“Alicia, soy tu doctora”.
“No eres quien yo elegiría si me casara por amor, doctor”.
Miró a una enfermera que pasaba, sonrojada y luego me enfrentó de nuevo.
“But I have my reasons.”
“Then why me?”
“Because you listen. Even when what I want sounds silly. I want one big thing I get to choose.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“Why does having less time make my wish less worth thinking about?”
I couldn’t explain my refusal without imagining her disappointment. I should have tried harder.
Instead, I pictured one happy afternoon amid weeks of terrible news. I transferred her care to another physician but never asked my supervisor, Dr. Patel, whether proceeding was appropriate.
***
Nos casamos al día siguiente en su habitación del hospital.
Llevaba una corbata en lugar de mi estetoscopio. Una enfermera formó dos anillos de tiras de vendaje limpio, y Alicia cubrió una bufanda blanca sobre su cabeza calva como un velo.
