The Silent Killer - Completed

Aoife - picture>>>>

I remember the first day I saw Daniel. I was in the library at university with Sophie trying to find out about some disease we had to diagnose for Dr Fitz. He had given us a list of symptoms and an imaginary patient's background which we were to use to give them a diagnosis. Sounds pretty simple but, as per usual, Dr Fitz decided to make us work for it.

We read book after book after book and failed to come to a conclusion. Nothing made sense. Most of the symptoms would lead to a diagnosis but then there would be that one which told us no, that diagnosis is not possible if they have that. Getting more and more frustrated I went for a walk leaving Sophie to read over all we had found out already.

As I left the library I noticed a tall, handsome man standing reading a book. You may be saying 'well it's a library what else are you going to find people doing' but there was something striking about this man. His shaggy brown hair sat perfectly and his lean, muscular figure showed his love of sport. I felt myself stare then darted off down the corridor towards an exit at the end.

As I stepped outside all I could think was 'why the hell did I not go over and say hi? How stupid can you get? There he was standing right there in front of you and what do you do? Walk away! Seriously? Have you got no common sense at all!'. I paced back and forth along path beside the river trying to decide if I should march back in there and talk to him. "Yes." I said. 

He wasn't there anymore. I walked round and round the library trying to find him but he was gone. Probably never to be seen again. I blew it. Looking back now I realise how stupid I was to think I could possibly march up to someone I had never met and introduce myself. I had only just seen the guy. I had no clue as to what he was like or why he was there. 

As we sat in the library day after day for 2 weeks we never got any closer to a diagnosis. There is a reason for this though. I wasn't really concentrating that hard as every time I heard something move I looked up hoping to see him. But he was never there. Only some first years getting panicked over their first assignment now and again. It seemed like I had never seen him. Maybe I hadn't and it was all just a dream. My head was all over the place at the time so maybe I imagined him. 

With no diagnosis Sophie and I made out way to Dr Fitz lab to see if any other group had come up with a diagnosis. A few had but he soon shot them down as they hadn't noticed another symptom that meant the diagnosis was wrong. Turns out it was as simple as the person was a hypochondriac. We should have noticed this as the patient's notes all said 'Patient claims to have...' so there was no actual evidence that proved she was ill.

Just as I had forgotten about Daniel there he was sitting across the room in the canteen. Surely I wasn't imagining him again. He caught me looking at him and smiled. That smile was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. You could see the happiness in his eyes. Then I started to wonder why he was so happy. Was his wife pregnant? Had they just got married? I hadn't thought about him having a partner. I smiled back and carried on eating my lunch every now and again glancing over at him.

Another few weeks passed and there was no sign of Daniel. As the work started to get harder and more often my social life suddenly stopped. Of course Sophie being the party animal she was out most nights which left me home alone. I didn't mind though as it meant I could get more work done because if she was here we would just sit and watch films and gossip. What else do girls do? 

Finally as the last lecture of the year ended I made my way back to my locker to gather all my stuff before heading home to study for the upcoming exams. From afar I could see something on the door of the locker. A yellow post-it. Panicking I thought I had done something wrong and Dr Fitz was out to get me but as I moved closer to it I didn't recognise the handwriting. 'Phone Me :D 07426853154'. Looking round the corridor was filled with a crowd of people. It could have been anyone. I placed the note carefully in my pocket and headed home with Sophie. I hadn't told her about Daniel but I think she knew I was always looking for someone. So when we arrived home I blurted it out. She looked at me with that 'how stupid do you think I am' face. She knew exactly what was going on. I told her about the post-it and how I didn't know who it was. She urged me to phone it and find out. So later that night we did. I punched in the numbers and pressed call.