Doctora rubbed her temples and feigned interest in the new girl’s story.
It was something she had heard a hundred times over. ‘My boyfriend left me and I can’t take care of it by myself.’, ‘I’m too young for this.’, ‘it’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.’
Blah blah blah blah blah
It was late and Doctora was tired so she went straight to the point.
“We can do the procedure tomorrow. Meet me at this address and have the payment with you.”
The crying girl could only mumble a ‘yes’ through her tears.
It was going to be one of those weeks.
The girl left and Doctora waited until he arrived.
“I trust you heard all that?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t know why you bother eavesdropping on their stories. You’ll do the same thing anyway.”
“It makes it all the more… delicious.”
“You disgust me.”
“Such hurtful words. You know we can’t live without each other. It’s been too long.”
Doctora sighed and avoided his gaze.
“You have the address. Just go there at the agreed time.”
“Make sure she’s asleep. Remember that time in Laguna.”
“That was 20 years ago. I learn from my mistakes, something you should try thinking about.”
He let out a shrill laugh that sent a shock down Doctora’s spine. He threw his neck back and bellowed.
It should be loud. Why isn’t it loud? She thought.
She shook her head to clear the thought away. After the long decades she still never got used to him.
Maybe she never will.
“Just go.”
“Of course, Doctora, I will see you soon.”
He left, but it gave no reprieve.
Doctora went to the kitchen and brought out the bottle she was saving for this one.
Her ‘patients’ thought that this was her home, a single bedroom that looked neat and clean. It added to the illusion and fed on their hopes making them think that the procedure would be the same.
Such idiots.
She took a swig of gin and let the memories take her over.
She thought back to a time when she had a name.
Life was easier then, there was one goal that she needed to reach.
I wasn’t about the knowledge or the oath. She needed the title. It would complete her.
Or so she thought.
Another gulp, another memory.
It was robbery what they charged for the procedure. And she was sure that they didn’t even have any actual medical knowledge.
But she was desperate.
She pooled her savings and met them in a dingy motel. They told her to lie down and they prepared their instruments.
When she saw what they were going to use, she shouted.
She demanded that they sterilize their tools.
She told them which painkillers to get.
She spat at their incompetence and told them simply,
She wanted to be awake.
They told her it was crazy, better to be under and wake up with the procedure complete without having to look at the disturbing operation.
That was when she met him.
He walked into the room with a gravitas that made even her pause.
He told the workers to leave the room. He asked her if she really wanted to be awake for this.
She said yes.
The alcohol had gotten to her and she was sprawled on the sofa, the bottle almost empty.
She thought about the girl and her stupid choices and cried, one solitary idea racing through her brain.
Maybe after this one I’ll finally do it.
But deep down she knew she was too much of a coward to end it.
As the inebriation took over and forced her into slumber, a familiar phrase left her lips.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
=———————————————————————————
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Based on the Ekek myths/urban legends
Ekek Illustration by Timothy Aldrin Ocleasa
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