02:00 AM Doctors Overnight
Berlin found himself in an open field, his mind was hazy and his vision was blurry. It seemed like a dream but even then everything felt real even as all the murky sensations told him it wasn’t.
In the distance he saw what looked like a mountain that drew him in. He walked closer and closer and noticed that there was movement. As he made out more and more details he realized he wasn’t looking at a mountain… it was a massive pile of bodies. He got closer and closer but still couldn’t make out any specific details. He didn’t know if they were nude or not, if they were covered in blood or some other fluids, whether they were crying in pleasure or pain. All he felt was a deep sense of wrongness, as if whatever was happening was so off he froze and didn’t take a single step forward. He simply stood there watching…
Time past with no sense of whether it had been minutes hours or days. Suddenly a man drew his attention. Standing next to him as if nothing was wrong; he raised his arm and gestured to the pile of bodies. And there they stood, silently waiting for Berlins reply…
06:00 AM
Berlin jumped out of bed, his heart racing and his mind blurry. It took him a few seconds to calm down and center himself. He knew what he experienced was just a dream. Yet still it felt so real. The first thing he did was pick up his phone and make a call. Like he always did in the morning, but he didn’t tell her about anything about his dream.
After getting dressed he headed to the 2nd floor and went into the boardroom.
Berlin: “Think I’ll need coffee to handle these people.”
Kim: “Lol wow first thing you do in the morning, no manners you don’t even greet me.”
Kim was behind her desk, she worked in radiology and the front desk was on the way to the meeting room. She would chit-chat all day and drag her feet. It would irritate most but Berlin found it relieving in the depressing hospital environment.
Berlin: “Kim honestly your exactly why I need that coffee first, soon as I get some energy you can tell me all about your new weight loss tea/pyramid scheme.”
Kim: “It’s not a pyramid scheme! Ever since I started this tea I feel healthier, more driven, I’ve got more energy and I fit into my skinny jeans now.”
Berlin: “God help us if you’re any more energetic and what skinny jeans are these?! I’ve never seen these lies yet.”
Kim: “You know what, you rude I don’t even know why I try with you like your so unhealthy do your patients know that you don’t practice what you preach?”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Berlin: “Coaches don’t play, that’s the game. It’s not my fault.”
Berlin throws up a peace sign takes his coffee and rushes away before she can respond. He hurry’s past of the older Dr’s having a more serious talk. He paid no attention but it was about changes in request forms and some other administrative garbage. The meeting began at 08:00 and went on for almost an hour, most of their talks flew over his head til they got to the end.
Dr. Tobias: “We will be re-assigning all the students today. Get your new rotation and get used to your new schedules.”
Berlin was surprised by the re-shuffle he had thought that would only happen in a week. When he checked for his name he realized that he had been placed in the psychiatric ward.
An hour later…
Berlin: “So it’s been three days since you went into your coma how do you feel?”
Old lady: “Oh so much better Dr. It’s just that I can’t find my husband.”
Berlin: “Ok well just leave me his contact details and I’ll let him know where you are.”
Old Lady: “No Dr you don’t understand you see my husband has been missing.”
Berlin: “When was the last time you saw him mam? Maybe we can get some of your family to look for him.”
Old lady: “Oh that’s very kind of you, hmmm… the last time I saw him I was making pasta in the kitchen and he went out back. See we were still in our old house, the green one in the South not the new one close to the mall. He got a phone call from Nelson Mandela. He said he had to go help him so I packed his food in a lunch box for him and I haven’t seen him since. His such a hardworking man, but that was in 1980 and I’ve been very worried about him. No one knows where he is.”
Berlin’s next patient was a white man in his forties suffering from PTSD. His file confirms he used to be a soldier.
Soldier guy: “I’ve been one of the best boxers in the area for years don’t let those weak ass sissies tell you otherwise.”
Berlin: “Sir Do you know where you are?”
Soldier guy: “Yes, I’m in the training camp. Tell me when am I going back to the gym? Coach told me if I rest for more than 3 days I’ll get rusty but a legend like me shouldn’t even rest 2 days I think.”
Berlin: “Soon sir. I’ve just got a few questions for you. What’s your name?”
Soldier guy: “Mohamed Alley. You should come watch my fights these guys can’t handle my left hook.”
Finally Berlin reaches the patient he treated yesterday. Mr. Bradley seemed to be calmly staring at the wall. As Berlin approaches the man speaks without turning to look at him.
Bradley: “Hello young healer, nice to see your well.”
Oh damn another mental one, hope I can at least get some answers out of him. I thought this guy was just drunk, clearly his not sobering up anytime soon. – Berlin thought.
Berlin: “Yes hi, nice to see you still remember me sir. How are you feeling?”
Bradley: “It’s not hard to see a kind spirit, thanks for checking on me young healer but sadly there is no cure for what ails me.”
Berlin: “Don’t worry about it sir. Tell me what your name is.”
Bradley: “Hmm… Mad king, Kane the conqueror, Heavenly Buddha. I’m not sure what they call me these days, but I’ve always been a sovereign so you may refer to me as such.”
Berlin: “Ok, do you know where you are?”
Bradley: “Truthfully no, I’ve been try to expand my senses but I can’t see much past the godforsaken rock. Though I’m fairly sure I’ve landed within mortal dust.”
Berlin: “Ok. Do you know what year it is year?”
Bradley: “A pointless question young healer. The flow of the Heavenly Dao’s do not reach this land. And even if they did who can possibly keep track of infinity? Time is not time.”
Berlin: “Ok, do you know why you’re here sir?”
Bradley: “Ahh now I remember, but truly how to peer into someone’s mental realm? How do you question where there are only answers and no truth? Instead how about I tell you a story of my youth?”