— You? Are you serious?
— Absolutely serious. You saved my life. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now. I want you to work with me. I trust you.
Tears streamed down the old woman’s wrinkled cheeks. She put the cup down on the table and took Marina’s hands.
— Thank you, sweetie. Thank you. I accept. I’ll work so hard you won’t regret it.
The medical office opened in early spring. Marina put up flyers in the entrances of nearby buildings and handed out leaflets on the street. In the first few days, there were few visitors, but gradually people started coming. Some needed an injection, some an IV drip, some just to have their blood pressure checked. Marina worked with her heart and soul. She treated each patient with attention, without rushing, listened to their complaints, and gave advice. She set affordable prices, half of what private clinics charged. People appreciated this and recommended her office to their friends.
Vera Ivanovna settled in as well. She sat at the reception desk, scheduled patients, answered phone calls, and made tea for those who needed to sit and rest after an IV drip. The old woman blossomed: she had found a purpose, a job she did with pleasure.
A month after the opening, a man in his late thirties came into the office. He was tall, wore glasses, and had a friendly smile. He introduced himself:
— Hello. My name is Andrey Morozov. I’m a general practitioner. I heard a new medical office opened here and decided to stop by and introduce myself.
Marina shook his hand:
— Marina Voronova. I’m a nurse, the owner of this office. A pleasure to meet you.
They started talking. Andrey said he had worked in a city clinic but got tired of the bureaucracy, the huge workload, and the low salary. He dreamed of having something of his own, where he could see patients calmly, give them enough time, and not chase numbers.
— I’m looking for a place where I could work part-time, — he said. — Maybe you need a doctor? I could hold consultations a few times a week.
Marina thought about it. A doctor in her office — that would be great. Patients could not only get procedures but also consultations and prescriptions.
— And what are your terms? — she asked.
— A percentage of the consultations. You provide the space and equipment, I bring my own patients and see new ones. We split the income.
They discussed the details and came to an agreement. A week later, Andrey started seeing patients on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. He turned out to be an excellent doctor: attentive, knowledgeable, with a good sense of humor. The patients loved him, and the line to see him grew. Marina worked alongside him and gradually realized that she liked Andrey not just as a colleague. He was kind, decent, and a good listener. Sometimes they would drink tea together during breaks between patients, talking about life, medicine, and dreams. Andrey told her he was divorced, had no children, and lived alone. Marina told him about her life, her sick father, and what she had gone through at the “Medlife” clinic.
— You are very brave, — he said when she finished her story. — Not everyone would dare to stand up against criminals.
— I just did what I had to do, — Marina replied. — I couldn’t stay silent.
One day, it was at the end of May, Andrey stayed late after his consultations. All the patients had left, and Vera Ivanovna had gone home too. They were alone in the office.
— Marina, can I ask you something? — he began, a bit shyly.
— Of course.
— Are you… seeing someone? I mean, in your personal life.
Marina smiled:
— No. For the past few years, I haven’t had time for anything but work and taking care of my father.
— I see. What if I asked you to go to the movies? Or just for a walk?
Marina looked at him and felt something warm stir inside her. It had been a long time since she had felt anything like this.
— I’d love to.
They started dating. Infrequently at first, once a week, when Marina had a chance to leave her father with the neighbor. They went to the movies, walked in the park, sat in cafes, and talked about everything under the sun. Andrey turned out to be exactly the person Marina had been missing: reliable, understanding, someone she could be herself with. He came to their home and met Pyotr Semyonovich. Her father took an immediate liking to Andrey.
— He’s a good man, — he told Marina when they were alone. — I can see that he loves you. And you’re not indifferent to him either.
— Dad, it’s too early to talk about love, — Marina blushed.
— Sweetie, I’ve lived long enough to see when people are right for each other. You two are. Don’t let him go.
Several more months passed. The medical office was doing better and better. Marina hired another nurse to handle the flow of patients. Vera Ivanovna used her compensation money to buy a small apartment and moved out of the communal flat. She was literally glowing with happiness.
— For the first time in my life, I have my own home, — she said with tears in her eyes. — Thank you, Marinochka. If it weren’t for you, I would have died in that communal apartment.
Pyotr Semyonovich was also feeling better. Now Marina had money for good medicine, regular visits from a massage therapist, and special rehabilitation equipment. Her father began to move his left arm a little, and his speech became clearer. The doctors said it was great progress for a stroke survivor.
In late autumn, Andrey proposed to Marina. They were sitting in the same park where they had their first walk, and he took out a small box with a ring:
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