The Last Serum

The girl was dying from a snakebite. As the villages only doctor, I let the last vial of antivenom fall and shatter. I watched calmly as her life faded.

Her family knelt outside, begging. My kind apprentice pleaded with me. My gentle husband screamed I was a monster who should have been bitten.

I held up a shard of the broken vial. Im sorry. The last vial was dropped. Get her to the city hospital. Now.

In my past life, Id treated her carefully. I had the right antivenom, cleaned the wound for hours, and saved her. But she died moments after.

Then the door burst open. A mob of reporters and villagers stormed in. They called me a quack, accused me of taking bribes and selling expired drugs. They found cash and old medicine in my clinic. My own husband denounced me on camera. My apprentice testified shed seen me sell expired drugs.

I was branded a murderer. The villagers released venomous snakes on me until I died.

Yet in twenty years as a doctor, I had been honest. I never took bribes, never sold expired medicine, and often waived fees for the poor.

I couldnt understand it. The antivenom should have worked.

Then I opened my eyes. I was back on the day the girl was brought to my clinic.

Doctor, please, you have to save that poor girl! Her face is turning purple.

The sweet, delicate voice in my ear made me freeze. Id know that voice even in death. It could only be my darling apprentice, Amelia.

Her eyes were filled with tears, her expression a perfect blend of compassion and concern. A true angel in white.

She took my hand, ready to pull me to my feet. But I remained seated, my gaze fixed on the safe in the corner of the room.

Im meticulous. Obsessive, even. Every time I use the safe, I reset the combination dial to zero.

But now, untouched by me, the dial was pointing to a different set of numbers.

A cold fury washed over me as I remembered the cascade of cash that had poured from that very safe in my previous life.

Besides me, only one other person knew the combination. My husband, David.

Was it possible? Had he planned my death all along?

I had spent my life doing good, treating countless poor and sick villagers. I thought I was earning good karma, ensuring a peaceful future for myself. I never imagined I would be betrayed and destroyed by the two people I loved most.

But I was still confused. The girl was clearly bitten by a pit viper. That was the only deadly snake in the area.

So why didn't the antivenom work?

Before I could think further, the clinic door burst open. An old woman stumbled in, carrying a young girl with a deathly pale, bluish face. She collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

Dr. Evans! What are you waiting for? Please, save my granddaughter! She was bitten by a snake!

Maam, please try to calm down, Amelia said, her voice gentle. Do you remember what the snake looked like?

It was it was green, the old woman stammered.

Oh! It must have been a pit viper! Amelia exclaimed, turning to me and grabbing my arm. Doctor, I remember we have one vial of pit viper antivenom left, right? We have to use it now!

I ignored her and calmly assessed the girls condition.

Last time, I was in too much of a hurry. I didnt ask enough questions before administering the antivenom.

But now, looking closely, I could see how frail she was. When I lifted her sleeve, I saw not only the snakebite but also a constellation of dark bruises, as if she had been beaten.

Pit viper venom isnt the most potent. The fatality rate is relatively low. It seemed there was more to her condition than just the bite.

Maam, did you manage to bring the snake with you? Or take a picture of it? I asked.

What? I didnt have time for that! I was in a panic! Doctor, just give her that shot, please!

A flicker of panic crossed the grandmothers eyes. She glanced nervously in Amelias direction.

Were they in on it together?

I cant do that, maam. Not all green snakes are pit vipers. This is a small clinic with limited resources. I cant definitively identify the snake. If I use the wrong antivenom, it wont work, and it will waste precious time. You need to get her to a proper hospital in the city.

As I spoke, Amelias expression soured.

In the past, I would have been frantic, desperate to help the patient, and would have likely followed her suggestion. But not this time. I was not getting dragged into this mess again.

Doctor, you cant be serious! The girl is in critical condition. What if something happens on the way to the city? Dont you have a conscience? Amelias voice was sharp, her gentle facade cracking.

Its precisely because I have a conscience that I wont treat her blindly, I retorted, my voice cold. If I make a mistake and her condition worsens, will you take responsibility for that?

