Episode 3

Catalina stepped into the waiting room.

Catalina: Relatives of patient Bruno Salvatore...

An elderly couple rose to their feet quickly, alongside a young woman and a teenager. Another man, who appeared somewhat inebriated, also stood up.

Man: I am his father. Tell me, doctor, how is my son?

Catalina: I’m actually the nurse that assisted the doctors. The doctor is with your son right now; he's under observation. They didn't want to leave him alone because he's in the middle of stabilization, and the medical team is helping him. He underwent surgery on his arm and leg, and they stitched up some minor wounds. Your son is stable and did well through the surgeries, but he is sedated right now. The doctor asked me to pass on this information to give you some peace of mind, and he will come out to give you a more complete update once he's done with the observation.

Woman: Miss, please tell me the truth. Is my son alive, or are you hiding something?

Catalina felt compassion for the woman who was pleading for a glimmer of hope for her son.

Catalina stepped closer and took her hands.

Catalina: Ma'am, what I'm telling you is true. He's under observation, and soon you'll be able to see him.

Woman: Forgive my forwardness, but the news reports say that my son won’t survive that accident.

Catalina: Your son is with the best doctors. They are doing everything possible to ensure everything goes well. Keep faith, ma'am.

Woman: Thank you for your words; they bring me some relief.

Catalina: Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go.

Bruno’s mother smiled at Catalina, who quickly grabbed her belongings, checked her phone, and saw 10 missed calls from her sister. She immediately called back.

Sofia: Sister, are you alright?

Catalina: Yes, sister, I’m just leaving work. An emergency came in, and I couldn’t leave on time.

Sofia: I haven’t been able to sleep, thinking something bad had happened to you.

Catalina: Oh, little sister, I'm sorry. I'm on my way home in a cab now. I’ll be there in a few minutes.

Sofia: I'll wait for you. Thank God, it was just a scare.

Catalina hung up on her sister. After their mother’s death, the two clung to each other, their only remaining family, always staying close. Still, Catalina couldn't shake thoughts of the patient from her mind. The emergency unfolded rapidly, and she had to step in because her colleagues had left the area. It was a novel experience, yet she harbored concern for the young man's head injury. Deep in thought, she didn’t realize she had arrived until the taxi driver snapped her back to reality.

Taxi Driver: Miss, are you alright?

Catalina: Yes, sorry, how much do I owe you?

Taxi Driver: It’s $20.

Catalina: Here you go.

She paid, exited the cab, hurried inside her home, and was quickly embraced by her sister.

Catalina: I apologize for making you worry, sister. I didn’t have time to inform you.

Sofia: It's okay, don’t worry about it. What matters is you're here now.

Catalina: You’re too young to worry like this; I regret that it's this way.

Sofia: I miss mom a lot, and I couldn’t bear losing you too. You're all I have.

Catalina: You'll never lose me. I will always be here for you, and I couldn't bear losing you either.

They embraced, shedding a few tears for their mother.

Sofia: Let's go to sleep. Can I sleep with you tonight?

Catalina: Of course, my dear.

They retired to the bedroom, where Catalina donned her pajamas and nestled into the covers. Winter was approaching, and she enjoyed her sister's company. Sofia quickly fell asleep, while Catalina still felt a mix of anxiety and apprehension, eventually drifting off as well. The following Sunday morning granted them the day together. The first thing Catalina did was prepare a hearty breakfast. After eating and cleaning together, she checked her sister's schoolwork, always ensuring it was in order. They went grocery shopping and grabbed lunch from a small stand, before returning home and organizing the pantry. At day's end, they made popcorn and watched movies all afternoon. When night fell, they slept, knowing school awaited them the next day. Come morning, they awoke early. Catalina started an hour after Sofia, so they showered, and while Sofia dressed, Catalina made breakfast and packed lunches for both. After eating, Catalina walked Sofia the two blocks to her school. Once Sofia was inside, Catalina hurried back to get ready for her own day at university...

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