Chapter 2
Anna sat in the café, looking out at the water crashing into the pier at the harbor. Her mind dwelled on the past, thinking about how she ended up in the Philippines and why she was choosing to stay there. “It’s for the children,” she reasoned as she sipped on her coffee. “I do it for the children.” Dr. Annabelle Richardson looked on in deep thought as she thought about her life. At 28 she was still relatively young but highly distinguished and successful. Having graduated medical school two years prior to her trip to the Philippines, Anna joined a charity organization that helped bring modern medicine to children in underdeveloped areas. She was originally sent to the Ivory Coast and Ghana in Africa before being sent to the Philippines.
She finished her coffee and stood up, pushing the chair back under the table and stepping away from the café. Her brunette hair waved in the wind as she stepped along the rocky path. Her skin was tanned, having changed slightly after being in the sun constantly for the past two years. Her smile was her best feature and could brighten up a room while her blue eyes were magnificent and looked like the clear blue waters. She wasn’t very tall, though was close to eye level with most of the women in the villages she visited; many of the men did tower over her though.
A light vibration rang in her pocket, prompting her to reach down and pull her phone out. “Hello?” she said as she placed it up against the side of her face.
“Anna, it’s Marco!” announced the Italian male on the other side of the phone. “How are you doing?”
Anna smiled as she listened to the voice ring her ear. Marco was an old friend that she met in medical school who tried to convince her not to go into public service and instead go into research and hospital work. “I’m doing well,” she said as she pondered the reason he could be calling her. “How are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m doing absolutely perfect,” he replied. “I wanted to call and talk to you about something that was offered to me in Los Angeles. Do you have a few moments?”
She sighed as she continued to walk along the rocky path toward her domicile in the center of the village. “Yeah, I’m just walking to my apartment,” she answered.
“Great,” said Marco. “Look, I don’t mean to be too forward, but how attached to life in the Philippines are you?”
Anna smirked as she walked along the path, thinking briefly about what all was missing from her life since she decided to move to small country in the Pacific. “I’d move for the right opportunity but I do enjoy working with people who need help,” she explained as she walked along the path. “I don’t want to be a part of a system that only caters to those with money.”
“I respect that,” said Marco as Anna continued to walk through the village, looking around at the wooden structures that lined both sides of the street. “What if I told you there was a position inside an organization that helps people all over the world; but, instead of stationing yourself in one locale, you travel every few weeks to a new place. It would allow you to see the world while also helping those who need help.”
She continued to walk as she looked around. “Go on,” she stated curiously as she listened. “You have my attention.”
“I figured this would be something that you would be interested in,” Marco said. “This company is out of Los Angeles but services various locales around the world. You will be sent to places that need a doctor and, once the need subsides, you’ll be sent to another place that needs you.”
Anna smirked. “Sounds like I’ll be going to put band-aids on people after natural disasters and treating those with the sniffles during outbreaks.”
“More or less,” replied Marco. “However, it’s an opportunity to see the world and it’s something that will allow you the chance to see the world. You’ll be able to go to Korea, India, Europe. Heck, you’ll even be able to practice some in the United States.”
“Then why aren’t you jumping at this?” asked Anna. “You always talked about how you wanted to see the world.”
“I would if I didn’t have the current position that I’m in,” he clarified. “Honestly, this is a great opportunity, and I’m jealous that I can’t take it, but when they asked if I knew someone who would be potentially interested in this, you were the first person I thought of.”
This was a great opportunity. She knew that, given the circumstances, would be capable of fulfilling the role that was being asked of her. However, she knew her life was missing something and traveling the world might not satisfy it. She had yet to experience the interaction with the opposite sex that she had yearned for. Throughout her entire life, she craved the attention and affection of a man. Taking this job would potentially hinder that, as she would be unable to satisfy that craving. She would never be in a place long enough to create a relationship that would build, grow, and ultimately, become fruitful. “No man would wait long enough for me,” she thought to herself as she left Marco on the phone. “Tell you what, let me think on this,” she said. “I’m interested, but I want to make sure it’s the right fit before I make my move. Is that ok?”
“Absolutely, but you can’t take too long,” he replied. “They’re interviewing people right now but my recommendation carries a lot of weight. If you tell me you want it, the job is yours.”
Anna nodded. “I’ll think on it tonight and get back with you in the morning,” she said as she reached the end of the road with her apartment on the far end, bordering a small beach that looked out at the ocean.
“That would be perfect,” replied Marco. “Do think on it, but don’t take too much time.”
“I will,” she said as she looked out to see a large cruiser docking in the harbor. “I will speak to you soon.” She sighed as she hung up the phone. Large military vessels docked at their port occasionally, and when they did, it made for an interesting evening. It never deterred her from going out and enjoying herself, but it would provide a distraction from her thoughts. She knew she would need a drink to think about what all was going on and what she would have to do with her life, but she also knew she would have to have a moment to think. Being surrounded by drunk sailors never made it easy, though tonight, she didn’t have a choice. She had to relax.