The night shift at Steve Biko Memorial Hospital is an ordinary one so far, and Dr Bengu has help with him: a new doctor arrived from London to begin his residency. The nurses call him ‘Dr Magic’.

A few days ago, his first day on the job, the young doctor delivered a breeched baby who was coming into the world feet first. The mother was scheduled for a Caesar but the baby came early and it was too late to operate. Baby’s feet were out but the head was stuck, and the neck tangled by the umbilical cord. And just then the mother fainted during labour. It was a frightening emergency, but the good doctor saved both mother and child.

From then on he is ‘Doctor Magic’. He makes the female nurses giggle like schoolgirls when he walks down the corridor because he is a very handsome man. And handsome men who save babies and women become the ultimate alpha males! Everyone jumps when he calls – and even when he doesn’t.

But now the night shift has suddenly become frantic: the emergency ward flocked by patients brought in ambulances – patients suffering smoke inhalation, burns, broken bones, major and minor bruises.

“It looked like a gas explosion,” says one paramedic.

The hospital staff are in a frenzy. Many people are injured, some really badly, and others lucky enough to have not suffered too much pain. More doctors are called in to assist.

“Incoming, emergency incoming!” shouts a paramedic.

“What’s the deal?” asks Dr Bengu.

“Female, mid-twenties, breathing but unconscious, no visible broken bones, slight burns on her left arm. Presumed to be unconscious from smoke inhalation. She was found with this man.”

The paramedic points to a stretcher behind him. “Male, late twenties, conscious but disoriented, visible head injury.”

Dr Bengu examines the woman. “Nurse, take this one to oxygen please, now! And check her pulse.”

He turns to the man on the stretcher. “An x-ray please on his head. Bring him back to me when you’re done.”

“Yes Dr Magic,” says the nurse.

The doctor snaps back, “The M in my name is not for magic. You will address me as Dr Mashale please. Dr Moses Mashale.”

“Yes Dr Mashale. I’m sorry.”

The nurse rushes the woman to a bed that has an oxygen tank mounted on the wall behind it and straps the mask onto her face.

“Keep an eye on her. I’ll be back,” says Dr Bengu.

The man is rushed to the x-ray room. In about 20 minutes he is back in General Emergency and at least talking sensibly.

Dr Mashale holds the x-ray up and examines it. “Katlego Mnisi, I am pleased to say your head wound is just on the surface; your skull is fine. I’m going to prescribe a very strong pain killer and you just need to rest. Are you feeling pain anywhere else on your body?”

“No. But where is my girlfriend? The ambulance brought us in together,” asks Katlego anxiously.

“Dr Bengu is with her; she’s receiving oxygen. Please open your eyes wide for me.”

“Doctor I’m fine. Please check on Gcina for me. She’s Gcina Nxumalo,” says Katlego.

Dr Mashale freezes at the sound of her name.

“Gcina Nxumalo!” says Dr Mashale, in an amazed tone.

“Yes, Gcina Nxumalo,” Katlego replies.

Moses drops the x-ray chart in Katlego’s lap and runs down the corridor. He has tears in his eyes.

“Dr Mashale, Dr Bengu was just here and he says the patient is responding to stimuli, showing an increase in heart rate and has twitching of the toes. She is unconscious again but Dr Bengu said she’s not in a coma …”

The nurse is rambling on, but Moses is only looking at Gcina’s face.He caresses her cheek and watches her lying there.

***

Tell us what you think: When Gcina (if Gcina) wakes up and sees Moses, what will she do?