Framed Before the First Cut

The male doctor responsible for treating my wounds was Daniel Reed from my department.

When he saw my face, his hands paused.

His pupils shrank sharply.

"Dr. Doherty? You... why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the operating room resuscitating the patient right now?"

As soon as he said that, the police officer beside me spoke first.

"Oh? She is a doctor at your hospital? She accidentally fell into a deep shaft. We just rescued her."

Daniel froze.

His gaze fell on my face.

His mouth opened, then closed, as if he wanted to speak several times but stopped himself.

It seemed he knew something.

But in front of the police officers, he did not dare say another word.

He could only silently pick up his instruments and carefully treat my wounds.

The debridement and suturing process was clear and torturous.

The cut on my forehead alone needed three stitches.

My right leg was placed in a cast because of the fracture.

Then I was pushed into the exam room for a head CT.

Fortunately, the results showed only a mild concussion and nothing serious.

Once I appeared more conscious, two police officers walked into the observation room with a notebook.

They needed to take my statement as part of the routine accident inquiry.

"Dr. Doherty, please recount the full process of how you fell into the shaft."

Leaning against the headboard, I acted as if I were trying hard to remember.

"After finishing my night shift, I had just walked out the front gate when a colleague from the department called and told me to return to the operating room immediately to help with a resuscitation.

"I was anxious and a little dazed, so I did not notice the open shaft on the road. I stepped into it and fell straight down."

The officers listened and nodded repeatedly.

Soon after, someone from the hospital's surveillance room hurried over.

They carried the complete road surveillance footage and handed it to the officers for verification.

The surveillance footage was clear and complete. It matched my statement exactly.

After watching it, the officers confirmed that this was purely an accident.

Just then, I suddenly cried out.

I pretended to be anxious.

"Oh no! Oh no! They are still waiting for me to return for surgery! How did I lose so much time here?"

I tried my best to show the normal reaction an emergency physician should have.

Ignoring my injuries and the officers' attempts to stop me, I struggled to get up.

"Push me over there! I have to get back to the operating room!"

The officers quickly tried to calm me down.

"Dr. Doherty, please stay calm. Your current physical condition is not suitable for surgery."

But I acted frantic, forcing myself upright and insisting on sitting in a wheelchair.

"No! I am worried. I have to go over and check!"

No one could stop me.

But when I was hurriedly wheeled to the operating room entrance, the atmosphere there was already deathly still.

A crowd of crying, devastated family members had filled the hallway.

The operating room light had gone out.

The resuscitation was over.