36 - Healer’s Work

The medical center is busier than I expected, Katie’s sitting upright at the desk and it’s amazing to see how confident she has become so quickly. She’s always been a shy girl, like her Mother, Anna. There are a couple of young kids around the reception with their Mothers, waiting for some kind of vaccination no doubt. But Katie stands up as we come into sight, calling back to the Doctor.

Ava appears and looks me dead in the eye before giving instructions for Katie, asking for the clinic to be rescheduled. Then she simply turns and holds open the door as me and Mat half drag-half carry Luca in. Gethin’s shuffling along with the drip back, still sunk into his arm.

‘Put him down,’ she points to the bed, business-like. We set him down and she orders his boots be taken off. She moves over Luca, pulling off his shirt and I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Then tell myself to get over it. There’s nothing sexual or romantic in what she’s doing.

Her stethoscope is on his chest as s