This place was meant to be as clean, as sterile as possible,. For it is where young warriors with fighting spirits higher than yours and mine temporarily take a break from their supposedly gleeful, carefree life.
A period of time which you and I can no longer go back. The best period of one's life. The period when they are supposed to be playing hide-and-seek under the showers of warm sunshine, or maybe with an ipad.
'Hey young man, great to see you!'
As usual, a pleasant welcome from Aunt Lily, followed by she asking me how my clinical postings had been.
'same old, same old, haha..'
After making sure that the hands're thoroughly cleansed, slowly, I walked into the mini toy museum which is also well equipped with story/comic books and art crafts, where young fighters who carry mobile drug infusion pumps can come in and have some fun.
Probably the only place in the entire ward where energetic laughter and gestures are more apparent.
A place where heart-aching crying sounds of children are more often heard.
A place where parents desperately wish that their prayers are heard.
Wearing a cute turquoise mask, she was playing with her toy doctors's kits.
An age of learning simple maths and Chinese characters.
'aiya I am sick ah Doctor, would you help me?'
We were acting as patients, trying to play along with her. Such irony.
After growing bored of it, we switched to another fancy but loud electronic toy.
As the box shaped thing vibrated, causing the tiny toy crabs to sort of move and jump, we had to use the plastic scalpel to grasp them out.
Kids can be really spontaneous.
'Show you something funny'
No longer amused, she put down the toy as she was saying this to me, whilst both of her hands reaching her head.
She pulled off a few strands of her precious hair and showed them to me.
Without difficulty. Without Pain.
As if she was trying to show off her awesome ability.
A part of my heart shattered.
****
And then I was playing western chess with another young girl.
An age when the rest of her peers are excited about the upcoming UPSR.
When asked, she proudly answered that she indeed played chess at school.
Excited, I was expecting a good match, after such a long time of not playing this ancient board game.
A game of war between two sides.
She has her own war to fight as well.
They all have their respective battles too.
It turned out to be a slight disappointment, haha. I had to think hard to fake my defeat, but not to the extend of being too obvious.
We are trained to be observant. Clinicians are supposed to be expert in observing, for we are always looking for signs in patients from time to time. Tiny white lines on the nails for example, may indicate that one is losing proteins due to problems in the kidneys.
I wasn't being observant that day.
It was approaching the time of the day, where the young warriors had to get back to their beds.
'aiya, it's time to go back'
She turned behind to grab her axillary crutch which I did not notice, and stood up.
And I realised, she was standing, with her one and only leg.
Together with another aunty, I accompanied her back to her room. Her mother was already standing outside, waiting for her proud princess.
'she was complaining about not being able to have pets, this girl ah...'
'aha, you like animals ah?'
'I want to be an animal doctor!'
****
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| what are the odds of you seeing gulis nowadays! |
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| she made me the cupcake, with free beer! |
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| In life, sometimes you're at the top, sometimes you're at the lowest, but in the next round, things change. Be kind to each other, make peace with everyone. |
'Mummy why can't we go home yet?'
'This is how being sick is like, stay strong okay, dear'
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