Familiar Stranger
Parents come in pairs, but we don't always have both. To some, that other person was a fond memory in their heart. To others, it was a haunted image that they tried hard to hide.
The man was sober, but he could not help staggering as he left Union Station.
Five more blocks, five more blocks and I'll be there. He kept repeating that to himself, trying to ward off the excruciating pain near his abdomen.
The newspaper article he was holding firmly in his hand was so brittle and blurry that almost no one except himself knew what it was. He was overcome by pride as he remembered the words in the excerpt for the nth time. He was not an educated man, but he knew it must have meant a great deal to receive the Golden Hands award.
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"Mummy, why's that man sleeping in the middle of the street?" The little girl asked in her most innocent voice on her way from school to her mother's workplace.
"Darling, we need to call the ambulance." Unlike the other busy passer-bys, the mother paused and taught her daughter an important lesson of what it meant to be the Good Samaritan.
She understood the man could be an addict or a felon, but being a mother had changed her once ambivalent attitude towards people's plight. Besides, her instinct as a doctor told her he was gravely ill.
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"Preston, one of my biggest life achievements was to have chosen you over Sheppard as my successor." Richard Webber smiled as he dropped by Seattle Grace for a visit. It's been three years since he stepped down from his role as Chief.
"I'm flattered, Richard. It's good to see you. How was Africa?" Preston Burke had another sip of his coffee as he greeted his ex-boss.
"It's a humbling experience working with the villagers. They're so resilient despite their poverty. The families are so united. Nobody is ever left behind." Richard was very enthusiastic about his work since his early retirement.
"That's good to know. I wish I could go some day… probably when Asha is older."
"I'm sure she would like it there." Richard imagined seeing his god-child chasing the wild animals in open fields. "Will I get to see Asha and Cristina today?"
"They should be here shortly. Cristina went to pick Asha up from school. They're having their pre-Thanksgiving party today."
"Good. I guess I'll go find Bailey first. See you later, Preston."
"Bye, Richard." Preston went back to his stacks of paperwork as Richard walked out. He was, after all, a busy man.