El nuevo doctor de Paula

Story

Paula tiene un problema. Hace tres semanas que su cabeza no está bien. Por la noche no puede dormir. Por la mañana está mal. Su amiga Marta le dice que vaya a un nuevo doctor. "Es muy bueno," dice Marta. "Yo fui hace dos años. Tienes que ir."

Paula has a problem. For three weeks now her head has not been well. At night she cannot sleep. In the morning she feels bad. Her friend Marta tells her to go to a new doctor. "He is very good," Marta says. "I went two years ago. You have to go."

Hoy es el día. Paula va al hospital. Es un doctor nuevo para ella. No lo conoce. Tiene un poco de miedo, pero también quiere saber qué pasa con su cabeza. Tres semanas son muchas semanas.

Today is the day. Paula goes to the hospital. He is a new doctor for her. She does not know him. She is a little afraid, but she also wants to know what is happening with her head. Three weeks is a lot of weeks.

Paula entra. Una señora le dice hola y le pregunta su nombre. "Paula Vidal," dice ella. "Muy bien, Paula, espera aquí un momento, por favor." Paula da las gracias y se queda allí.

Paula goes in. A woman says hello and asks her name. "Paula Vidal," she says. "Very well, Paula, wait here a moment, please." Paula says thank you and stays there.

Espera. Mira a la gente. Hay un hombre viejo con su mano en la cara. Hay una mujer joven con un bebé pequeño. La hora pasa muy despacio. Paula piensa en su trabajo, en su casa, en todas las cosas que tiene que hacer después.

She waits. She looks at the people. There is an old man with his hand on his face. There is a young woman with a small baby. The hour passes very slowly. Paula thinks about her work, her house, all the things she has to do afterwards.

Por fin, el doctor sale y la llama. Es un hombre joven. "Hola, Paula. Pasa, por favor." Paula entra. El doctor le dice que se quede tranquila y le pregunta cómo está. "Mi cabeza, doctor. Hace tres semanas. Por la noche no puedo dormir."

Finally, the doctor comes out and calls her. He is a young man. "Hello, Paula. Come in, please." Paula goes in. The doctor tells her to take it easy and asks her how she is. "My head, doctor. For three weeks now. At night I cannot sleep."

El doctor hace más preguntas. Le pregunta por su trabajo, por su comida, por su familia. Paula habla. El doctor oye todo. La mira a los ojos. Le toma la mano un momento. Es bueno. Le hace pensar que alguien quiere saber, de verdad.

The doctor asks more questions. He asks about her work, her food, her family. Paula talks. The doctor hears it all. He looks her in the eye. He takes her hand for a moment. It is good. It makes her think that someone wants to know, really.

"No es un problema grande, Paula," le dice el doctor. "Tú trabajas mucho. No duermes lo suficiente. Tienes que tomar más tiempo para ti. Tomar más agua. Dormir más por la noche. Salir un poco. Una semana así y ya vas a ver. Si después de una semana sigues mal, vuelves aquí. ¿De acuerdo?"

"It is not a big problem, Paula," the doctor tells her. "You work a lot. You do not sleep enough. You have to take more time for yourself. Drink more water. Sleep more at night. Get out a bit. A week like that and you will see. If after a week you are still bad, you come back here. All right?"

"De acuerdo, doctor. Muchas gracias." Paula sale del hospital. Hace buen día. Por primera vez en tres semanas, su cabeza parece un poco mejor, sólo porque alguien la ha oído. Esta noche va a dormir. Mañana, ya verá.

"All right, doctor. Thank you very much." Paula leaves the hospital. It is a nice day. For the first time in three weeks, her head seems a little better, just because someone has heard her. Tonight she is going to sleep. Tomorrow, she will see.