Page 59 of Sweet Heart

She pauses, almost as if she is waiting for me. I hold my tongue. It is clear she has something else to say, but she can do that without receiving my approval.

“The fracture seems too minute for the symptoms described.”

I nod.

“Very well, Doctor. Have another look.”

Isa peers at the image again, her eyes squinting, but after a full minute, she shakes her head. I don’t smile or nod. I simply raise my finger to point between the sixth and seventh disc, where a tiny dent shows, pressing lightly against the spinal cord.

“A hernia,” she says with a gust of air, and she shakes her head. “I should’ve caught that.”

“Hm, maybe,” I reply and shrug. “The imaging is not optimal for detecting herniation. You noticed the symptoms didn’t correspond to the visible trauma. What would’ve been your next step if I weren’t standing next to you?”

The doctor wavers for a moment, but then rolls her shoulders back and lifts her chin.

“I would have treated the fracture and waited for the swelling to reduce.” She pauses for a beat. “And I would have brought it to the attending to get their opinion.”

I nod.

“That last part, make sure to lead with it from now on.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

When I turn around, I see Carmen throwing a glance in our direction, her cheeks burning. When her eyes meet mine, she casts them down instantly, and she pretends to be busy with paperwork. It takes all my willpower not to smirk. Can’t be caught smiling twice in one day, Katherina.

***

By the time that I enter my apartment, my back is hurting and my legs are burning. I drop my keys in the ceramic bowl near the entrance and take off my heels. I let out a long sigh when the soft fibers of the carpet wrap around my feet like a warm blanket.

I walk the few steps into my living room and collapse on the couch. My body sinks into the pillows, and I let out an elongated sigh. Every limb feels heavy, burned to the edge of exhaustion. I should close my eyes and get some sleep. My body has been running on empty, and I am not unfamiliar with the strain it puts on me, but my mind keeps drifting to her. To Maria.

I grunt at myself. Why are you like this? My hand slides to my phone, and I unlock the screen. There is no use in fighting this. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, my brain won’t rest until I’ve spoken with her. It rings once, twice. The sound pierces through the air, into my skull. I flinch and lower the volume.

“Cat? Are you alright?”

Something in my chest unwinds instantly.

“Sí, just wanted to hear your voice.”

“You… what?”

Her voice is dripping with confusion. I blink. Does she not want this?

“If this is a bad time—”

“No, no! Not at all. It’s just…” She pauses for a moment, and I lift the phone from my ear to see if she’s still there. “This is the first time that you’ve called me.”

“Oh.” I frown.

“Sorry, I’m just being weird. Tell me about your day.”

“No. You are being observant. That is a skill, not something to scoff at.”

I hear her take in a breath, but she stays quiet. Good. She deserves to treat herself better.

“My day was long, but fortunately nothing out of the ordinary.” I pause for a beat and think of how Carmen’s eyes kept looking for Doctor Ramos. “Not much, anyway,” I add under my breath.

“Oh?” Of course she heard that. “Sounds like there is a story there, doctora.”