Patients keep their stays in the clinic as short as possible. The people of Washington Heights have many secrets. They don't like all of the questions the medical staff asks. It's a shame that they think that even us could be out to harm them. Many just don't understand that those specific questions are necessary for thorough diagnosis and understanding of why he or she ended up at the clinic. Those prying questions are important, because we treat the physical injuries as well as the mental.
Unfortunately early this morning one of my patients, Mr. Jefferson, came by for treatment for some major bruises and cuts that needed stitches. I asked him a few questions such as if he had a home, any insurance, and a way to contact him. He answered those questions without difficulty, but when I asked him how he got them he didn't answer. I tried explaining to him how important that information was. I left the room to give him his space, but when I returned to clean and stitch up his cuts Mr. Jefferson was nowhere to be found. "Hmmmm...what a shame. Another one gone."
People in this town have to deal with so much. They have to be cautious about their every move, whether it's what route to take to get home safely or even what clothes to wear to avoid getting shot or robbed. In Washington Heights too much crime happens and too little is done about it. The people have no other choice but to look out for themselves, nobody else will.
My own personal experience in Washington Heights has definitely helped me in more ways than one, but even though I'm a beneficiary of it, I still cannot and will not stay much longer. Mark and I have really done some thinking about where we want to be in the future, and we concluded that staying in this dump will not help us get there. We're moving away to the same town, maybe even living together, so we can get on the right track.
RING!!... RING!! The phone on my desk echoed throughout my office.
I answered, "Hello?"
"Dr. Evans?"
"This is she. How can I help you?"
" Hi, this is your real estate agent, Mrs. Johnston. I wanted to call you to
notify you and Mark that I have found two affordable apartments that match your
descriptions."
"Well this is wonderful news." I tried to hide my excitment. I almost
screamed. "Thankyou so very much Mrs. Johnston, Mark and I will look into it."
"Thankyou, Ms. Evans I'll email the pics to you tonight"
"That would be great, I'll talk to you later."
I hung up the phone probably with the biggest smile on my face. I called Mark and let him know the news. He was more animated than me if you can believe it. It was six o'clock. Almost time for me to go home. I reviewed all my paper work and checked up on every patient before I prepared to pack up and go. Today was a quieter day than usual and it was nice being able to get out on time for the first time in a while. I couldn't get my the news Mrs. Johnston divulged to me off my mind...Well that and of course Mark himself. He makes me so happy just thinking about him. He's my angel, the answer to my prayers.
"Well, I'm about to leave now. Is there anything else anybody needs before I do
so?"
The only response I recieved was a shaking of heads. I smiled, grabbed my breifcase, put on my goat, and started my journey out the door and made my way down the streets of the town. As I was on my trek home, Mark called...
"Hey sweetie, what's up?" He said.
"Oh nothing much besides the news I told you earlier. I'm just walking home at
the moment. I'm going down Baker Street, did you know that Washington Heights
has an ice cream truck now?"
Of course he was aware of that fact. He's always aware of changes and figuring stuff out, Mark is the guy to go to if anyone wants to know anything. Me and him talked about what a nice addition to the town it would be if it wasn't for drug deals. Haha! Why is it that evil takes every opportunity to tarnish this place? The possible good is supposed to prevail over the bad! We continued our conversation as I walked up the stairs. I noticed the heavy steel door of the second floor open then shut. A young guy still in his teens stumbled down the stairs. I stopped and waited for him to pass me. We made eye contact. He had red glossy eyes. His hair was everywhere. As I stood on the side, I could see that he carried a glass that appeared to contain orange juice. The odor from the cup and his breath reeked of alcohol. I would have done something for Barnheart, but from past experience, my interferrance doesn't do any good. The only thing left to do is let him be. Allow him to do what he wants. Brone is a kind, funny guy. He keeps his wits about him even while intoxicated. "I JUST WISH HE KNEW HOW MUCH POTENTIAL HE HAS."
I made it to the rickety apartment I call home, put my keys in the bowl sitting on my coffee table, and went straight to my computer. I accessed my email and quickly searched for the message from the real estated agent. I looked at them and smiled.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Her Lesson Pays Off!
I was back at the clinic. I was back in the swing of things and back to myself again;however, happier than ever. Spending the night with Mark was great and it gave me a whole other attitude about things. Just knowing there was a guy out there who likes me was wonderful, and knowing that he likes me for who I am was invigorating.
As I sat in my office I glanced at the plain clock on the wall. It was six o'clock and the sun had just started to set. I could hear the sleet smacking on my window. It was coming down hard.
"Ugh" I sighed in relief. It wasn't much longer till I got to go to home sweet home.
