King's College - Chapter 48
As Time Goes By
Martin's time in the hospital as a pre-med student proved him to be an astounding clinician. While interviewing a patient he would notice the smallest things...a touch of a tremor..abnormal pigmentation in an iris...unusual lesions on a patient's skin. The patients did not necessarily find him the most empathetic interviewer but when it became clear that this young man's observations were responsible for their correct diagnosis which led to their proper treatment and path to better health they really didn't mind his direct and unemotional approach. Unfortunately, some of the instructors felt that his approach was not as humane as they expected it to be.
"Ellingham, we feel that you need to become more empathetic towards your patients. You should do more "mirroring". If the old woman says that she has abdominal pain you should answer and say that abdominal pain is difficult to deal with and that you hope you can help figure out what what the problem is. It makes the patient feel that you are paying attention.
Martin's surgical instructor spoke up as soon as the diatribe was over. "Mr. Ellingham has demonstrated outstanding diagnostic skills while on my surgical team. In fact, some of the senior registrars have sent him in to examine patients whose diagnoses were questionable. In fact, he helped us diagnose celiac disease in a patient who had previously been thought to have Ulcerative Colitis. I vehemently recommend that Mr. Ellingham be allowed to pursue his own method of interview. To have to change it would decrease his acumen. In effect...back off."
After this review Martin headed home, quite relieved. His "psycho-social" review was less than exemplary and he feared that he would have to fake a change or be dropped from the program. As it was, when it came down to medicine and patient care his superiors had spoken and he could continue being himself.
Edith waited for him at his flat. "Well, Ellingham, it must be good to have that over with. I can't imagine anyone worse at faking things or schmoozing as you." She laughed.
"And I am proud of that fact. I am who I am and I can't change. Take me as I am or don't take me at all. That pertains to you, too, I hope you realize," he said to Edith. "If you are waiting for a posh bloke or a show-off you will not find it here. I am who I am."
Edith looked at Martin. He would be a surgeon. He was born to be a vascular surgeon, but she realized he had no intention of giving her the life that she wanted. She wanted prestige. She wanted clothes and fancy cars. She wanted to call a restaurant and have them reserve their best table for her. Ellingham had no inclination of giving her that. As sad as it made her, she realized that she couldn't be with him. She had to look at other possibilities. Trevor Pembroke had been calling. Perhaps it was time to pursue other venues.
She stayed the night at Martin's flat and let him make love to her in the way that no other could, but she realized finally it was a sham and felt a little sad. He wouldn't provide for her what she wanted. His hands and body were as satisfying as ever, but there was no future for them. This bit of dream was over with.
The summer term was coming to an end as the finals for Pathology and Pharmacology loomed in the next week. Pathology was particularly daunting as the practical had slides from histology and microbiology and tissue displays from Anatomy and physiology that could indicate what the pathological process could be. It was like a culmination of all the subjects that they had studied. Martin, with his photographic memory and attention to detail was confident that he could do well on the exam. Edith, on the other hand, was a bit panicked and had Martin feeding her questions nonstop as to possibly be exposed to something that could be on the exam.
On Sunday afternoon Edith was ensconced in textbooks on Martin's kitchen table. He came out in sweats and trainers. "Where the hell do you think you're going, Ellingham? You're here to help me study."
"Sorry, Montgomery, I have a standing appointment to get some exercise on Sunday afternoons. I've been doing it for weeks," he said. "You haven't been around as much or you would know. Taking some exercise...in my case, playing football...promotes relaxation. It relieves stress and let's me use my body as it should be used. I wish I could do it more. I'll be gone for a couple of hours, then I'll be back to help you study more.
"But you need to help me study!" Edith shrieked.
"In a couple of hours I will help you, Montgomery!" Martin yelled back. "You don't want a boyfriend or husband with a pot belly...do you? I will be back very soon. Wait for me. I'll help."
He exited the apartment and headed out to the common where Chris and his mates had already assembled. When Martin arrived the game began. It was as competitive as usual with everyone working endlessly trying to score or preventing one. The exercise cleared Martin's head and relieved any stress that he had carried, trying to keep up with Edith's demands. He never regretted spending the time using his body. Everyone was facing the Pathology final and Martin was pleased that he only called the goalie an imbecile once. The game broke up and everyone headed home.
When Martin returned to his apartment Edith was gone. All of her textbooks and pathology atlases were gone. He felt empty, thinking that he had committed the ultimate sin. He called her flat and no one answered. His panic enveloped him and he decided that he had to make sure that things were all right. He ran over to Edith's flat and rang the bell. He rang the bell for 20 minutes when finally he got a response.
"Who's there?" Edith's voice came over the speaker.
"It's Ellingham, Edith. I have to see you. I didn't want you to leave. I got home and you weren't there. I can't bear to be without you. I need you to let me in," Martin pleaded shamelessly. "Being without you will destroy my soul...let me in."
"Oh, Ellingham, I got tired of waiting for you to get back so I decided to come home," Edith replied. "Actually I'm ready to go to sleep and I'm not sure I want any company. Perhaps you should go home."
Martin had not come here to be turned away. "Edith, please let me in. I'll do whatever you want. Don't shut me out because of a football game." Martin was bordering on tears. His only chance at love was fading away. "I won't play football any more. I love you."
"Well, OK, come on up," she buzzed him in. "But don't ignore me any more."
Martin ran up the stairs to the flat and was in Edith's bed immediately. He would never disregard her again.
