A stark contrast

Jenny's four months at home passed by in a flash and she managed to witness more than one interesting surgery and case file from the comfort of her own home. When the final day of her leave at last arrived, her hands were itching to get started again. To be at the hospital and in the operating room. Helping people the best way she could. She received a warm welcome upon her return and it felt like she had never left. The same couldn't be said about her colleagues, who had most certainly noticed her absence. Though at first they were happy with the idea of the person who was making them look bad to be gone for a few months, but when that time finally came and she was no longer there, they noticed just how much she did. In the time that they were able to see one patient, Jenny had managed to diagnose and treat three.

Another thing they had missed were her notes and treatment plans. They were always very easy to understand and contained much more information than a regular chart contained. So, when they came in after her, they always knew exactly what she had done, for what reason and what they should do. This was not only something that was very helpful for the nurses, who usually had to make due with some rushed scribbles in what was supposed to resemble the English language, but also the other doctors in the hospital who had to take over after her shifts. So, after her return no one dared to let out another complaint about her and even went as far as to have her promoted a lot earlier than was common for people still in training.

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The years passed by and in just four years, Jenny managed to finish a training that was supposed to take six years. Though her work ethic was still as impeccable as ever, she had earned herself an intimidating title. In the halls she was now called the Surgeon of Death or the Demon Surgeon as she appeared to be able to bring back those that were on the brink of death BUT in order to do so, she needed to be strict in the operating room. Really strict. Making more than one person cry when they assisted her, be it from her intimidating eyes that made them cower and shiver to their bones or the overwhelming pressure from seeing someone like that at work. A person that no longer even appeared human with her speed and accuracy.

Though they admired her skill, they couldn't get used to the change in personality that she seemed to undergo in the operating room. The change was so drastic that they couldn't believe their eyes whenever they saw it and quite frankly, they were frightened by this change she underwent between the time she was in the OR and once she had finished her surgery. Because the person that was wielding a knife in the operating room, who appeared to be possessed as she was cutting and stitching, was only focussed on saving the life in front of her and cared about nothing else. This side of her was a stark contrast to the person that appeared the moment she stepped out of that room and took off her mask. That was when she returned to being the sweet and bright person that everyone knew and loved.

Another person who was familiar with Jenny's intimidating and fear-inducing side was Charlie, who made good use of that side to deal with his father's episodes of jealousy and unreasonableness. He was already eight years old and was growing more handsome with each year that passed. Though he was a big boy now, his attachment to Jenny was as strong as ever and growing by the second. Meaning that the behaviour that Jason had hoped Charlie would outgrow, the behaviour that Jenny had promised him would become less as Charlie got older, was still very present. Causing Jason much vexation as he did not like him clinging onto Jenny so much. He had told him so from a very young age and this had not changed.

This was because clinging on Charlie's part meant that Jason's place by Jenny's side would be taken and he would be pushed to the side whenever he tried to get in between. So, the hug he would want, would be taken by Charlie. The kiss he wanted to give, would be placed by Charlie. But luckily for Charlie, as long as Jenny was in the room with him, there was nothing Jason could do. Even if she wasn't, all he needed to do was threaten to tell her and his father would back off very quickly. Whenever he felt the chill that his father could cause in a room, his mother could melt that cold heart with one smile, a few words or a single kiss. But just as easily she could make him cower in fear.

Though he did not know what his mother would whisper to him, though he might not know her exact words, he did know the power she possessed. He knew that she had the ability to freeze over a fiery rage inside his heart and the ability to bring spring instantly to a room that made you feel like you had stepped out into the South pole. She could lift every mood and settle every level of anger, making all that had happed forgiven and forgotten. Including whatever mischief he might have pulled or how many times he continued to cling to the person he was not allowed to cling to according to his father.

He could clearly see the change in his expression and in his following behaviour in the one called the devil prince, the king of jealousy. The one that could make your worst nightmares look like a sweet dream compared to what he would do once you had incurred his anger. He had heard all about it from his family and his father's friends. And despite not knowing all the details, he did know one thing for certain. The person who could go toe to toe with a person like that and come out the victor, deserved to be called what all that knew both of them called her, which was the devil's match.