The weather made everything outside look so disgusting. Mud was splattering everywhere, and the wind blew whatever remaining leaves off the plants. The environment couldn't even help to resemble the town's bare ugliness. It didn't take long till I heard the sirens from the neighboring police department go off. That occurred at least six times during my shift each day. Violence and crime was always happening, exhausting the public service workers. Some people have been loyal to Washington Heights for twenty some odd years and little old me was struggling serving the community for only two. It was an undeniable fact that the town was taking it's toll on me. None of the doctors in the town got paid well enough to face the problems they are dealt with every single day.
"Perhaps one day I will be able to leave this hell hole and move to a nice city with blooming flowers and live in a nice suburban home...maybe even have a kid or two." I stared at my computer just imagining it.
In the midst of my day dreaming, "Dr. Evans, calling Dr. Evans. You're needed in the front lobby. Dr. Evans please report to the front lobby."
I immediately got up and made my way down the hallway towards the front lobby anticipating to discover another innocent victim of violence. I came prepared with everything I needed...
...As I walked I could hear giggling and noticed a nurse trying to hide her smile and excitement facing the opposite direction.
"This is odd. I wonder what's going on?" I said quietly as I turned the last corner.
Suddenly I spot Mark all dressed up in a suit and tie, but also holding a bouquet of red roses. All the women nurses thought he was so cute and sweet. They looked at me with the largest smiles I had seen ever since they got their raises. They were happy for me.
"I came to pick you up and I was hoping that you would let me take you out for a nice dinner?" He said.
I smiled and looked him in the eyes, "Wow you surprised me!" I hugged him tightly and gently kissed him (that was our first kiss).
"It's just about that time that I get off anyways." I said. I was really tired, but I could suck it up. I was determined to have another splendid time with my guy. "I don't see the harm in us having a good time." I said.
"Phew! Good! I was terrified that you would tell me no." Then we both laughed. I quietly directed him to follow me to my office so I could go pack up to leave, and as I left I could see all the faces just filled with joy. They were happy I finally had a guy. Ha! Ha!
Mark and I walked out of the clinic and were headed towards the car. I passed a man, Ryan I think was his name. "Peculiar guy." Anyways, he said good evening to us and we wished him a good evening as well. Anyways, me and Mark got in the car and left for our night out.
By the time I was done getting dressed it was almost eleven o'clock. We searched for any nice restaurants but couldn't even manage to find one. Not even one! So we had to succumb to the inevitable. We decided to eat our dinner at the local twenty-four hour diner. The food was good, and everything was nice. We shared good conversation and told each other some of the funniest things that ever happened to us. The only alarming thing that happened was our waitress. She was young and very nice, but for some reason she had a bruise on her face and more all over her arms. I felt like it was my responsibility to talk to her, but I was afraid I'd make her uncomfortable, so I left my business card with a message on the back of it saying...
"I'm pretty sure I know what you're going through. I've seen it all over at the clinic. I've seen people come out of the situation you're in all the time, and I wanted to let you know that you can too. Come and visit me at the address provided. We can help. You don't have to accept this."
Mark said I did the right thing, but not to be surprised if she didn't contact her or get any help. I just shrugged, and told him that at least I tried. I gave her the tools to get started and now it's up to her to act on it.
As I sat in my office I glanced at the plain clock on the wall. It was six o'clock and the sun had just started to set. I could hear the sleet smacking on my window. It was coming down hard.
"Ugh" I sighed in relief. It wasn't much longer till I got to go to home sweet home.
The weather made everything outside look so disgusting. Mud was splattering everywhere, and the wind blew whatever remaining leaves off the plants. The environment couldn't even help to resemble the town's bare ugliness. It didn't take long till I heard the sirens from the neighboring police department go off. That occurred at least six times during my shift each day. Violence and crime was always happening, exhausting the public service workers. Some people have been loyal to Washington Heights for twenty some odd years and little old me was struggling serving the community for only two. It was an undeniable fact that the town was taking it's toll on me. None of the doctors in the town got paid well enough to face the problems they are dealt with every single day.
"Perhaps one day I will be able to leave this hell hole and move to a nice city with blooming flowers and live in a nice suburban home...maybe even have a kid or two." I stared at my computer just imagining it.
In the midst of my day dreaming, "Dr. Evans, calling Dr. Evans. You're needed in the front lobby. Dr. Evans please report to the front lobby."
I immediately got up and made my way down the hallway towards the front lobby anticipating to discover another innocent victim of violence. I came prepared with everything I needed...
...As I walked I could hear giggling and noticed a nurse trying to hide her smile and excitement facing the opposite direction.
"This is odd. I wonder what's going on?" I said quietly as I turned the last corner.
Suddenly I spot Mark all dressed up in a suit and tie, but also holding a bouquet of red roses. All the women nurses thought he was so cute and sweet. They looked at me with the largest smiles I had seen ever since they got their raises. They were happy for me.
