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发表于 2005-2-14 10:19 AM
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回复: 【转帖】一個英文版的妙手仁心續集
Jackie’s Hospital Room
The door to Jackie’s room slammed open, startling the doctor who was busy studying Jackie’s chart. He looked up to see a breathless Paul entering the room. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com[img] /><o:p></o:p></font></font></b>
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“Oh hi, Paul. I can see that you didn’t waste any time getting here.” <o:p></o:p>
“David,” Paul acknowledged his colleague. “Did Jackie really respond?” <o:p></o:p>
“Well, her vitals appear to be the same now, though I did detect a little something more earlier on. Here, talk to her, maybe that will help.” <o:p></o:p>
By now, everyone had entered the room, while Annie, Henry, Gilbert, Helen, Joe and Carmen crowded round the bed. <o:p></o:p>
Paul sat beside Jackie’s bed, and took her hand gently. <o:p></o:p>
“Jackie, it’s Paul. Can you hear me? If you can, let me know, just do something to let me know that you can hear me. Jackie, come on, open your eyes,” <o:p></o:p>
He kissed Jackie’s hand, before trying again. <o:p></o:p>
“Happy birthday, Jackie. Do you know that today is your birthday? We are planning a birthday party for you. Annie is also here. She has brought you a huge present! Actually, everyone is here, Henry, Gilbert, Helen, Joe... We are all just waiting to see you wake up, to see that playful smile of yours again. Come on, Jackie, I’m sure you don’t want to disappoint us, right? Today is such a nice day too. Annie told me that she saw a rainbow on her way here, and that it is still here. If you wake up now, you can still see it. It’s just outside your window.” <o:p></o:p>
Paul echoed the words which he had uttered such a long time ago. On so saying, he got up, and went to draw back the drapes, so that Jackie would be able to see the rainbow, which to his relief, was still there, when she woke up. <o:p></o:p>
He returned to her bedside, and resumed his appeal. <o:p></o:p>
“Jackie, do you know long we have waited for this miracle? Do you know how long you have been sleeping? Come on, sleeping beauty, it’s time for you to wake up.” <o:p></o:p>
Paul had to choke out his last words, as disappointment overwhelmed him. It had been fifteen minutes since he first entered the room. Even though he tried to remain optimistic, he was not so sure that what David had seen was just his imagination. <o:p></o:p>
Annie could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She had been so sure that her best friend would open her eyes any moment now, yet, after seeing Paul talking to her for so long, there was not even a response. Henry placed his arm around her, tucking her to his side. On seeing how devastated Paul was becoming, Annie decided to try. She walked to his side. <o:p></o:p>
“Here, Paul, let me try.” <o:p></o:p>
Paul looked up, and seemed to only then acknowledge the presence of others in the room. <o:p></o:p>
“Yeah, Paul, let Annie try.” <o:p></o:p>
Gilbert encouraged. <o:p></o:p>
Paul finally nodded, and allowed Annie to replace him on the chair. <o:p></o:p>
Annie picked up Jackie’s hand, rubbing it absent-mindedly. <o:p></o:p>
“Hey, Jackie, it’s time to wake up. All of us have been waiting ages for you to just wake up. You have been sleeping for a long time already, don’t you know that? It’s time to get up and face the world again. There’s Paul too. He has slimmed down so much in the last few months, spending every moment he can spare with you. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him, would you.” <o:p></o:p>
She leaned in closer to Jackie, whispering in her ear. <o:p></o:p>
“There’s this new doctor in the ER, who is replacing you. Even though I have only just met her, I can see that she is interested in Paul. You'd better wake up if you don’t want Paul to be snatched away by someone else.” <o:p></o:p>
She leaned back again, resuming her normal tone, leaving everyone looking on in bemusement, as they wondered what Annie had just whispered to Jackie. <o:p></o:p>
“It’s your birthday today, and I think it’s the best present you can give yourself if you wake up now. I even have your bedroom all ready, just waiting for you to come back. Jackie...” <o:p></o:p>
Tears blinded Annie as she continued talking to her best friend, who was just like a sister to her. <o:p></o:p>
Henry walked up to her. <o:p></o:p>
