115 115. The Wedding Dress

“Why? Why do you say something like that? You promised me that-”

“Mrs. Decker, calm down, please! I’m going to give this baby to Clara because I want to help her. I still don’t want to trade my baby for money. So, I will return your money.”

Linda couldn’t believe what Lea said. She was dumbstruck. Unable to say a word for seconds.

“Then ... then where did you get these two million bucks? How could you manage to get-”

“God has brought ships to help people who are almost drowning. I didn’t take the first ship because I’m sure God has prepared another ship that is better for me,” said Lea, because she didn’t want to mention the actual reason. “And sure enough, the second ship that came was much better than the first.”

Linda smiled wryly. She secretly admired the steadfast Lea. She was sure that the woman in front of her was sincere in helping her daughter.

“Thank you, Lea! I didn’t like you because you made my daughter miserable. Now, I’m sure that you don’t intend to take Dave away from Clara,” Linda answered in awe. “Hopefully, God will give you happiness in the future.”

Linda then asked Lea for permission to hug her. They then hug tightly, forgiving each other of their past mistakes.

Lea had been through so many things so far. Many people she met taught her to forgive others even though it was very hard. No one is really good, because the good can do bad. No one is truly evil either because one day she or she will be a helper to others.

.....

For Lea, Forgiving others was a belief that other people can be like her. She used to always stick to the norm but made mistakes too because anger got the better of her. However, God made her aware that she should immediately repent and return to the right path. Just as she believes she can turn into a good person, she also believes that others like Linda can turn out to be good people.

Nothing is impossible as long as she wants to break the chain of hatred, as Paula taught her to forget the bad things in the past.

***

Two months had passed. Clara was busy fitting with her wedding dress designer.

“Gosh, are you on a diet again?” Clara’s private designer grumbled. “I said don’t do the diet. See, your dress is getting loose again!”

Clara just looked at the designer with disgust. “Is the money my mother gave you not enough to keep your mouth shut?” she asked curtly. Her eyes stared blankly at her personal designer. “You will get compensation if you fix it, right?”

“But that doesn’t mean you can change your boobs’ size every week, baby!” the man scolded Clara. He was sometimes annoyed by Clara’s behavior, which often goes around as if all problems would be solved with money.

Their debate was interrupted when Clara’s smartphone rang. It was Saturday, but she had to come to the hospital because she had patients to attend to. Doctors of a shortage of people because there were many patients in the emergency.

Clara immediately left the irate designer for the right reasons. “This is a matter of life and death. You just do your job well. I’ll make sure my mom adds some money to your account.”

The male designer’s eyes couldn’t help but widen. If it weren’t for the Decker family’s good pay, he would surely turn down a cocky customer like Clara.

That afternoon, Clara couldn’t concentrate on work. She took the wrong knife while performing surgery. Luckily, doctor Andreas acted quickly, otherwise, she could have cut too deep and put the patient in danger.

Her mood was not good. She didn’t even know what caused it. Was it her wedding plans that made her like this? She had decided to take Dave anyway. They were getting married the next week. However, she still felt uneasy. Couldn’t sleep well at night.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you taking time off,” said doctor Andreas who seemed displeased with Clara’s performance today. “Maybe you’re stressed and tired. Your patient’s life will be in danger if you keep working in this state.”

“I ... I’m fine,” Clara replied adamantly.

“Clara! What are you afraid of taking time off? Aren’t you the daughter of the owner of this hospital?” Doctor Andreas snapped at her. He pursed his lips because he knew that she would not like it when he brought up the Decker family name to work matters. “Think logically. You’re not well. Take the day off until your business is cleared up and you can go back to work.”

“But, in two days I will be leading the surgery! That was a first for me,” Clara said. She was eventually selected as the first resident doctor to preside over a surgical operation.

“Precisely because it’s the first, Clara ... you and I don’t want it to be the last,” doctor Andrea whispered sharply in Clara’s ear as he handed over the application form for taking days off, making Clara’s face turn white.

Clara sat down wearily. She admits the truth of doctor Andreas’ words. Reluctantly, Clara finally filled out the form given by doctor Andreas.

When she filled in the name column, Clara’s tears were already dripping down her cheeks. She wanted to cry but didn’t know who to cry to. She didn’t want anyone to know of this senseless grief.

However, Clara’s sadness did not last long. A nurse scuttled toward her and with a panicked face said, “There’s an unconscious patient to attend to. The other doctors are busy.”

“But doctor Andreas said I wasn’t allowed to treat patients-”

“He’s the one who told me to call you!” interrupted the nurse.

historical

Clara nodded. She rushed after the nurse to the unconscious patient who had just been out of the ambulance.

She didn’t know what God had planned for her. She didn’t even know why the patients she treated had to be people she knew.