"I came to pick you up and I was hoping that you would let me take you out for a nice dinner?" He said.
I smiled and looked him in the eyes, "Wow you surprised me!" I hugged him tightly and gently kissed him (that was our first kiss).
"It's just about that time that I get off anyways." I said. I was really tired, but I could suck it up. I was determined to have another splendid time with my guy. "I don't see the harm in us having a good time." I said.
"Phew! Good! I was terrified that you would tell me no." Then we both laughed. I quietly directed him to follow me to my office so I could go pack up to leave, and as I left I could see all the faces just filled with joy. They were happy I finally had a guy. Ha! Ha!
Mark and I walked out of the clinic and were headed towards the car. I passed a man, Ryan I think was his name. "Peculiar guy." Anyways, he said good evening to us and we wished him a good evening as well. Anyways, me and Mark got in the car and left for our night out.
By the time I was done getting dressed it was almost eleven o'clock. We searched for any nice restaurants but couldn't even manage to find one. Not even one! So we had to succumb to the inevitable. We decided to eat our dinner at the local twenty-four hour diner. The food was good, and everything was nice. We shared good conversation and told each other some of the funniest things that ever happened to us. The only alarming thing that happened was our waitress. She was young and very nice, but for some reason she had a bruise on her face and more all over her arms. I felt like it was my responsibility to talk to her, but I was afraid I'd make her uncomfortable, so I left my business card with a message on the back of it saying...
"I'm pretty sure I know what you're going through. I've seen it all over at the clinic. I've seen people come out of the situation you're in all the time, and I wanted to let you know that you can too. Come and visit me at the address provided. We can help. You don't have to accept this."
Mark said I did the right thing, but not to be surprised if she didn't contact her or get any help. I just shrugged, and told him that at least I tried. I gave her the tools to get started and now it's up to her to act on it.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A Lesson Learned
In places such as Washington Heights, people have problems with drugs, violence and many other things. Their circumstances can sometimes be so terrible that they can be influenced to make bad decisions resulting with them in jail, homeless, or even dead. In this place there are people who are comfortable with settling for less, there are some who have hope and try to escape by doing better for themselves, and then there are those who have already made it to success however the city's shadow catches up with them and shatters their lives. The question is "Where does Lucy Evan's life fit?"
"I am so done with this sh@*!"
I woke up from a dream on my couch. I never moved from where I cried and fell asleep from my exhaustion from last night's terrible event. My dream was about me changing from a perfectionist girl who never did much of anything when it came to enjoying life's thrills, to a more mature woman who does whatever the hell she feels like when she feels like. I woke up feeling empowered, free, and liberated! I liked that feeling.
"From here on I'm going to enjoy what life has given me. I'm going to live everyday like it was my last."
The mugging experience showed me how easy it was for life to be taken. I was dissatisfied with how I lived so conservatively, like I was afraid or something. Even though I was a victim, my perseverance has made me stronger. I will forever stand tall. That night I suffered from terror, but that morning I was no longer afraid.
I got on the phone with another doctor telling him I needed him to come in for me because I had to take a break from everything that happened. "Thank you very much and I appreciate your understanding." I'm determined to make my future better than my past. I got dressed, and left...Where? I don't know.
It was a rainy and windy outside of course. Washington Heights never gets any nice weather, but it didn't matter. I walked down a couple blocks to the bar. I saw Dominic outside the door smoking a cigarette.
"Could I get one?" I asked.
"Sure, but I've never seen you smoke before."
"Yeah I know, I'm changing things up from now on."
We finished our smokes, then I walked inside the bar. I looked around and found the bar. I drank till I couldn't feel my stress. I wasn't drunk, but I was "happy"...alright I'll be honest, I was DRUNK off my ass. Either way I was having a good time. It was a nice feeling not having to be under so much pressure. I was finally able to relax.
Then I met a guy that only ever existed in my dreams. He was tall, dark and handsome. It was like heaven when I looked into his eyes. It was like the whole bar didn't exist anymore, time stood still, and every noise was silent it was just me and him... "BLLUUUGH"
I felt so sick suddenly, I drank too much alcohol and that cigarette from earlier didn't do my stomach any good either.
"O my god! You don't look so hot" He said
"Thanx, I don't feel so hot either...too much drinking for me tonight." I said frowning.
I was so messed up I couldn't see straight, or walk straight at that. I told him I was going home, but he told me I shouldn't go alone. I attempted to walk out the door, but he stopped me. I told him I'd be fine, but he wasn't convinced.
"Here, lemme take you home...please?"
I could see that he wasn't going to take no for an answer,"Okay okay you can take me home."
