Chapter 9 — Emergency Night Watchman

But I can feel it—something is changing. Meeting someone in the hallway is no longer "that person" anymore. Some unfamiliar nurses will call out "Doctor Tham". Resident doctor Tuong Tri proactively sought me out to discuss the case. Even the lady at the cafeteria gave me an extra half spoon of braised pork. A wonderful feeling, going up, being recognized by others. I told myself not to fly away. But the feeling of peace like "finally standing a bit" is real. Thursday evening, November fifteenth. I had just finished work and was changing clothes in the locker room, preparing to go back to the dormitory. The phone rang. Strange number.
“Hello?”
“Excuse me, is this Doctor Tham Yen?” The other person's voice was female, carrying sobs.
“It's me. Who are you?”
“Doctor Tham, I am the older sister of EICU day bed patient number nine… My sister was discharged from the hospital this afternoon, I want to personally thank you—”
“No need to be polite, this is what I should do.”
“No, Doctor Tham.” Her voice lowered and she quickly interrupted me, "I'm not here to thank you. I want to tell you something."
The movement of unbuttoning my shirt stopped.
“What?”
"My brother-in-law... the day it happened, his company's camera filmed him pouring something into my sister's cup. This evidence has already been submitted to the police. But today... today I received a phone call."
She took a breath, her voice shaking.
"A man called, without giving his name. He said that if we continued to cooperate with the police to investigate, he would cause my sister to 'die in public opinion'. He said he had... a few private photos of my sister."
I frowned: "This is witness intimidation. Have you reported to the police?"
"It's been reported. But the police said they couldn't find the source of the phone number in a short time, and told us to pay attention to safety first. Doctor Tham, I'm not here to beg for your help, I'm just afraid—I'm afraid that beast won't be detained for a few days and will get out. I'm afraid that after he gets out, he will take revenge on my sister."
I held the phone and was silent for a few seconds.
“Where is your sister now?”
“At my house.”
"Okay. You listen to me - first, keep all call recordings and text messages. Second, this matter can be reported to the prosecutor's office, poisoning plus witness intimidation, the nature will be upgraded. Third, if you have any physical discomfort, come to me immediately."
“Yes… yes, thank you Dr. Tham…”
Hang up the phone. I sat on the bench in the dressing room, not moving for a long time. That man. For one consecutive month, every day, put rat poison in your wife's water cup. Calculate the exact dosage, accumulate chronically, waiting for her to suddenly "die naturally" one day. Once discovered, the first reaction is not to admit guilt—but to threaten. I've seen it too many times. First aid is a mirror of love. The husband, after drinking alcohol and hitting his wife in front of the doctor, cried bitterly and said, "I didn't mean it." The father beat his child to the point of intracranial hemorrhage and repeatedly emphasized that "he fell on his own." Evil in this world does not always appear in the form of evil people. It's hidden in a regular glass of water, hidden in the smile of the person lying next to the pillow. The words I can see can only save the body. But it cannot save people's hearts. Breathe take a deep breath. Don't think anymore. Let's go back to sleep. 【Chapter 6】 November 20th. I was in the EICU for a full month. On that day, Phuong Chinh Thanh rarely did not go to the department—it was said that he was going to meet someone. Trinh Duc changes shifts. At ten o'clock in the morning, I was doing a bedside ultrasound for bed number seven to evaluate when nurse Tieu Lam rushed in:
"Doctor Tham! The Emergency Department called, saying there was a large group of wounded soldiers coming! Traffic accident! Bus overturned!"
I put down the probe: “How many people?”
"The Emergency Department said there were at least twelve people in the first wave, five to six were seriously injured. Their emergency room doesn't have enough space, ask the EICU if we can take it—"
“Where is Master Trinh?”
"Doctor Trinh is handling the intubation for bed number one, he can't get out."
I took a look at the EICU—currently six of the eight beds were full, with two beds available for admission. But if five to six people are seriously injured, this place is not enough.
"Tell the Emergency Department, we will admit the two heaviest people. The remaining people will be transferred to the general ICU and surgical ICU. I will go down to triage."
"Miss?" Tieu Lam hesitated for a moment, "A retreat doctor like you can—"
"Teacher Trinh can't go. Wait for my call."
I grabbed my blouse and ran down to the Emergency Department. The elevator is too slow, I take the stairs. From the third floor to the first floor, I rushed down in one breath. Pushing open the emergency room door— A scene of chaos. Stretchers, rolling beds, blood stains, cries. Firefighters are still moving people in. On the ground lay sorting cards—red, yellow, blue. The red critical injury area has placed four people. I walked quickly, my eyes scanning each injured person. The first person: male, over forty years old, open wound in the abdomen, intestines protruding out. The text on the top—【Hemorrhagic shock. Death countdown: 47 minutes.】