He never imagined himself behind the wheel of an ambulance, racing down the city streets with the wailing sirens creating a cacophony of urgency. How did he even end up here? That was a question that lingered at the edge of hi mind as he gripped the steering wheel, navigating the bustling traffic with a strange blend of focus and bewilderment.
In the passenger seat sat a doctor, an enigmatic figure seemingly unaffected by the chaos around them. He was reclined back in his seat, seemingly at ease, as if he was on a leisurely drive.
In the rear-view mirror, you could catch glimpses of a patient, who was lying on a stretcher, with their face and body veiled by a thin sheet. The rhythmic rise and fall of their chest provided a reassuring sight, prompting the question, why are there multiple police cars behind them. A police escort is intended to be ahead, guiding them through traffic.
They're fleeing? He's just as baffled as you are. All he can recall is... well, actually, He can't remember anything. His name? Why he's at the wheel of an ambulance? Or the identity of the man sat in the passenger seat?
The doctor's eyes snapped open, as though he had sensed his questioning. He broke the silence, instructing the driver to take the upcoming intersection that led towards a tunnel.
Entering the tunnel, glancing back and noticing that the police had come to a halt. They weren't tailing them anymore. Ah, they're done for. It's likely they've sealed off the exit - they've fallen right into their trap. We're caught, not entirely certain of the charges, but undeniably screwed.
And then, as abruptly as they entered, they emerged from the tunnel, to an uncanny silence. The symphony of sirens and engines had vanished, leaving only the hum of the ambulance's engine. There were no police waiting for them at the exit and the ones tailing, stopped.
The road stretched out ahead, devoid of any landmarks or distinguishing features. In the middle of nowhere, alone. The ambulance's speed gradually decreased, as he eased his foot off the accelerator, allowing the vehicle to come to a gentle halt.
The doctor pushed open the passenger door and stepped out. His white lab coat fluttered in the still air, a stark contrast to the landscape that surrounded. He retrieved a cigarette from his coat pocket and lit it, the tiny ember casting a warm glow on his features.
"Let's get the patient out," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of detachment. He followed his directive without hesitation. There was something, hard to explain but there was something, that made him follow his orders. I guess it's only thing that felt normal to him.
Gently, wheeling the stretcher out from the back of the ambulance, the wheels gliding smoothly against the road's surface. The doctor positioned himself beside him, his hands buried in his coat pockets. Together, they began to make their way down the desolate road.
The doctor's steady pace and casual demeanour were a stark juxtaposition to his inner turmoil.
Continuing down the road, the oppressive silence was gradually broken by a distant sight that emerged on the horizon—a surreal, out-of-place scene that was both inconceivable and unsettling. Before them stood what appeared to be an open surgery theatre, incongruously placed in the middle of the road. Bright lights illuminated the scene, casting an eerie glow.
Look I don't think you understand, imagine an operation room without the room.
The surgical equipment, the gleaming metal surfaces, and the sterile surroundings. Nurses, adorned in full surgical scrubs, moved about with a deliberate and practiced movements like a colony of ants. faces obscured by face masks. Their presence exuded an ominous aura that sent shivers down his spine.
The doctor who was walking besides him; showed no signs of concern. Instead, he greeted them with a sense of familiarity- that was disconcerting. He even extended a faint smile toward the nurses, an acknowledgment that only deepened his unease. It was as if he was in his element, as if this surreal operation theatre was a place, he had visited many times before.
As they drew nearer to the theatre, the bright light from the portable operating lights began to reveal more details. The surgical table, its surface glistening, positioned in the centre like an altar.
He relinquished control of the stretcher to one of the shorter nurses who came trotting along, her brisk footsteps echoing in the unnatural quiet that surrounded us. The stretcher, now under her command.
As the patient was lifted onto the surgical table, a sense of dread gripped his chest. The imposing figure of the doctor remained calm, observing the proceedings. With each passing moment, the fear intensified, the knot in his stomach tightening as the realisation of my helplessness settled in. But why was he scared.
For someone so confused and bewildered, all of his emotions seem normal for this situation. Think about it, why is he scared of the unknown. This is his first time, right?
The nurses arranged themselves around the patient, their gloved hands moving with accuracy as they prepared for a procedure. Their faces remained hidden behind the masks; their expressions inscrutable.
He stood there, a spectator. As the surgical theatre became the stage for an enigmatic performance.
Another one of the nurses who was tall and
How should I describe her? Imagine someone beautiful
sliced through the tension like a discordant note. "Unless you want to watch, you better turn around," she announced, her words carrying an air of authority. He turned away, his gaze shifting from the surgical theatre to the desolate road ahead.
The respite from the unsettling scene was short-lived, as a tap on his back caused him to jolt slightly. Startled by the unexpected touch, turning around to find the nurse before him, "We're done" she said.
The surgical team was in the process of breaking down the theatre. Wipes were being used to clean their hands. The instruments were now being packed away with leisure. The patient was back on the stretcher in which he had rode on.
The doctor stood there, conversing with one of the nurses as he took of his surgical cap before handing it off to him. Another nurse, male, tall in stature walked up to him and assisted him in putting on his lab coat. After all was said and done, without saying a word or even a glance, he walks past me; heading back towards the ambulance. The driver swiftly made his way to the stretcher, taking charge and wheeling the patient away. Catching up to the doctor who had left him in his wake. Without turning around, he put his hand up and did a slight wave back to his surgical team.
…
The doctor who had arrived bit earlier just sat there in the passenger seat, while he put the patient safely back in the ambulance.
Well, I think it's bit presumptuous to say 'safely'.