Miracles

Miracles

Row upon row of cubicles stood full with patients, it might have been
New Years Eve but people didn't stop being ill. In fact thought John,
New Years made everything 10 times worse, drunken party revellers
falling over or lonely people just not wanting to spend New Year alone.
"I hate working New Year" muttered Julie as she walked past. John
smiled, then picking another name from the board he walked to cubical
10 and pulled back the curtain.
"Mrs . . ." he hesitated over the name, looking down at the chart in
front of him, "Belaire, what's the problem?".
"Well, I wouldn't have come Dr, but . . . I know your very busy . . .
with it being New Year and everything . . . but". The old women seemed
hesitant to explain.
John already knew what was coming next. "Really, Mrs Beliare, don't
worry, its better to come and have everything checked out, so what is
the problem". The air of annoyance was evident in John's voice.
"well, I've had arthritis for years, but just recently it's been very
difficult to clench my fists and stretch my hands out""
"Ok, let's have a look". Gently John began to move the fingers, back
and forth he may have been annoyed but he was still a professional.
Each time Mrs Belaire winced. "Right are you on any
anti-inflamatries?".
"No, no I don't like taking tablets, no good for you".
"Well I'll give you a course of anti-inflamatries but you really should
go to your GP and he'll sort out a more permanent solution." John left,
pulling across the curtain shaking his head.
"What's wrong?". Amber stopped as she heard him give a heavy
sigh.
"Nothing its just . . . oh I suppose I shouldn't be nasty, but . . it's
just these old people who are so lonely they come in here".
"I know, when we're busy its really annoying, but it is New
Year".
"Yeah and no one should be alone on New Year". He smiled, a weak smile
and strolled off towards the nurses station.

"I'm sorry Mrs Belaire, I got caught up . . . Oh is this your
daughter".
"No, my dear. She's just been keeping me company".
John looked at the stranger, she was an odd looking creature, with
long tangled mahogany hair, wild and uncombed. While her face was as
white as chalk, and two cornflower eyes starred fixedly at John, making
him take a sharp breath. There were spots of blood on her clothes and a
little on her check.
"Are you a patient?". She didn't answer just continued to stare at John
blankly.
"well you really shouldn't be here, I'll take you back to your
cubical".
"She's been keeping, me company, we had a lovely chat, she's an angel
you know".
"Yes" John smiled, then turned, but the mystery women had gone.
Thinking nothing of it he was too tired to be bothered about a nameless
nut. John turned back to Mrs Belaire. "Ok, your to take 2 of these 3
times a day, till you've finished the course but like I said I strongly
recommend you see your GP".
"Well you see I don't think I'll need them anymore Doctor, she healed
me".
"Well Mrs Belaire, I . . .".
"Look".
With that John watched as the women opened her hand at full stretch
then clenched her fist tight, he couldn't believe it but she proceeded
to do it over and over again, "She laid her hands on me and she healed
me".
"Mrs Belaire . . ".
"I know you don't believe me but really".
John headed out the cubical, not sure where he was going, but soon he
was running through the corridor, dodging patients and porters with
trolleys. Busting through the spring doors into the freezing night, all
he knew now was he had to find her.

Somewhere in the distance he could here music drifting in the air, an
odd firework flashed above his head. His eyes searched the grounds but
she was no where. Just as he was about to give up he saw her, walking
at an even pace across the grass, towards the gates.
"Hay wait up, please". John reached out taking her arm, he seemed to
miss it and instead he got a shot of cold air travelling up his spine.
"What did you give her?" John was angry now, for a second back in the
cubical he had believed Mrs Belaire, but now seeing her sneaking away
he knew she was probably some kind of crack pot and he had to find out
what she'd given the old women. "Are you a Dr, I have to know what you
gave her she could have an allergic reaction". All the questions came
tumbling out at once, but still she said nothing just looking straight
at him. Eyes fixed on his face. "I could call the police you know, its
illegal to give drugs unless you're assigned to the hospital, are
you?".

For a moment the air was silent then, 1, 2, 3 chimes they continued
till 12 had rung out across the silence neither spoke, it didn't seem
right. All round them the sky lit up with brightly coloured fireworks.
Finally now she spoke, "Happy New Year" there was a softness a
lightness, John had to strain to hear her over the words of Auld Lang
Syne.
Despite himself John felt he had to say it back, "Happy New Year". Then
he watched her turn, before she was a meter way, she disappeared, faded
into the brightly lit night.

"John hit and run, we need you".
He had no time to reflect on what he had just seen as he dashed the 40
meters to the ambulance where a trolley was just being pulled
out.
"She crashed in the ambulance, still down".
"Its her", Johns eyes widened, he felt his breath vanishing from his
lungs.
"What".
"I've just seen her" He looked down at the face he had just moments
been saying Happy New Year to. There was only one difference, a large
gash down the side of her head just by the corn flower blue eyes which
were open and glassy like dolls. "The blood" He said to himself more
then anyone else. "She's . . . " looking back out along the grass,
there was no sign she had ever been there. Only one set of foot prints
in the drew. "She had to see in the New Year, she had to help
someone".
"John are you with us".
"Yeah" John ran to catch up with the trolley disappearing through the
swing doors, but he knew it was already a lost cause.

Dr John Syms had a long and very well respected career as a doctor and
of course he never told anyone about that New Years night when he saw
an angel. But he never forgot that blast of cold air as his hand fell
through her arm or the way she had healed that women. Her name was
Elizabeth McGuire, she had been 24 and had been on her way home to her
family after working in a bar. She'd had an accident, driven into a
tree, it never came out how or why. But John was sure she had come back
that night for a reason. Not only to heal Mrs Beliare, or to see in the
New Year, but to teach a young house officer, just how precious life is
and how no one should be alone on New Years Eve, not even an angel.