That afternoon, somewhere around 3pm, when she'd finally given up on the tortuous paperwork that was the bain of her life, she made a decision. A momentous decision at that. She was moving back there. It may only have been a short period in her life and it may have been a long time ago, but it was clear to her that there were more possibilities there for her now than there were here anymore. With a new vigour, she began to type her letter of resignation. It wouldn't be easy, but it was the right thing to do. She wasn't sure if she was hoping for a fairytale ending. At the moment, all she was searching for
was a little bit of happiness to hold on to.
"Dear...."
She paused. She called him Graeme - but this was a formal letter. Sir? She typed it and paused again. It didn't look right somehow. It would do for now.
"Sir,
This letter is official notice of my intention to leave the employ of Philadelphia General Hospital. I intend to leave the city in one months...."
Again she paused to think. One month? Was that hurrying things a little? Better to get it over with surely.
"..time. I have enjoyed my time here and it has been valuable to my medical career. However, it is time to move on. I hope you will accept my resignation without question.
Yours Faithfully..."
She typed her name. Her eyes flicked over the screen momentarily before she pressed the save button. It looked O.K. It was only a draft. A sharp tap on the glass panel of her office door woke her up suddenly. She glanced at her watch. Staff meeting - she'd conveniently forgotten. Hastily, she closed down the computer and made her way to the
conference room.
****
"If there isn't anything else....?"
She heard Cheif of Staff, Dr Graeme Foster, say about a half hour later. She awoke from her daydream and momentarily considered announcing her resignation. Everyone looked very bored and fed up and she instantly decided to leave it. To keep it as low key as possible. The staff filtered back to their respective departments, and eventually left just Anna and her immeadiate superior alone in the conference room. She hung back cautiously, feeling very childish.
"Anna?"
Graeme questioned, his concerned gaze falling on her.
"Is there something you want to talk to me about?"
Anna nodded slowly. She wasn't rushing into this was she? Would she regret this when she went home and thought about it? Taking a deep breath, she forced back every niggling doubt still residing in her brain and began to speak forcefully.
"I'm leaving, Graeme,"
The older man looked hurt, as if it was a personal insult she'd just unleashed.
"It's nothing to do with this hospital or anyone in it...."
She trailed off. Her personal life was not something she needed to discuss with Graeme and she didn't need to explain her decision either.
"It's just I've come to a time in my life when I need change and if I don't go now it'll be too late,"
She was afraid it already was too late, but she'd never know until she had at least tried.
"You don't have to explain it to me, Anna, it's your decision."
"I'll have the letter on your desk by the end of my shift,"
He nodded, a defeated man.
"I'll be sorry to see you go, Anna,"
"And I'll be sorry to go. But I have to,"
She wouldn't be especially sorry to go. The friends she had here were mostly Max's. Everything she had here, even three years after his demise, was still defined by Max. Even her job was a result of his recommendation. She walked back to her office, proud of herself for making, and acting on, such a big decision, and filled with a nervous
trepidation that was like starting college all over again. The letter lay on her desk, a distraction as she tried to finish up work to go home. The white, addressed envelope was blinding, a beacon of new hope.
was a little bit of happiness to hold on to.
"Dear...."
She paused. She called him Graeme - but this was a formal letter. Sir? She typed it and paused again. It didn't look right somehow. It would do for now.
"Sir,
This letter is official notice of my intention to leave the employ of Philadelphia General Hospital. I intend to leave the city in one months...."
Again she paused to think. One month? Was that hurrying things a little? Better to get it over with surely.
"..time. I have enjoyed my time here and it has been valuable to my medical career. However, it is time to move on. I hope you will accept my resignation without question.
Yours Faithfully..."
She typed her name. Her eyes flicked over the screen momentarily before she pressed the save button. It looked O.K. It was only a draft. A sharp tap on the glass panel of her office door woke her up suddenly. She glanced at her watch. Staff meeting - she'd conveniently forgotten. Hastily, she closed down the computer and made her way to the
conference room.
****
"If there isn't anything else....?"
She heard Cheif of Staff, Dr Graeme Foster, say about a half hour later. She awoke from her daydream and momentarily considered announcing her resignation. Everyone looked very bored and fed up and she instantly decided to leave it. To keep it as low key as possible. The staff filtered back to their respective departments, and eventually left just Anna and her immeadiate superior alone in the conference room. She hung back cautiously, feeling very childish.
"Anna?"
Graeme questioned, his concerned gaze falling on her.
"Is there something you want to talk to me about?"
Anna nodded slowly. She wasn't rushing into this was she? Would she regret this when she went home and thought about it? Taking a deep breath, she forced back every niggling doubt still residing in her brain and began to speak forcefully.
"I'm leaving, Graeme,"
The older man looked hurt, as if it was a personal insult she'd just unleashed.
"It's nothing to do with this hospital or anyone in it...."
She trailed off. Her personal life was not something she needed to discuss with Graeme and she didn't need to explain her decision either.
"It's just I've come to a time in my life when I need change and if I don't go now it'll be too late,"
She was afraid it already was too late, but she'd never know until she had at least tried.
"You don't have to explain it to me, Anna, it's your decision."
"I'll have the letter on your desk by the end of my shift,"
He nodded, a defeated man.
"I'll be sorry to see you go, Anna,"
"And I'll be sorry to go. But I have to,"
She wouldn't be especially sorry to go. The friends she had here were mostly Max's. Everything she had here, even three years after his demise, was still defined by Max. Even her job was a result of his recommendation. She walked back to her office, proud of herself for making, and acting on, such a big decision, and filled with a nervous
trepidation that was like starting college all over again. The letter lay on her desk, a distraction as she tried to finish up work to go home. The white, addressed envelope was blinding, a beacon of new hope.