A nurse has defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary is “a person who is trained to care for the sick or injured people and who usually works in a hospital or doctor’s office.” Nurses have been called various names; caregiver, aide, angels and also unsavory names such as witch, sadist and monster depending on the nurse and the way a patient was treated. This is a story about nurses and patient. A story of love and hatred and perceived betrayal.
“Good morning and how are you doing today? I am the nurse on duty and my name is Nurse Titi” the newcomer smiled at me. Feeling weak and disoriented, I only replied with a grumble. But the first thing I noticed about her was her smile. A dimpled smile with an hint of a gap tooth. She was impeccably dressed in her white shrubs and I momentarily have a flash of angels in Nollywood movies.
“Can you please keep this in your armpit?” Nurse Titi said as she deftly inserted a thermometer in my armpit.
“Your name says Ridwan here, is it because you read a book a day?” She asked. Even though I didn’t find the joke funny, a smile blossomed on my face. She explained my condition to me in terms I don’t understand and I nodded away like an agama lizard. I have been admitted to the hospital for more than two days and my condition didn’t show any sign of improving.
The next day around 10am, Nurse Titi came around again and sat beside me to take my temperature. We got talking and she was fun to be with. Funny, beautiful, caring and smart; what else do you want in a lady? “mumu* me!’. When it was always time to be given injection, I was always happy to turn my back to her. I wouldn’t even flinch as the needle pierced me. I have to be the brave and strong guy for my Nurse Titi. “big mumu me”.
This continued for the next couple od days. I was always looking forward to when she would be on duty. At this stage, my condition was given the doctor in charge headaches. Because my health was always improving during the day (when my Nurse Titi is on duty) and returned to the worst state at night (when she’s off duty). Seriously ill and getting weaker everyday but my love for Nurse kept skyrocketing. After two weeks at the hospital without much improved, I was referred to another hospital.
Leaving my love behind but knowing I’d be back for my her, I left for another hospital. It was this other hospital I met the second species of nurses. The devils of the medical profession. When I got there, I was expecting someone like Nurse Titi but I was shocked. “mumu me”. I never expected it.
“Good morning ma’am, I am Ridwan. May I know your name?” I asked the nurse. Mumu me.
“ehn ehn, so my name is going to cure your sickness abi?” she replied without smiling. I was surprised at her callousness. At that moment, the love I had for Nurse Titi increased again. (mumu me, right?).
“anyway, if it is any help. My name is Kofo. Nurse Kofo to you” she said as she rudely inserted the thermometer in my armpits. I ignored her and continued pressing my phone. That was a mistake.
“did you hear what I said? Shioor.. when it’s phone you are always pressing, why won’t you be sick” she complained as she was preparing to fix drip on my wrists.
That marked the beginning of my war with the nurses at the hospital. But to the glory of God. I got better and was discharged. Throughout the entire period of my stay in the hospital, I never for once stopped thinking of my crush, the love of my life. My Nurse Titi and I knew it was only a matter of time before fate brought us back together. And it did.
Three months after the entire ordeal, my cousin got sick and I had to take her to the hospital. The hospital where Nurse Titi worked. The joy I felt because my cousin felt ill had no bound. At last, fate was taking me back to my crush. The image that was on my mind through the trip to the hospital was her smile. The dimpled smile. Smart, beautiful, funny and caring Titi. Mumu me. Nothing prepared me for what happened when we got there. Nothing.
My cousin was admitted in the same ward I was on few months ago. I smiled when she walked in and I stood up to greet her. She replied the greeting and smiled at me back. Electrifying. She went straight to my cousin and forgot all about me, it was like she has no recollection of me. Like I was just another guy in the pages of time. Which I was in all honesty. She gave my cousin the care, time and affection she bestowed on me few months ago. I fell in love with the loving and caring nature of a nurse, but she was only doing her job.
*mumu can roughly be translated as stupid.
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Sophocles Writes 