My icy glare made her flinch, and for a second, a look of pure venom flashed in her eyes.

Just then, a figure stormed into the clinic. Without a word, he slapped me hard across the face.

Rebecca! You call yourself a doctor, and youre just going to let her die? What was the point of all your years of study? I am so disappointed in you!

Youre a monster. Why wasnt it you who got bitten by the snake?

My husband, David, had arrived.

The slap made my head spin. For a moment, the world tilted on its axis. When my vision cleared, I saw the rage in Davids eyes. He wasn't looking at his wife of over a decade. He was looking at me like I was his mortal enemy.

He had been planning this for a long time. He was just waiting for me to fall into his trap so he could get rid of me and inherit my clinic.

But I wasn't playing by his rules this time. He was getting desperate, trying to guilt-trip me.

It wasn't going to work.

If youre so concerned, then drive her to the city. Its an hour away, at most. David, youre such a hero. Why dont you use that new car of yours and put the pedal to the metal? Dont worry, in an emergency like this, you won't get a ticket for speeding or running a red light.

The suggestion caught him off guard. He stammered, What does this have to do with me? Youre the doctor! Youre supposed to save people! Just give the girl the antivenom. If you delay any longer, I, as your husband, will be the first one to hold you accountable!

His threat was meant to intimidate me, but it only made my heart grow colder. The new car he was so proud of? I had bought it for him. For years, I had given him everything. And this is how he repaid me? By plotting my murder?

Ive already told you, I dont know what kind of snake it was. As a doctor, my first duty is to do no harm. That includes not administering a treatment without a proper diagnosis. While youve been standing here yelling at me, you could have been halfway to the city by now.

I refused to budge. David and Amelia were growing more and more frantic, their insults and accusations bouncing off my wall of calm indifference.

Then, I saw Amelia give a subtle hand signal to the grandmother.

The old woman immediately understood. She fell to her knees again, pulling out a wad of crumpled, dirty bills from her pocket.

Dr. Evans! Please, save my granddaughter! I have money! Ill give you all of this! If its not enough, Ill borrow more! Ill sell everything I own, Ill sell my own blood, my kidney, whatever it takes to pay you!

I frowned. A dark sense of foreboding washed over me.

Sure enough, David pointed an accusing finger at me. So thats it, Rebecca! I thought you were actually being professional. Turns out, you were just holding out for more money!

Amelia started sobbing beside him, looking at me with wide, wounded eyes. Doctor, I chose you as my mentor because you seemed so honest, so principled. I never thought I never thought you were this kind of person! Youve disappointed me so much!

She cried dramatically, her pretty face crumpled in despair. It was a convincing performance.

I saw a flicker of concern and tenderness in Davids eyes as he looked at her. So, there was more going on between them than I knew.

I wasnt even dead yet, and they had already dropped the act.

Why are you so worried about my apprentices feelings? I asked, a playful, dangerous smile on my lips. What exactly is the relationship between you two?

Davids face flushed, then paled. He seemed to snap, shoving me so hard I stumbled backward into a medicine cabinet. What the hell are you talking about? Dont you dare slander me!

The cabinet door wasnt properly latched. The impact sent glass bottles crashing to the floor, shattering with a deafening noise. Shards of glass flew through the air, and I felt a sharp sting as a few pieces sliced my cheek. Blood welled up, and the sight of it seemed to startle David.

But he didnt move to help me. He didnt offer a bandage. Instead, he marched over to my safe.

Rebecca, Ive been covering for you for years, hoping you would change your ways. But this is too much. As your husband, its my duty to expose you to the village!

This safe is full of the bribes shes taken from all of you! These poor people! They have so little, and shes been bleeding them dry! If you dont pay her, she wont treat you!

He started turning the dial, rattling off the combination as he continued his tirade. But when he finished, the safe door wouldnt budge. He pulled and pulled, but it remained sealed.

Just then, the clinic door flew open again. A group of reporters burst in, their cameras already rolling.

