Although there is not a ghost in this story the only way it can be explained is through the ability of the spirit to transcend the barriers of time and distance to amend an old mistake.
After graduating from university in the year 1988 I began working in the clinical laboratory of a hospital in Mexico City.
The head of the lab staff was Dr RV; he was a very nice gentleman with many professional achievements and a passion for photography. It was a pleasure to listen to his conversation except for the times when he was upset, then he would turn into a raging bull that wouldn't listen to reason.
His assistant was Dr DL, a quiet man with a taste for intrigue and conflict.
Shortly after I began working there, the laboratory acquired a computerized blood analyzer and trained a group of the biochemists in its use; at the end of the training course they choose the two persons with the better understanding of the machine to be in charge of it.
To the chagrin of many of the personnel with more seniority the "chosen ones" were two of the youngest members of the staff, I was one of them.
Being one of 'the experts' in the use of the analyzer came with a price and this was not having the freedom of as many days off as the rest of the personnel because no one else had the ability to cover our absence in case of sick days or emergencies.
Nevertheless I enjoyed my job and became good friends with my coworker, Miss AA.
But it came the day when I had to look for greener pastures and I found another job.
Knowing that I wouldn't be able to enjoy some holidays in the new job for at least one year and wanting to help in the training of the person that would take my place in the lab, I decided to take a week off and then come back and work for one more month.
So, since Dr RV wasn't there that day, I presented Dr DL with my resignation letter considering that a six weeks period notice would give them plenty of time to find the right person to take over the position I was leaving.
Two or three days later Dr RV call me to his office, I was expecting him to ask some questions about my new job but what he did was to shoutat me insulting me for my lack of professionalism and my poor job ethics.
His face was red and angry, and he didn't even let me say a word before asking me to remove my annoying self away from his presence.
I was shaken and couldn't understand his outburst; and really enjoyed my holidays even thinking not to go back to work at the lab after the way he treated me.
But it was not in me to back to my word and went back to work a week later ready to finish my contract in a month.
After coming back from my holidays, Miss AA went to Dr RV's office and asked for some days off.
In his gentle manner he asked her who would be in charge of the analyzer if she left, and she answered that I would do it.
Justice is such a sweet feeling! - until that moment the good doctor realized that I would be still working for a month!
He called me to his office, this time I was ready to be nasty and yell at him if necessary, but I found him in a very embarrassed and apologetic mood, he explained to me that the last time we talked he was stressed out because he thought that was my last day working and it would be a big problem for him to find some one to replace me.
Although he didn't say it, I suspect that Dr DL intentionally omitted the information about my holidays.
In 1991 I left my job at the hospital in good terms with Dr RV.
Fast-forward the time eleven to twelve years later during which I got married, immigrated to Canada and had two beautiful children that were already attending elementary school. One day I was busy working in the kitchen taking advantage of some "free time" before my kids were back from school and all of a sudden I began feeling very sad and remorseful, but it was not a feeling coming from within myself but more like if an invisible but heavy cloud were surrounding me, and at the same time I couldn't stop thinking about that terrible day when Dr RV insulted me.
For an unexplained reason I felt compelled to softly say "Do not worry, Dr RV, I forgive you, be at peace".
Two days later I phoned Miss AA, she told me that Dr RV had been in a coma for several days and there was no hope for him to recover.
Ever since I have thought that, if it is true that our life flashes before our eyes when we die, perhaps Dr RV 'saw' his mistake again and wanted to apologize for it.
RIP, Dr RV, thanks for your help in my early days like a graduated biochemist.
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