AllFreeNovel
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I was going to find her.
Chapter twenty-one
Living Without You (part one)
Ben
There's a common misconception that one can sell one of their kidneys and live on just one. Well, it's not a misconception, but there are still some risks. While living with one kidney is generally safe and manageable, there are certain risks and considerations that individuals with a single kidney should be aware of:
Things like reduced kidney function: having only one kidney means that there is a reduced overall kidney function compared to individuals with two healthy kidneys. While the remaining kidney typically compensates, it is essential to be cautious about factors that can put additional stress on the kidney, such as certain medications or substances that are toxic to the organ.
Then there is a higher blood pressure, kidney disease or injury, proteinuria, kidney stones, and so on so forth.
Why share this? Because, some humans feel they can function with one person they've already formed a bond with. I thought the same thing when Olivia left. The first week wasn't easy. When Chloe found out that Olivia was no longer around, the conversation got to me.
"Does Miss Olivia hate me now?" she asked while sobbing heavily.
"She doesn't hate you," I said.
"Then why did she leave?" she asked.
"She just wants to focus on her career, she'll be back," I replied, although I doubted my answer. "She did promise in the letter."
She stopped sobbing as she remembered the contents of the letter. "She did promise."
"I'm sure she'd come back to visit. Any day or week now," I said.
"That means I'll have to be staying with Grandma," she said.
"You don't want to?'
"I do but… I like spending time with Olivia. And we look like a family," she replied.
To think she had noticed it as well.
Two months had passed and there was no sign of Olivia. No call, no texts, no sign of reaching out. I kept on calling her phone every day, hoping I'd get something… but nothing.
Two months. What if she had moved on already? I still hadn't been able to go to London to look for her. And that's because…
"Ben? Ben?" Martha's voice brought me back.
"Hmm? What?" I asked.
"I said there's an emergency surgery on its way," she said. "Car accident and the patient has a major head injury."
"Oh okay," I replied as I got to my feet and sluggishly made my way to the emergency room to wait for the patient to get here first.
Did the hospital always feel this big? When Olivia was here and I was making my way to the ER or operating theater, she'd always tell me good luck and ask if she could help. Maybe I should have let her work with me just the way the other nurses did. Another mistake I made.
"Sir?" a doctor called. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Hmm, Dr. Roberts… you're back from your leave?" I asked. I recognized one of the youngest surgeons in my hospital.
"I've been back… for a month now," he said.
"I didn't notice, I'm sorry," I apologized.
I had been working absentmindedly for the past two months. I know she had said that she was going to work on her career, but it still felt like an excuse to me. If only I could see her one more time.. to maybe apologize or something. But Dr. Williams won't tell me anything.
