Someone Like You
by Yamakissu
Chapter 1
Prologue
Prologue
“Yamashita Sensei…” The front desk practically yelled as soon as he spotted the young doctor on his way to his next patient. She was actually glad that she will be the one to break this to him. ”Sensei, I have good news. She just spoke a word… The nursing home called and said your wife just uttered “Tomo”. Yamashita could not believe what he was hearing. He was stunned and not sure whether to be happy or sad at this news. Of course, he had been waiting for the past 5 years for a miracle and now that it came, he didn’t know if he should be glad to hear her speak his name.
Every day for half a decade, he always visits her. It has been his routine to go to the nursing home hoping that she might speak. And each day he felt useless as a doctor. Each time he visits her, he would bring orchids as it was her preference. He then would read her favorite poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning. Sometimes, after reading he would cry and his wife would just sit there staring at him blankly, unmoving. During their anniversary, he would make sure to file for a three-day leave of absence just to be with her. He would cook her favorite pasta and tell her about their past and their dreams. And he always ends up saying on how much he misses her and on how much he loves her, on how she is the only woman who could see through him. And each time he failed to get a response.
After a year, his parents became worried as he buried himself with his work. His parents tried to convince him to remarry, fixing him with women they thought would suit him. Each time Yamashita would decline by excusing himself telling them that at the moment they were under staff and that they need him to work extra hours at the hospital. Once it became too far, his mother called the hospital & checked on him. At that time the Head doctor was their family friend so his mother was able to know his whereabouts. Over dinner he was astonished to see an old acquaintance, as a matter of fact his ex-girlfriend Abiru. As always she was beautiful & perfect on the outside however as far as he could remember, the woman was bad news. His mother did not really know this and that was the time Yamashita decided never again to set foot in his parents’ house.
Now, as he heard his name being called again this time by his department, he hurriedly thanked the nurse and went his way to the Department of Surgery, leaving the nurse surprised to see him smile.