The Dawn of Hope

The sun peeked out from the edge of the harbor as the once black sky turned to the crimson shade of dawn. The so few clouds that loomed over the city resembled the orange cotton candy sold at the fair. The woman almost felt nostalgic looking up at them.

“Doctor, here you are!” Mike, an intern under her wing, called out as he run out of the hospital. His eyes were hollow, dark with sadness, and a frown touched his lips.

“When?” she muttered as she immediately realized why he look so defeated.

“He died just fifteen minutes ago.” His words barely reached her ears as his voice trailed off to a whisper. She turned and stared at the dawn. He had faded away, her colleague with whom she was just watching the same sight a few days ago. He had passed away, just like the patients he was looking after not too long ago.

She could be the next one and, as that thought struck her mind, she realized that she wasn’t ready to die. She had a family, two kids waiting at home, and plenty of promises to them that she hadn’t fulfilled yet.

A sob spilled out of her and she doubled over, her forehead hitting her knees. Had the time arrived to quit? She knew that the hospital was like a battlefield, where death could knock on her door any minute, and that one day she wouldn’t be able to keep up. However, leave all her patients, acting cowardly… Could she give up?

“Doctor, it’s time to go inside. A lot of people are waiting.” She breathed in and looked at the sun which had now fully revealed itself. He was right; a lot of people were counting on her.

“Let’s go,” she announced as she wore the blue face mask. She wouldn’t put down her mask and cape, not yet.

She took one last look at the sun peeking out. Maybe, the breathtaking dawn was foreshadowing a better day, a new beginning with less death. She could only hope she was right.