Chapter 1

Dr. Linara stood in her clean white coat, a stethoscope swinging around her neck, scanning the busy hospital corridors. Years of medical study and effort had led her to become a proficient and respected doctor, but there was a lingering sense of dissatisfaction that she couldn't ignore.

"Dr. Linara! A patient who's been in a coma for a week just woke up!" A nurse running down the hall greeted her with news.

"No running in the hall, Colleen." She said firmly. Colleen gasped for air when she reached in front of Linara.

"Sorry." Colleen apologized. Linara smiled lightly and patted her head before heading to the room of the said patient. "Don't do it again."

Colleen froze while holding her head. The doctor never treated someone like this ever. In a daze, Colleen walked back to her co-workers.

As Linara reached the room, she took a deep breath and entered with a smile on her face. The patient's family greeted her with a smile of relief painted on their faces.

"Hi! How are you feeling?" Linara asked her patient as soon as she reached the bed. She removed her stethoscope and felt the patient's heartbeat.

"Aside from the pain in my head, everything is good." the patient answered.

Linara gently placed the stethoscope back around her neck, a sense of relief washing over her as she completed checking her patient's heartbeat.

"Hmm. Your heartbeat is currently within the normal range. But, considering the impact on your head, I strongly advise you to get a CT scan later." Linara stated as she placed her hands in the pockets of her coat.

"If the results say you have no further damage to your skull, then you are free to go after a few days of resting. However, if the results say otherwise you might spend a few more weeks in the hospital." She added. The patient and her family gave Linara a smile.

"I'll book you an appointment later with the department in charge of that procedure." She said. She took a deep breath and smiled.

"So, I'll leave you here now. Take a good rest. I'll inform you of your schedule for the CT scan through a nurse." Linara stated as she heads towards the door. Before completely leaving, she heard the mother saying something.

"Thank you."

Linara stopped in her tracks. She looked back and flashed a smile. "No worries. It's my job to keep you safe."

While walking through the white corridor of the hospital, she laughed at what she said.

'It's my job to keep you safe? What are you a police man?' Linara scoffed at her past self.

She reached a window and stared outside, contemplating her life choices. "Haa, why did I choose this job."

Linara sighed to her self. It makes her happy that she can save patients however, it makes her rethink her decisions. When she first started, she was like a teenager, making everything a big deal.

She's happy by doing the bare minimum, by helping the patients and so on. She also has a bad habit of blaming herself really bad when she couldn't save a few of her patients.

That routine repeated for days, weeks, months and years. She started her career when she was twenty and it's been six years since. Throughout the years, she slowly started to lose herself. Nurses began to notice how she went from cheerful to gloomy. She was once filled with an approachable aura but now, all you can sense is a strict vibe. Even her batchmates are too scared to speak up to her.

That is why Colleen was startled when Linara patted her head.

She decided to become a doctor as it was her parents wish. She took this path in order to repay them for their hard work. But being a doctor was never her dream.

Ever since she was a kid, Linara always wanted to cook in the kitchen. Exploring different cuisines, creating a new recipe, she wanted to be a chef.

Linara never wished to serve in a hospital, all she wanted was to hold a knife and create wonderful dishes. But she has no choice but to leave that dream and chose Medical School as she felt obliged.

Parental expectations guided her down the path of medicine. She obtained a medical degree and excelled at it, but her heart craved for the joy and passion she once felt while cooking.

As she wandered through the hospital, she found herself in front of the cafeteria. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, recalling a nostalgic reminiscence of her childhood. Linara spent her childhood in her mini kitchen, pretending to be a chef.

Linara placed her hands in her pockets, hoping to grab something related for cooking or something from the kitchen as it was always there when she was a kid but all she grasped was medical tools.

She felt remorseful as the future she pictured as a kid shattered by pursuing medicine. Linara smiled in regret and walked where her feet led her.

While walking, a thought came to her. A small grin showed in her face as she went in the direction where the director's office is located.

Upon reaching, she knocked twice and heard a voice saying come in. Linara opened the door and faced her boss with a smile. The director was taken aback as it was the most genuine smile she had ever seen from Linara.

"Someone's in a good mood. What's up?" Rizza, the Director dropped what she was doing and focused her attention to Linara. She motioned her hand to the chair that made Linara sit in front of her.

"I'm here to ask for a time off." Linara said with a smile. Rizza was speechless by the sudden statement.

"What made you come to that decision?" Rizza asked her while resting her chin in her hands.

"Well, I want to spend some time with myself. You know, Linara things." She answered. Rizza laughed when she heard what Linara said. They were friends in medical school. Long story short, Rizza was the daughter of the owner of the hospital Linara is currently working and Rizza scouted Linara to work for her.

"Fine. Since you've been working nonstop for the past six years. I'll give you two months for yourself." Linara was shocked when she heard what Rizza stated.

"What? Two months? As far as I know one month is the average amount offered for most professions! What do you mean two months?" she exclaimed.

"Do you not want to?" Rizza asked her. Linara stopped.

"It's not that I don't want to. But are you sure this is okay? You may be the director but you just can't do what you want." She explained.

"I knew you'd say that. Here read this." Rizza answered and handed her a document signed by the CEO.

'I, Rachel Armeda, CEO of a leading healthcare institution, I am pleased to inform that Dr. Linara Alchem, our esteemed and dedicated medical professional, has been granted a well-deserved two-month paid vacation. Dr. Alchem's unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions to patient care have been critical to our organizations' success.'

Linara was dumbfounded after reading the five paragraph letter. She looked at her friend in shock. "Are you serious?"

Rizza nodded in response. "You know mom treated you as her own the moment you stepped into our house."

Holding the letter, Linara chuckled and in her most gentle voice, she thanked her friend.

"What are you waiting for? Go now and pack your things." Rizza stated as she shooed her away.

"Telling me to pack my things sounds like you're firing me. We don't want anyone to misunderstand." Linara said and both of them laughed.

"Thank you, Rizza. Really." Linara thanked her once again. Rizza smiled as a response and mouthed the words 'go' to her.

Linara smiled and left the office but before she could take a step further her vision started to blur. Her world was spinning and before she knew, a loud thud resonated in the office. She can faintly hear Rizza calling her name over and over again before she completely loses consciousness.