"Chloe!" Maya smiled when she saw her favourite doctor. "Hi Maya, how are you doing?"
"Well, I've been better" she smiled "I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"I suppose so" Chloe smiled back at the 16 year old.
"Ah Miss Goddard," Chloe's boss Ms Naylor said as she was sat at the nurses station. "Miss Greene is back and I know you have a rapport with her so here you go." She passed Chloe Maya's file. Chloe looked at the results and sighed. "Valve replacement?" Miss Naylor nodded. "And you want me to tell her?" Miss Naylor nodded again. "Like I said she seems to like you and with her anxiety. I thought it would be best"
Chloe went over to the teenager. "Hey Maya," Chloe said tenderly "can I sit?"
"Sure."
"Is your mum not around?"
"She's a primary teacher, her littles need her. I told her I'd be fine" she pointed to a card with little tissue paper flowers on it. "They made me a card and all signed it. I know it's a little garish, they're only year 1."
"Ah that's super cute." Chloe smiled "there's a Chloe on there." She smiled seeing her own name in spidery handwriting. "Look Maya, I've seen your echo, and your other tests. And I've spoken to the other doctors and."
"I need another operation don't I?" Maya asked
"Yes. I'm sorry. The valve you had when you were a baby is leaking is we think adding a mechanical valve would be best...Maya?"
"I'm trying to do that count and breathe thing you taught me." Maya smiled and Chloe put her hand on Maya's arm until she was calmer.
"We can do it this afternoon. Shall I ring your mum? I'm sure she can get a supply teacher in."
"Today?" Maya asked "so soon?"
"I know it's scary, but the quicker it's done the quicker you can get out of the hospital."
"Will you be the one doing it."
"Yes. If that's what you want, I'll have another doctor too, probably Nicky, you've met her right?"
"Have you eaten anything today."
"No not since yesterday lunch time."
" I'll ring you mum okay. If you need me you know where I am." She smiled and squeezed Maya's hand.
She rang Maya's mum and went into the staff room. She knew she shouldn't get involved but she really liked Maya. "Chloe!"
"Evan, aren't you on shift?"
"Everyone's allowed a lunch break Chloe. Shall we go to pulses"
"Actually I need to talk to you" Chloe said shutting the door to the staff room so it was just the two of them. "Chloe, what's going on?"
"Look Evan, I think I'm going to move back in with the girls. I think it's best."
"Chloe, have I done something?"
"No, no, I just need some space."
"So you're moving from a flat with just me and you, to a house with 3 other girls?"
"But I have my room there, my space."
"I but Chloe I understand you. I can protect you."
"I don't need protecting!"
"I think we both know that you do, but it's okay Chloe, I'll be here when you need me, I won't give up on you. But if it's space you want.." he walked out of the staff room leaving her on her own. She took a few deep breathes.
"You okay Chloe?" Chloe's friend Nicky asked
"Yes, no, I don't know. I will be, I think I just broke up with Evan."
"Oh Chlo." Nicky said
"It's okay. I think, anyway, will you scrub in with me, aortic valve replacement on Maya...Miss Greene."
"Yeah, course." Nicky smiled.
"Hi Maya, and hello again Julia." Chloe smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit scared." Maya said
"that's to be expected Maya." Chloe smiled. "I'll get Nicky to prep you. I'll see you in theatre, and you'll see me in ITU where you'll have to be for a day or so, but I'll still be your doctor. Chloe took Maya's hands. "I know you're anxious but I'll do everything I can, and I'm a very good doctor. Okay."
Maya smiled in reply. Chloe looked a Julia who mouthed thank you.
"Ok new valve please" Chloe said as she placed the damaged valve in a kidney dish. As Chloe started to stitch the new valve in she looked at Maya's face. She was only 16 and she didn't deserve this. "Chloe!" Nicky said and Chloe noticed there was a bleed. What had she done. She was a horrible doctor. Do no harm hey. Well you've just messed up. Breathe Chloe thought, Breathe this is not the time to have a panic attack. She took her own advice. Breathe in 2,3, hold it and out 2,3,4. She did this twice "Chloe?" Nicky said softly.
Chloe switched back into her doctor head. "Ok I need suction Nic"
"So we will keep her sedated probably until tomorrow morning, but it went well. Hopefully she'll have her life back. She'll still have to take anticoagulants but other than that she should be okay. I'll be up to see her as soon as my shift starts tomorrow." Chloe said to Julia,
"Thank you, for everything." Julia said. "I've never seen Maya so relaxed in a hospital before, she has a lot of medical trauma stuff. She's so much calmer with you as her doctor."
"That's good to hear." Chloe said "try and get some rest tonight too."
Chloe was back in her jeans and putting on her shoes ready to go back home. To her house share. When Nicky tapped her shoulder. "Chloe, are you alright? You seemed to have a moment in theatre back then."
"I'm fine Nicky, fine!"
