Chapter 1: Loss
Adele's hands moved swiftly, precision guiding her every gesture. The 15-year-old girl's fragile body lay before her, battered and bruised. The aim was trying....no. The aim was saving her life.
"Come on, kiddo, stay with me!" Adele urged, her voice firm but laced with desperation. She'd been on it for more than forty minutes and yet, no sign of improvement.
The monitors beeped erratically, a cacophony of warning signs. Adele's focus narrowed to the girl's fading vital signs. She had to do all she could. Even when she could nearly taste the end's result, she still wanted to try her very best.
"Epinephrine, stat!" Adele called out.
Nurse Thompson handed her the medication, and Adele administered it with lightning speed.
"Shock's setting in," Dr. Patel warned.
Adele's mind racing, she made split-second decisions. "Get me 2 units of O-neg!"
The surgical team moved in sync, each member anticipating Adele's needs.
But despite their best efforts, the girl's condition worsened.
"BP's dropping!" Dr. Patel exclaimed.
Adele's heart sank. This was it, wasn't it?
"No, no, no!" Adele whispered, her hands moving futilely.
The monitors flatlined.
"Time of death: 14:47," Nurse Thompson announced and Adele's heart stopped beating.
Adele's hands stilled, her gaze locked on the girl's pale face.
For a moment, the room froze.
Then Adele's training kicked in.
"Move the father to ICU," Adele instructed, her voice numb, as she walked out of the theatre looking ghosted.
As the team transferred the father, Adele's thoughts reeled.
She'd saved the father, but lost the girl.
The weight of that reality settled heavy on Adele's shoulders. Why the girl? Why did the girl have to die? A whole future ahead of her, a destiny to fulfill and she couldn't make it?
Adele always believed that saving a life was easy when you had the will to do it. So what happened? Was her will to save the girl not strong enough?
She got out of the room only to meet with the mother of the dead girl.
"Doc, how's she? I'm Reilly's mother and I know you're doctor Adele. I hear you're really good at what you do. My daughter....can I....can I see her?"the clueless woman asked, hope, shimmering brightly on her face and at that moment, Adele wished for the ground to just open up.
She'd never experienced this kind of scene in all her four years of being a doctor so she was clueless on how to even start. How would she break the sad news to this hopeful mother? She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Ma'am, the thing is.... Your husband's perfectly fine," Adele figured to start with the good news.
"Thank goodness,"the woman breathed in relief.
"But the girl...." Adele looked down, clutching on tight to the stethoscope she was holding. "I'm sorry, but we lost her."
The woman froze for a moment, not saying anything. Adele heard a thud making her look up to see the woman seated on a chair looking so distraught.
She caused it. She failed to save Reilly and that was why the woman looked broken. Adele did her best to withhold the tears.
"I'm deeply sorry, ma'am," Adele politely bowed her head slightly before leaving.
Dr. Lee approached her, concern etched on his face.
"Adele, take the rest of the day off. You need it."
Adele nodded, unable to speak. She really did need it. There was no way she'd be able to do anything else when Reilly's pale face kept on replaying in her head?
The drive home blurred together.
Adele's thoughts consumed by the what-ifs.
Adele pulled into her driveway, sharing the small house with Karen, her best friend since elementary school. Karen, a stay-at-home entrepreneur, promoted products online.
Karen had been her friend since diapers. They grew together, had their first steps and words together and consoled the other when need be. They protected each other like their lives depended on it. Their bond surpassed that of sisterhood. It was unique.
Karen looked up from her laptop, a concerned expression replacing her usual smile. She could sense something was wrong with Adele.
"Adele, you're early! Everything okay?" Karen asked, putting her work on hold.
Adele shook her head, unable to speak. She dropped her bag and collapsed onto the couch.
Karen closed her laptop and sat beside Adele, clasping her hand on Adele's.
"Hey, girl, what's wrong?" Karen asked softly.
Adele's eyes welled up, but she fought back tears.
"Just... give me a minute," Adele whispered.
Karen moved closer and wrapped Adele in a gentle hug.
"I'm here," Karen said. "No rush." She gave assurance as she softly patted Adele's back. Adele was really grateful because that was what she needed. A hug to pull her in.
The silence enveloped them, a comforting blanket.
Adele's thoughts drifted to the girl, wondering what could've been done differently. If she worked faster than usual, would she have made it? Different thoughts were messing with her head.
Karen pulled away from the hug.
"Gimme a minute," she spoke softly, getting up and vanishing into the kitchen. She returned about three minutes later.
Karen handed Adele a steaming cup of tea.
"Chamomile," Karen said. "To calm your nerves. It works everytime."
Adele gave a thankful look before sipping, letting the warmth spread through her.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a warm glow, Adele finally spoke.
"Lost a patient today," Adele whispered.
Karen listened attentively.
"A father and daughter... same accident," Adele explained.
Karen's eyes widened.
"Oh, Adele..." Karen whispered.
Adele's voice cracked.
