Lecture
I quickly let go of Yuki's body. We looked at each other.
“Yuki. Don't think about it anymore.”
“Why? I want to be with you. That's why…!”
“No.”
“I haven't even said anything yet.”
“I can tell by the look on your face what you're going to say after that.”
My face might have been smiling. I pulled Yuki's away from me and hugged her. Then I whispered into her ear.
“I don't want to take away the freedom and the dignity of human life.”
Yuki swallowed the words she was about to say. “….Make me your dependent."*
I could see that she was crying. I didn’t want to hear those words from her. I knew the value of life......so I didn’t want to hear such words from Yuki all the more. Human beings would die someday. That is why I think it is beautiful. Rick's words go round and round in my head.
That night I slept on the couch.
In the morning, I woke up, prepared breakfast, and quietly left the house. I didn't want to wake Yuki up, and also because I was somehow aware of her thoughts and wishes.
The university where I would be teaching this time was a university hospital in Nagoya. It was a large hospital with a medical school. The content of my lecture was well received elsewhere, so I was asked to give one at this hospital as well.
In a large auditorium, I took the stage to report on my activities with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and to express my wish for peace.
On a large screen, doctors engaged in medical treatment in conflict zones and scenes of the medical treatment were projected on the screen.
“The doctors in the war zones are risking their lives to help. All the supplies we usually use are in short supply. We have to be creative in our treatment. People, even those who are considered refugees, walk for days to come to us, barefoot. The license to be a doctor is not magic. Some lives are lost. There are many situations where we have to send off people who could have been saved. Many doctors come to us with dreams and pride, but the current situation is different, and it is true that some doctors are returning to their home countries because of this gap. Who can blame them? Things are happening all over the world that would be unthinkable in peaceful Japan."
We need your support!*
"Give supplies to the hardworking doctors! Get the missing medical equipment to the field! Even if it's just a little. Can’t you help us? Even the smallest of things would be greatly appreciated on the field. We are not asking for donations. Everything is in short supply at the site. Infusion routes, needles, syringes, medicines. If you have items that are about to expire, please provide them. Please call out to me. To a doctor you know or a clinic near you! I'll be responsible for delivering them!"
The lecture was over, and the two hours flew by. The organizers told me that the lecture was worthwhile.
“How will you deliver the supplies you were talking about?”
“Of course, by military helicopter." I said, “It is the only way to get to an area where bullets are flying around.”
“...And that means you know someone who has access to them?”
“Yes, I do. I have contacts in a lot of places.”
I answer with a smile. The other person seemed to understand that I was in a bad position.
The other guy had a drawn look on his face.
“Let me help you to the best of my ability."
“We're going to get a mountain of supplies from people who heard the lecture."
“I appreciate that!”
I replied with a smile.
Lecture
I quickly let go of Yuki's body. We looked at each other.
“Yuki. Don't think about it anymore.”
“Why? I want to be with you. That's why…!”
“No.”
“I haven't even said anything yet.”
“I can tell by the look on your face what you're going to say after that.”
My face might have been smiling. I pulled Yuki's away from me and hugged her. Then I whispered into her ear.
“I don't want to take away the freedom and the dignity of human life.”
Yuki swallowed the words she was about to say. “….Make me your dependent."*
I could see that she was crying. I didn’t want to hear those words from her. I knew the value of life......so I didn’t want to hear such words from Yuki all the more. Human beings would die someday. That is why I think it is beautiful. Rick's words go round and round in my head.
That night I slept on the couch.
In the morning, I woke up, prepared breakfast, and quietly left the house. I didn't want to wake Yuki up, and also because I was somehow aware of her thoughts and wishes.
The university where I would be teaching this time was a university hospital in Nagoya. It was a large hospital with a medical school. The content of my lecture was well received elsewhere, so I was asked to give one at this hospital as well.
In a large auditorium, I took the stage to report on my activities with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and to express my wish for peace.
On a large screen, doctors engaged in medical treatment in conflict zones and scenes of the medical treatment were projected on the screen.
“The doctors in the war zones are risking their lives to help. All the supplies we usually use are in short supply. We have to be creative in our treatment. People, even those who are considered refugees, walk for days to come to us, barefoot. The license to be a doctor is not magic. Some lives are lost. There are many situations where we have to send off people who could have been saved. Many doctors come to us with dreams and pride, but the current situation is different, and it is true that some doctors are returning to their home countries because of this gap. Who can blame them? Things are happening all over the world that would be unthinkable in peaceful Japan."
We need your support!*
"Give supplies to the hardworking doctors! Get the missing medical equipment to the field! Even if it's just a little. Can’t you help us? Even the smallest of things would be greatly appreciated on the field. We are not asking for donations. Everything is in short supply at the site. Infusion routes, needles, syringes, medicines. If you have items that are about to expire, please provide them. Please call out to me. To a doctor you know or a clinic near you! I'll be responsible for delivering them!"
The lecture was over, and the two hours flew by. The organizers told me that the lecture was worthwhile.
“How will you deliver the supplies you were talking about?”
“Of course, by military helicopter." I said, “It is the only way to get to an area where bullets are flying around.”
“...And that means you know someone who has access to them?”
“Yes, I do. I have contacts in a lot of places.”
I answer with a smile. The other person seemed to understand that I was in a bad position.
The other guy had a drawn look on his face.
“Let me help you to the best of my ability."
“We're going to get a mountain of supplies from people who heard the lecture."
“I appreciate that!”
I replied with a smile.