“Here, Annie, don’t be like that. I’m sure Jackie wouldn’t want to see your crying face the moment she wakes up. I think Paul still has things he wants to say to her.” <o:p></o:p>
Annie nodded, and got off the seat, wiping her cheeks as she did so. <o:p></o:p>
Paul patted her shoulder reassuringly before he took the seat that Annie had just vacated. <o:p></o:p>
“Hey Jackie, it’s me again. When you recover, we will go see the sun rise together, just the two of us...” <o:p></o:p>
The movement was so slight, so slight that he did not notice, nor did anyone else who was in the room. <o:p></o:p>
Then came the whisper. <o:p></o:p>
"aul." <o:p></o:p>
Still, he did not hear it, being too engrossed with talking to her. <o:p></o:p>
She tried again. <o:p></o:p>
"aul." <o:p></o:p>
This time, it came out slightly louder. <o:p></o:p>
And this time, he caught it, nearly coming out of his chair in his excitement. <o:p></o:p>
"Jackie, did you say something?" He squeezed her hand. "If you hear me, just squeeze my hand in return." Even though it was as weak as before, this time, he felt it. "She squeezed my hand!" Paul nearly shouted. <o:p></o:p>
Everyone strained forward in their excitement. Annie quickly walked to Paul side. <o:p></o:p>
"Jackie, it Annie. Can you hear me?" <o:p></o:p>
This time, her voice came out much stronger, so that everyone in the room could hear it. <o:p></o:p>
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. You are so noisy, how could anyone not hear you?" <o:p></o:p>
Annie laughed, amidst her tears. Paul grinned. <o:p></o:p>
"She is going to be fine now." <o:p></o:p>
He looked fondly at Jackie, who had finally managed to open her eyes. She gazed back at the man, who had been at her side, all this while. <o:p></o:p>
"aul..." <o:p></o:p>
"It’s alright, you are going to be just fine." <o:p></o:p>
He looked at David, who nodded. <o:p></o:p>
"Her vital signs are strong." <o:p></o:p>
Paul nodded his thanks on hearing that, and stood up, intending to examine Jackie himself. <o:p></o:p>
"If you will excuse me guys, I need to do a checkup for Jackie." <o:p></o:p>
"Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses. If you want a moment alone with her, just say so, we will understand." Henry retorted. <o:p></o:p>
"Alright, guys, I want a moment alone with Jackie, so will you please excuse us?" <o:p></o:p>
Paul grinned, his whole face lightened up now, in a way that no one had seen for a long time. <o:p></o:p>
"See, I knew it!" <o:p></o:p>
Henry could not resist making that last remark, as he ushered everyone out of the room. <o:p></o:p>
Annie lingered. <o:p></o:p>
"I will see you later, ok?" <o:p></o:p>
Jackie nodded. <o:p></o:p>
Reluctantly, Annie left the room after the others, turning back to look at Jackie a couple of times, as if to reassure herself that her best friend had really woken up. <o:p></o:p>
Jackie turned her attention to the man who had been contented to just watch the exchange, and who was now grinning crazily. <o:p></o:p>
“Let me do an examination on you, first, alright? Before we talk any further”Jackie smiled, and closed her eyes, content to leave her life in this man’s hands. <o:p></o:p>
“Jackie!” <o:p></o:p>
Her eyes startled open by Paul’s sudden shout. <o:p></o:p>
“Sorry, I... I... thought that you had gone back to your coma again.” <o:p></o:p>
Weakly, Jackie stretched out a hand to take Paul’s in hers. <o:p></o:p>
“Paul, now that I have woken up, I don’t plan to going back to sleep again. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine, I promise.” <o:p></o:p>
Paul smiled sheepishly. <o:p></o:p>
“I think we’d better start that examination first, shall we?” <o:p></o:p>
He indicated to the nurse that had stayed behind to unbutton Jackie’s blouse, before leaning down to listen to her heartbeat with his stethoscope. After a few more examinations, he finally declared that she was fit and should recover pretty soon. <o:p></o:p>
“May, you may go now. Tell the others that they may come in, in a couple of minutes' time.” <o:p></o:p>
The nurse smiled, and took her leave. As soon as the nurse was out of sight, Paul sat down next to Jackie, and took her hand, bringing it up to his lips for a kiss. <o:p></o:p>
“Do you know how worried I have been? It’s really time that you wake up, you know. I was so scared that I won’t ever have a chance to tell you how much I love you, how much I need you by my side...” <o:p></o:p>
“Since when have you become so mushy?” Jackie teased, her playful nature reasserting itself, even though her voice was still weak.
