On her way home, Esihle stops to catch up with Nurse Angie.

ESIHLE: I survived my first night shift without any problems. I assisted in a curative surgery to remove a growth from a patient’s kidney.

NURSE ANGIE: I told you, there is nothing to worry about. You are an amazing doctor and I know you’re going to keep doing amazing things.

ESIHLE: Thanks, Angie! Having had the opportunity to assist the on-call oncologist was out of this world, especially because that is the specialty I want to pursue. Overall, the past 12 hours were a success, and I can’t wait to be back at it again later.

As they talk, the ER entrance doors fly open and a man bleeding from a large open head wound is wheeled passed them by paramedics. As they pass, Esihle recognises the man on the stretcher — it’s Thabiso. She is frozen to the spot by shock, and her hands begin to tremble. He was fine yesterday, what could have happened between then and now?

NURSE ANGIE: Esihle? Dr. Khumalo? Hayibo, girl, are you OK?

Angie puts her hand on Esihle’s shoulder, and Esihle almost jumps out of her skin from the fright.

NURSE ANGIE: Are you OK?

ESIHLE: Yes, I’m fine. Do you know what happened to that man?

NURSE ANGIE: It was called in earlier apparently, he was caught stealing and the community dealt with him accordingly.

ESIHLE: You mean the community attacked him? As in mob justice?

NURSE ANGIE: Yes, we’ve been seeing a lot of these cases lately here at emergency.

ESIHLE: I should see if I can help. 

Angie grabs her arm as she tries to walk away.

NURSE ANGIE: Hayi wena, you’re not on call any more. Go home and rest — a 10-hour shift is no joke.

ESIHLE: Yeah, you’re probably right. Please text me if you hear anything about that man’s case.

NURSE ANGIE: Why, is he a friend?

ESIHLE: Something like that. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Angie. 

She heads out the exit and to the taxi rank.

Tell us: What do you think will happen next?