As he drove his car towards the Washington Heights building, I saw a girl looking in the window at the flower shop. (I wonder what in the world that skinner girl wanted to do with flowers at this time of night.) Instead of taking the stairs, he had me go up to the sixth floor in the elevator. We made it the door of my apartment, but by the time we walked in everything just went black...
The guy's name was Mark, and for some reason he cared about me. He wasn't like the "other" guys. I could tell just by looking at him. I was really drowsy and I woke up in the comforts of my soft bed. Mark was leaning over me and talking to me quietly saying,
"You're going to be okay, I would never let anything happen to someone like you. Thank you for letting me get you home safe".
I smiled barely able to open my eyes, and whispered, "No thank you".
He proceeded to walk out my room heading for the door. I thought to myself how sweet he was to me, then I realized that very sweetness was about to leave, and there was a possibility that I may never see him again!
"Wait!" I said as loud as I could. "Don't leave now, it's almost four o'clock in the morning. Will you stay here and keep me company?"
"Well I don't know.."
"...but I want you to"
We locked eyes for a second till he said he would. He pulled up a chair near me and sat there till I fell asleep. That was the first time in a long time that I've gone to sleep to content and happy.
"I am so done with this sh@*!"
I woke up from a dream on my couch. I never moved from where I cried and fell asleep from my exhaustion from last night's terrible event. My dream was about me changing from a perfectionist girl who never did much of anything when it came to enjoying life's thrills, to a more mature woman who does whatever the hell she feels like when she feels like. I woke up feeling empowered, free, and liberated! I liked that feeling.
"From here on I'm going to enjoy what life has given me. I'm going to live everyday like it was my last."
The mugging experience showed me how easy it was for life to be taken. I was dissatisfied with how I lived so conservatively, like I was afraid or something. Even though I was a victim, my perseverance has made me stronger. I will forever stand tall. That night I suffered from terror, but that morning I was no longer afraid.
I got on the phone with another doctor telling him I needed him to come in for me because I had to take a break from everything that happened. "Thank you very much and I appreciate your understanding." I'm determined to make my future better than my past. I got dressed, and left...Where? I don't know.
It was a rainy and windy outside of course. Washington Heights never gets any nice weather, but it didn't matter. I walked down a couple blocks to the bar. I saw Dominic outside the door smoking a cigarette.
"Could I get one?" I asked.
"Sure, but I've never seen you smoke before."
"Yeah I know, I'm changing things up from now on."
We finished our smokes, then I walked inside the bar. I looked around and found the bar. I drank till I couldn't feel my stress. I wasn't drunk, but I was "happy"...alright I'll be honest, I was DRUNK off my ass. Either way I was having a good time. It was a nice feeling not having to be under so much pressure. I was finally able to relax.
Then I met a guy that only ever existed in my dreams. He was tall, dark and handsome. It was like heaven when I looked into his eyes. It was like the whole bar didn't exist anymore, time stood still, and every noise was silent it was just me and him... "BLLUUUGH"
I felt so sick suddenly, I drank too much alcohol and that cigarette from earlier didn't do my stomach any good either.
"O my god! You don't look so hot" He said
"Thanx, I don't feel so hot either...too much drinking for me tonight." I said frowning.
I was so messed up I couldn't see straight, or walk straight at that. I told him I was going home, but he told me I shouldn't go alone. I attempted to walk out the door, but he stopped me. I told him I'd be fine, but he wasn't convinced.
"Here, lemme take you home...please?"
I could see that he wasn't going to take no for an answer,"Okay okay you can take me home."
As he drove his car towards the Washington Heights building, I saw a girl looking in the window at the flower shop. (I wonder what in the world that skinner girl wanted to do with flowers at this time of night.) Instead of taking the stairs, he had me go up to the sixth floor in the elevator. We made it the door of my apartment, but by the time we walked in everything just went black...
The guy's name was Mark, and for some reason he cared about me. He wasn't like the "other" guys. I could tell just by looking at him. I was really drowsy and I woke up in the comforts of my soft bed. Mark was leaning over me and talking to me quietly saying,
"You're going to be okay, I would never let anything happen to someone like you. Thank you for letting me get you home safe".
I smiled barely able to open my eyes, and whispered, "No thank you".
He proceeded to walk out my room heading for the door. I thought to myself how sweet he was to me, then I realized that very sweetness was about to leave, and there was a possibility that I may never see him again!
"Wait!" I said as loud as I could. "Don't leave now, it's almost four o'clock in the morning. Will you stay here and keep me company?"
"Well I don't know.."
"...but I want you to"
We locked eyes for a second till he said he would. He pulled up a chair near me and sat there till I fell asleep. That was the first time in a long time that I've gone to sleep to content and happy.
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