Dr. Evans, is it true that for the past twenty years, youve been demanding bribes from the villagers before youll treat them?

Dr. Evans, weve heard that medicine that costs twenty dollars elsewhere, you sell for a hundred. Do you have no shame?

The questions came rapid-fire, the camera flashes blinding. But they werent getting the shot they wanted. David was still struggling with the safe.

You changed the combination! he accused, his eyes wide with disbelief.

What he didnt know was that in addition to the combination lock, there was a second, key-operated lock at the bottom of the safe. I had quietly locked it while everyone was distracted.

So what if I did? I shrugged. A wife is allowed to have a few secrets, isnt she?

Damn it, open this thing! Its full of cash! Shes taken in almost ten thousand dollars this month alone! David roared.

No. Those are my personal belongings. I have a right to my privacy. If you want to accuse me of something, you can call the police.

I sat down calmly and watched him fume, a small, satisfying smile playing on my lips.

You just wait! David snarled. He suddenly broke into a wicked grin, then ran into my storeroom and emerged with an armful of medicine boxes, which he dumped in front of the reporters.

Look! Shes been selling expired medicine! All of it! How much more evidence do you need?

The reporters swarmed the pile of boxes, their cameras clicking furiously.

The evidence is right here. Lets see you talk your way out of this one, David sneered, ready to enjoy the show.

But I wasnt worried. You say Ive been selling expired medicine, I said, my voice calm. But where did you find these boxes?

In your storeroom, of course! David snapped, clearly not expecting the question.

Exactly. In my storeroom. Which means I havent sold them. Its perfectly normal for a clinic to have some expired stock. I just havent had time to dispose of it properly.

The reporters seemed to find my explanation plausible. They looked at each other and nodded.

Stop pretending! I have a witness!

Amelia, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. She brought in a young man from the crowd outside.

Go on, Sam! Tell them! she encouraged.

Sam looked dazed, his eyes darting around nervously. Amelia nudged him with her elbow, and he finally mumbled, I I bought a box of expired medicine from her. This one right here.

He placed a box on the counter, and the reporters immediately descended on it.

Its true. This expired three years ago. And it has your handwritten dosage instructions and signature on it, Dr. Evans. Whats your explanation for this? a reporter asked.

I walked over and examined the box, then looked straight at Sam. He squirmed under my gaze, unable to meet my eyes.

Sam, who was this medicine for? I asked.

Uh for my dad? Why?

If I remember correctly, your father passed away four years ago. So if you bought this medicine four years ago, it makes sense that it would be expired now, doesnt it?

Sams eyes widened in panic. He turned to Amelia. She figured it out! What do we do now?

Amelia quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, her eyes darting around in a panic.

Okay, lets not get sidetracked, she said, quickly changing the subject. The girl is whats important right now! Her condition is getting worse! Youre a doctor! You cant just let her die!

Seeing her plan unraveling, she tried to steer the conversation back to the dying girl.

Im not going to repeat myself. If youre so concerned about this girl, then you save her. Youre a doctor too, arent you?

My challenge made her shrink back. Me? No, I cant. My skills are nowhere near as good as yours.

Just then, the village chief arrived. Amelia rushed to him, pouring out a dramatic, twisted version of the events.

The chief looked at me, his expression troubled. Dr. Evans, please, just treat the child. Time is running out. Youre the best doctor for miles around. If you cant help her, who can?

The girls grandmother started wailing again, and the reporters joined in, urging me to do something. With all eyes on me, I had no choice but to relent.

Fine, I sighed. Ill get the antivenom.

I walked back into the treatment room and looked at the overturned medicine cabinet. An idea struck me. I slapped my thigh and put on a look of utter panic.

Oh no! No, no, no!

What are you screaming about now? Just treat the girl! David yelled.

I ignored him and sifted through the broken glass on the floor until I found a shard from a vial with the word antivenom still faintly visible.

Im sorry, I announced to the room. The last vial of antivenom was accidentally dropped. You should get her to the city hospital. Now.