“Since you went into a coma.” <o:p></o:p>
Paul replied seriously. Tears came to his eyes as he gazed at the lady whom he was afraid that he would never talk to again, who would never know his love, and whom he could not live without. <o:p></o:p>
On seeing the tears, Jackie was quick to wipe them off, even though her eyes were starting to mist. <o:p></o:p>
“Paul, I’m sorry, sorry to make you worry, sorry that I took so long to wake up, sorry that...” <o:p></o:p>
Paul placed a finger against her lips. <o:p></o:p>
“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I should never have taken that extra minute, should never have...” <o:p></o:p>
Before he can finish that sentence, Jackie placed her own finger against his lips. <o:p></o:p>
“Let’s not talk about whose fault it is now, shall we? Now that we are given another chance, I think we should appreciate our time together more, don’t you think so?” <o:p></o:p>
Paul nodded, and smiled against her finger. Slowly, he leaned down and replaced his finger on Jackie’s lips with his own lips. He had just lifted his head again when there was a knock at the door. It opened a small crack before everyone’s heads peeked in. <o:p></o:p>
“So, are you guys decent?” <o:p></o:p>
Paul laughed. <o:p></o:p>
“Oh, you guys, come on in.” <o:p></o:p>
Without any hesitation, the door was flung wide open, and everyone reentered the room. This time, the room seemed more crowded as the news of Jackie’s waking up had traveled in the hospital and everyone who had known her, wanted to come and visit her. <o:p></o:p>
Paul settled himself on the bed next to Jackie, holding her hand all the while. <o:p></o:p>
“Now, she has just woken up, so not too much of an excitement, ok?” <o:p></o:p>
“See how defensive he is of her already!” Gilbert teased. <o:p></o:p>
“Well, I nearly lost her once, I’m not going to again!” Paul retorted, gripping Jackie’s hand tightly. <o:p></o:p>
“Wow, I feel like a star or something, so many of you are here to see me. I guess I should feel honored.” <o:p></o:p>
“Of course you should.” Annie answered. “I even took the rest of the day off.” <o:p></o:p>
Jackie turned her head, and saw that her dear friend had come forward and was now standing beside her bed. She stretched out a hand, which Annie took hold of immediately. <o:p></o:p>
“Annie.” She said simply, smiling. <o:p></o:p>
“You scared the hell out of me, you know! Don’t you ever do that to me again.” <o:p></o:p>
Annie scolded gently, tears welling up in her eyes again, though this time, they were tears of happiness and not sadness. <o:p></o:p>
Paul, on seeing this scene, stood up at once and offered his seat to Annie. <o:p></o:p>
“No, it’s ok, you can remain sitting. I still have lots of time to scold her, you need this more than I do.” <o:p></o:p>
“Alright, if you say so.” <o:p></o:p>
Paul replied, sitting back down immediately, reluctant to relinquish his position, even though he was the one who had made the offer in the first place. After a round of bantering that lasted about half an hour, Paul declared that it was time everyone leave, and allow the patient to rest. <o:p></o:p>
“You just want her all to yourself.” Joe complained good-naturedly. <o:p></o:p>
“Come on, Annie. Let’s go. Let Paul have his time with Jackie. Look at him, he has not been so relieved and happy for a long while!” <o:p></o:p>
Henry said, and placed an arm around her waist, preparing to guide her from the room. That action did not escape Jackie, causing her to raise an eyebrow enquiringly as Annie walked towards her. <o:p></o:p>
“Ok.” Annie leaned over and kissed Jackie on the forehead. “I will come and see you again tomorrow.” She also did not miss the lifted eyebrow. “I will tell you everything when I come again, alright? Now, rest, and enjoy your time with Paul.” <o:p></o:p>
She teased, her cool facade firmly in place again. <o:p></o:p>
“Oh, Annie, long time no see, and you are still like that.” <o:p></o:p>
That caused everyone to laugh. <o:p></o:p>
“Bye! Rest and get well soon!” <o:p></o:p>
The gang called as they filed out of the room, finally leaving the room in peace again, with only Paul in the room with Jackie. <o:p></o:p>
“Don’t you have to work, Paul?” <o:p></o:p>
“Oh yeah, I forgot.” <o:p></o:p>
“Go on then, don’t bother about me, I feel fine. I will still be here after your shift, now go!” <o:p></o:p>
“If you are sure...” <o:p></o:p>
“Yep, very. Now go.” <o:p></o:p>
Jackie laughed and made a shooing motion with her hand weakly. Obliging, Paul leaned over and gave her another kiss before leaving the room himself. All was going to be fine now. <o:p></o:p> |
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