"Saved the father... couldn't save her," Adele said.
Tears streamed down Adele's face.
Karen held her close.
"You did everything you could," Karen reassured.
Adele's body shook with sobs.
For the first time, Adele faced the harsh reality of her profession.
The weight of responsibility.
The pain of loss.
"I keep thinking... what if?" Adele said.
Karen's grip tightened.
"There's no what-if, Adele. You're an amazing doctor," Karen said.
Adele pulled back.
"Then why did she die?" Adele asked.
Karen's expression softened.
"Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, things just don't go as planned," Karen said.
Adele nodded.
"I know," Adele whispered.
But the ache lingered.
The sound of a buzzing phone interrupted the quiet moment as Adele reached out to take the call.
"Hello, Dad," she spoke with a soft sigh.
"Pumpkin. How are you?" He asked in a loving tone.
"I'm doing great. Why'd you call?" She asked, trying to sound okay.
"Just wanted to know if you're free tonight. I wanted us to have dinner together," he spoke in response and Adele rubbed her eyes tiredly.
She'd been avoiding the visiting stuff for a reason. But she couldn't turn her Dad down now, could she? Considering that the old man rarely ever asked her for anything.
"Adele? You there?" He jolted her back from oblivion.
"Oh, yes. Uh, I'm free tonight. I'll come over," she finally replied.
"Excellent! Oh and, we also have something very important to tell you so don't bring Karen along. It's a family related stuff," he spoke making her frown.
"But she IS family, you know that,"she mumbled.
"Please understand me, Piccola."
She sighed in resignation.
"Fine. I'll come alone,"she grumbled.
" Thank you my dear. Don't be late,"he spoke excitedly before hanging up.
" What was that?"Karen who'd gone back to typing on her laptop, faced her again.
" It's dad. He wants me to come over,"she spoke and she nodded.
" And I suppose he wants you to come alone?"Karen asked.
"Yeah, "Adele gave an apologetic look.
" No, it's fine. And I perfectly understand, okay? I'll go back to continue with the work I have on hand," she spoke with a small smile before doing as she said.
Adele glanced at the time and got up to start getting ready. For the first time in about two years, she was going home to eat dinner with them.
Exciting. Note the sarcasm.
Adele walked into the house she'd made lots of awful memories in, with a blank look on her face. Something just told her that whatever was about to be said, wasn't anything good. It's never been.
The Marinos were among the Italian elites. They were a name that people knew to acknowledge at all times. Chairman Marino was the retired president of ADL Global Group, a telecommunication group. He had a wife and two kids. Lucy Marino, the wife of the chairman, was the typical witch who believed that she made the world go round. A definition of unhealthy pride and greed combined. Her kids, Margaret and Stanley Marino were just like her. Vile, vicious and carefree. Whatever they wanted, they got.
Adele wasn't exactly acknowledged as a Marino. She was adopted. Only the chairman loved her to death. The rest of the family, well... It's safe to say they hated her.
Due to the fact that the chairman only ever listened to Adele, their spite for her had doubled over the years. Living under the Marino roof wasn't easy for her which was why she jumped out the moment she got the chance to. It was for her own safety.
She walked charismatically into the house which was so quiet. The chairman loved his peace as equally as he hated unnecessary noise and chaos.
Easily identifying where the dinner would take place, the back yard, she walked her way there.
"Oh, who do we have here?" Margaret, who was the first to notice her, snorted.
"Ah. It's her royal majesty, Adele. Welcome," Stanley gave a smile so obviously fake.
Stanley was 27 and Margaret was 25. Being 24, Adele decided to just shun them off.
"Dad," she smiled, walking towards him and leaving a peck on the chairman's cheek.
"Pumpkin. I'm so happy to see you here. Take a seat," he pointed at the seat on his right hand side. Lucy, the woman of the house, silently sat on his left hand side, directing a hateful look Adele's way.
"Thanks, Dad," Adele took a seat, picking up her cutleries. Steak being her favorite, was the first dish she aimed at.
"Hold on," Lucy finally spoke.
"Why hello, Lucy. I didn't see you there," Adele passed a tight-lipped smile her way.
"I won't blame you, dear. Being blind is not a crime," Lucy insulted in a calm tone.
"I supposed you'd understand since you're in my shoes as well," Adele retorted causing Lucy to look away, her face turning red from unspoken anger.
" I have no time to banter with you. Let's just move on to the reason you're here,"Lucy spoke, pushing away her plate.
"Are you telling her or am I given the honor? "She directed her question at Chairman Marino.
"I'll... I'll tell her,"the chairman spoke uneasily.
" What's the issue, Dad? Is something wrong? "Adele, who noticed how tensed her father was, asked.
" Well, sweetie, you see.... "The chairman hesitated.
"We're marrying you off, "Lucy chipped in.
"Excuse you?" Adele looked confused.
"I said, you're getting married in two weeks," Lucy rephrased clearly.
"What?!!!"