right breast pocket. The medical staff and even the knights working in the hospital called it "Rod of Asclepius" as they believe that Asclepius is the God of medicine and healing.
Patrick and Leo who is the knight in duty heard the scream of the familiar man and look for its source. They are currently taking a cup of lavender tea as their only morning breakfast when they heard the sound, usually, they enjoy their breakfast in their homes but last night, the hospital, turn upside down as many people rush to seek medical aid.
Tch.
"This is insane! when will it stop?" Leo said to Patrick but Patrick didn't answer him. Their body is tired and wants to get a good rest, but because of the hospital situation they still need to be here and assist the medical staff as much as possible.
Patrick who is dedicated to his job runs to the man to know what happened "Antonio, what is going on!"
"Sir Patrick, .... please help me" Antonio, said with teary eyes. "My daughter is showing the same symptoms as my spouse... I think my wife infected her, I am worried ... that if she is not treated and stay here, ... me and my youngest son will be the next to get sick... It will be terrible for our family.... I need the doctor's help."
"That must be difficult for you, don't worry, all of the doctors and nurses here are doing their best to treat this disease. For now, bring your daughter first to the reception so that Lenny can help you."
"No! Sir Patrick, I need a doctor to help her, I'm sure that Miss Lenny will just ask the same questions as she did when I brought my wife here, I need treatment for Meridith!"
"Antonio, I understand how you feel, but you are not the only one who needs help, you visited your wife here almost every day so you know that the doctors are very busy attending to all the patient's needs," Leo said to Antonio while checking Meredith conditions. He knows the child as he always saw her often playing with the other kids and helping his mother selling fruits in the central town.
The cheerful and diligent young girl that he often saw is now covered with a thick blanket as a protection to the cold wind that may cause her condition worst. Her color is pale, her lips are dry and her long black hair that usually in a ponytail is now messy showing that the girl is even laying in bed for a couple of days. Somehow his annoyance early in the morning is been replaced by guilt while looking in the kid.
"But... But Sir Leo, my situation is very urgent, I think the disease is spreading in my family. And until now my wife is still not healed.!!!" Antonio answered angrily to the knights in front of him. He ran like his life depends on it just to see a doctor but these knights are telling him to see Lenny first. "What if they die! ... Can you bring me back their lives.?... Our lives?.."
" Antonio, don't shout, please. I understand your remorse but other people are showing up nonstop since last night because of the same thing, all the people in these places are tired and are all lacking in sleep but they are still doing their best to help everyone. I hope you understand the hospital circumstance."
Antonio sobbed upon hearing this. The image of his simple, complete and happy family is slowly being torn into pieces. Their smile and laughs are been replaced by pain and suffering.
" Doctor... I need doctor Neil!.. or any doctor please!" He cried out while placing his daughter in front. His cheerful daughter. He can't let her discomfort continue anymore as a father he must do anything to cure her.
It all started a month ago when his co farmer started sneezing and coughing up. They all thought that it's all because fall is coming up and the wind started getting colds so he just ignored it and continued to work. Only after a few weeks that, that his co-worker started having fever and his illness worst. He stayed at home to rest holing to get better after resting as the fever will usually last for a week, but his case is different not only he is getting fever but he is having difficulty breathing until he died last week.
From then on, they are now noticing that their other co-workers are getting the same symptoms as he had. It's a mystery for him how his wife had that disease as he is not closed to that person at all.
"I need help... Please... I am begging you... They need to save... My wife... My daughter... Please.."
Patrick and Leo, who stand in front of the man felt their eyes stings as they see the sight in front of them.
A man crying and holding his sick daughter in his arms.
As much as they want to help, all they can do right now is to assist them to reception for Lenny to gather all the data on why this illness is spreading and as the doctors are looking for a way to treat it.
"What is going on here?" A tired voice of a man that coming behind them said and so Patrick and Leo turn their heads while Antonio lift his and he saw again a ray of hope for his daughter.