As soon as I stepped out the door I was hit by the chill of the night. I closed my eyes and let the wind hit my face. For the first time in years I felt different, my whole body tingled in anticipation of what was yet to come. I knew that things were going to change drastically and for once I welcomed it. I knew that I deserved better than what I was getting and I was finally ready to stand up for myself.
I got into a cab and asked the driver to take me to the nearest hotel. 30 min later I was checked in and laying in a comfortable king size bed contemplating my next step.
I grabbed a notepad from the side table and decided to make a to do list. I work best when I'm organized and major life decisions called for organization.
1. Take time off from work
I knew that I needed to take a couple of weeks off to deal with everything. I couldn't go back now.
2. Call lawyer
3. Get my car from the airport. (Shit, that means I need to get my keys from Marcus)
4. Figure out my living situation
5.....
I had a hard time concentrating further and my eyelids started to feel heavy.
I made sure to turn my phone off in the cab, so without any further distractions, I fell into a deep sleep.
Next morning
I got up and made my self some coffee. I'm a firm believer that leaving the house without drinking a cup of coffee is irresponsible. No one should have to deal with me before I get caffeine in me.
I finally turned my phone on and instantly noticed message after message coming through. I still had unread messages from my mother that were days old. I gulped my coffee down as I realized She's going to kill me.
I decided against opening any other messages and picked up my to do list from the night before.
1. Take time off from work
Easy enough.
I picked up my phone and called the hospitals chief officers secretary. It rang twice and a friendly voiced answered.
"San Francisco's general hospital, Bonnie speaking"
"Hi Bonnie, it's Ana. Is chief sanders available" I asked in my most upbeat voice. Bonnie is the chiefs right hand. She is the most important person in the hospital regardless of the title. Nothing gets done without her approval and sanders wouldn't be able to run the hospital without her.
Bonnie stayed silent for a second and then answered uncomfortably "hi Ana, just hold a minute. I'll get him on the phone".
Weird....I suddenly felt uneasy. I have the best relationship with Bonnie so her cold reception made me feel off. I shrugged it off to me being overly sensitive to all the recent events and waited from the chief to answer the phone.
After what felt like hours, sanders came on the phone "hello Ana, you still there?"
"Hi chief, hope all is going well. I just called to ask for a favour" I pulled out my phone calendar and started rechecking the dates I needed off.
I was once again greeted by silence. I decided I would just continue " I was wondering if I could take the next two weeks off to deal with a private matter?"
Sanders cleared his throat and finally answered.
"That won't be necessary. As of today you are no longer an employee of the hospital"
"What" is all I could manage to say,
"Ana, I'm sorry that it came to this and I want you to know I enjoyed working with you. But what you did caused irreparable harm to this hospital. I will pre warn you that the police will want to speak with you. Im only telling you this because of the good you have done here" sanders clicked his tongue and continued "as a friend, I hope what you did was worth it"
I sat there frozen to the bed. Every fibre in me felt like it was drowning. I had no idea what he was talking about And I couldn't even defend myself as I had no idea what I had done. I quickly asked the question that was on my mind "what exactly am I accused of doing"
"Fraud Ana, you don't need to put on an act for me. Save That for the police. I'm just happy that Elise decided to tell us. She told me she tried to get you to stop. But you needed the money for the house and didn't want to bother your boyfriend. I don't understand how you can ask desperate families for an under the table payment in exchange of pro Bono work. I don't know how you can live with yourself." Sanders spoke the last words with deep disdain and disgust.
"I hope what you did was worth what's to come" and with that he hung up.
I put my phone down on the bed and tried to control my body from going into shock. I had no idea what the fuck just happened but realized that I was without a job and being accused of fraud. My whole life was spiralling out of control and I was on the verge of losing my medical license.
I didn't understand what chief sanders was saying or where he got the idea that I was committing fraud until it all finally clicked.
Elise!
It was like someone dropped a bucket of frozen water on me. Every inch of my body vibrated as the realization of what she had done came to me.
She framed me.
She accused me of doing unspeakable things.
Things just stared falling into place as I recalled the different mishaps that occurred at work. So many things that I was sure I never did or forgot to do now made sense.
She was behind everything.
Things that I confided in her were often used against me. I always thought it was bad luck, or coincidence, but never imagined that she would be the one that was sabotaging my career.
Without thinking I picked up the phone and dialled her number.
She picked up after the first ring with a simple "hello"
"How dare you. How could you?" I was holding back sobs as I yelled into the phone.
"I have no idea what you are taking about" I could hear her smirk on the other side as she spoke. It made me sick to my stomach.
"How could you jeopardize my career. How could you make these accusations. What have I ever done to you? You were my best friend" I asked.
"You were never my best friend Ana. You were merely an object in my way. You were perfect, always seen as perfect. I decided that you needed to learn your place. Who are you now? No longer the loving future Mrs. andrews, I'll have that title now. No longer the most loved and adored paediatrician who was everyone's first choice. Now you'll be known as the fraud who abused the trust of her most vulnerable patients. I wonder Ana, how much will you be able to endure until you realize that you should just end your pathetic life"
And there it was, the monster reared it's head.
There were so many things I wanted to say but decided against it. She wanted a reaction. She wanted me dead. I didn't know what I had done to her to hate me so much but she did. And saying anything further would just give her the satisfaction that I refused to give.
I hung up the phone and screamed my lungs out into a pillow.
I realized that I could not proceed further down my list as I was no longer employed and could not afford a lawyer or a new place.
I considered my options and realized that, once again, I was limited to what I could do or who I could rely on. I didn't want to worry my mother so I called the only other person who showed me any kindness. "Hi Marcus, I need your help....again"