The girl.

So, this little girl just ran up to me and hugged my legs. She held me so tightly that I nearly fell, her face, buried between my knees.

I was startled. At first, I thought she was one of those children that ran around in the hospital, looking for whom to play with, not minding how serious and scary one looked; how busy and stressed one felt. Then, I was a little irritated. Which one be this one way wan spoil show for me?

I started to disentangle myself from her, in order to go after the fine lady that was just about leaving the hospital, after collecting her drugs.

I was so focused on her fair skin and round shapely body, wearing black jeans skirt and yellow top, that made her look like an over-ripe apple, that I totally didn't see anything good about what was happening around me, didn't see the couple standing a yard, away, smiling and staring.

I managed a smile, for the crowd of patients watching, so as not to appear, 'Obi okpo,' hard hearted. But, I was gradually, increasingly, trying to move the little girl away. Mehn, time was slipping away and I was on the verge of losing a fine chick.

But, the little girl held on, until I was about to shove her. Short temper is a bad thing.

Then, everything changed, when she finally looked up, with a face, so faultless and shinny and eyes, twinkling with something heavenly,  glistening, and said "Mummy said you're the one who took my pain away. Thank you."

She stretched her arms and unclasped her fingers. "Here,"  she smiled.  "A gift for you." She handed me an orange flavoured candy. Wonder how she knew I liked orange flavour?

"Now, I can wear my shoes and go to school and feel no pain." She hugged me again. "My teacher said I can match now and lead the band. I love leading the band"

Awwww! My God! I was undressed, disarmed, instantly. Suddenly, I stopped seeing a little girl, with hair, packed in a huge pony tail, wearing a pink flowery dress, holding onto my knees and, started seeing a baby angel.

Mercy-Iroegbu Ugochi Niteh, remember those kind of angels I used to tell you about,  when I visited often at 140 bedded?

That's exactly what the little girl looked like, at that moment. I was lost in her aura, in the overwhelming instant whiteness and innocence of her angelic form.

The crowd, began to murmur and say emotional things. "Awww!"  "Such a fine girl,"  "Doc, you have found a wife,"  etc.

Her parents started clapping. Her mother came and hugged me. I felt goose bumps.

Truth is that I couldn't remember taking care of the girl. And I tried to own up, to tell her parents but, they reminded me of that rainy early morning when I was off duty but, they had pleaded with me and I had, grudgingly, listened and then, agreed to incise and drain the abscess in their girl's right foot. "It was on that day, that you were about to go out and we stopped you and asked you to help us, since your colleague was busy in the theater," her mother proffered.

Then, i remembered. I remembered I was rushing out to go and meet a girl, on that rainy morning. Talk about history repeating itself.

I shook my head, a feeling of guilt running over me, instantly. I had nearly refused to help, to listen.

I looked down, at the cute face, staring at me and telling me something about coming back to show me pictures after the match past, and I didn't know when I picked her up. She smelled like a rose.

I carried her into the consulting room because the tears had started coming from my eyes.

I sat her down on the table and looked a her, into her eyes and, I wanted to kiss her. "I'm glad you're good now, and I'm sorry for shouting at your parents that morning."

I knew she wasn't listening and didn't understand but, I just had to tell her.

She had already opened the candy and was putting it into my mouth when chief called for me. And so, I couldn't take her picture before her parents took her home.

To be continued.