Page 18 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Christmas Giver 2023

The First Gift of Christmas

By Johannes Bosma

Emma sat down at her desk to sort
out the final reports as she checked her
shiny new watch that the staff had
given her as a Christmas present. It was
7:55 pm. In five more minutes, she
could leave the world of work behind
and lose herself in her family. That had
always been Nurse Emma’s hard and
steadfast rule: whatever happened at the
hospital that day would not go home
with her.
And yet, the thought of escaping in
five minutes to join her family on
Christmas Eve did not comfort her. Her
mind wasn’t even on the reports at
hand. All she could think about was
fourteen-year-old Janie in room 30.
Janie had been under Emma’s care
since August. A victim of a hit-and-run,
the teenager had been in a coma since
her arrival. Each and every day during
her shift, Emma spent time talking to
her helpless patient, administrating the friendly reminder from the duty nurse. hope.
physiotherapy needed to keep her in “It’s time to leave all your problems “Just saying goodbye to Janie until
good physical shape. On days when and frustrations and join your family in I see her again on the twenty-seventh”,
Emma was too busy to see the girl, she that sanctuary called home.” Emma said as she gave her friend one
would come in after her shift had Emma nodded appreciatively and more caress and then walked over and
ended. She would never leave the finished up by straightening the files on stood by Janie’s side. It would be even
hospital until she spent a little time with her desk. She grabbed her purse and more difficult now to remove Janie
her young patient. Although Janie had coat out of the staff room, wished one from her thoughts until her next shift.
become the greatest test to her rule, and all a Merry Christmas, and made Soothingly, Emma spoke to her teen-
Nurse Emma had always managed to her way to room 30. She just had to aged patient.
leave her condition and story back at leave a word of comfort with Villa and “Janie, this is Nurse Emma again.
the hospital after she reached home. say good-bye to Janie. Couldn’t you please come home for
It wasn’t only Janie she had “Anything new, Villa?” Christmas,” she pleaded in a soft
difficulty not thinking about after work. “Oh, Emma. Thanks for dropping whisper. A distinct sniffle behind her
Over the last four months, she had by. No change, I’m afraid.” told her that Villa must have overheard.
become very good friends with Villa, Villa could feel Emma’s care and Turning, Emma saw her friend, now
Janie’s mom who had remained by her comfort as her shoulders were sobbing uncontrollably. Her heart sank.
daughter’s side since the mishap in late ensconced by her loving arms. Rushing to her, she apologized. “Oh,
August. Villa had been so optimistic, so Suddenly Villa shifted her focus. I’m so sorry, Villa. I didn’t mean to…”
cheerful and so hopeful. And yet, “Wait a minute. It’s after eight. You “It’s not you, Emma. It’s me. I
during the last few days, Emma could should be heading home. Don’t keep always thought I could handle any
see that her new friend’s hope of having that family of yours waiting one more situation but,” she soaked up the tears
Janie back by Christmas had all but second.” Then directing her eyes to the with a tissue. “I’ve never told anyone
faded. bed, she continued to watch over her this before but on the day Janie was
“It’s eight o’clock, Emma,” came a daughter with a facade of strength and hurt, she had cut out a picture of this

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