Occupational Risk

"Ms. Karolina Michalska?" the nurse asked a young woman sitting in front of

the blood donation room.

"Yes, it's me." The girl replied

. "Please come with me to the office. The doctor wants to talk to you."

A moment later, they were both in a small room. A large glass desk was set in front of them, and on the walls hung cabinets whose combination of glass and metal perfectly complemented the kitschy paintings in simple frames. The doctor sat opposite, in a large leather chair, and while talking on the phone, he showed Karolina a place to rest. The nurse left the office after a moment. When the doctor finished talking, he began reviewing some notes. The impatient girl asked,

"Doctor, why did you call me here? I have a very important exam in half an hour.

" "Unfortunately, I had to, because this is serious."

Fear appeared on her face. There was nothing wrong with her. She felt fine.

"I don't know how to tell you this." There was silence. The doctor was at a loss for words.

"I've never, never done this before, and I'm sorry to say it's difficult for me. That's why I'll tell you right away. You have AIDS."

At that moment, Karolina felt dizzy. She didn't believe the doctor's words, didn't want to. Or maybe she'd misheard. There was a long pause. The doctor lowered his head. It was difficult for him too. Fulfilling the role of angel of death for a nanny is no easy task, and that's exactly how he felt now. Despite the fact that he was only a messenger.

"Could you repeat that?" she asked with tears in her eyes. The doctor slowly raised his head, but his eyes were wandering somewhere on the ceiling. He couldn't look at her.

"You have AIDS." He repeated it, but this time the words were barely audible. As if he were fighting with himself to get them out. This time, however, the doctor overcame his reluctance. He stood up slowly, walked over to her, and embraced her tenderly. After all, he had a daughter her age...

Karolina was lying on a large bed. She had just returned from the doctor's office. She had just learned she was dying. She knew it would happen to her someday, but why so soon? Why her? She had no one to talk to. Family? No. She couldn't tell them. Finally, things were starting to look up for her. For them, she had a wonderful office job that provided her with a comfortable life in the big city, and the opportunity to study part-time on the weekends. Yes, she had a lucrative job and studied part-time. But she didn't work in an office. She was a prostitute.

She arrived in Wrocław a year ago. Like any girl from a small town, she hoped to find a good job that would help her get her life back on track. However, after arriving, not everything was as rosy as she'd imagined. The money she'd saved from all those hard-fought holidays didn't last long. Finding a job was also very difficult. Everyone expected a secretary to have some experience. And where could she possibly have such experience? One evening, she decided enough was enough. She decided to return home. Late in the afternoon, she packed her bags. Time passed slowly, and she sat on her suitcases.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. "What better way to have fun on your last evening in the big city?" She fancied a disco, so without hesitation, she dressed in her best dress. "Let this last night be magical," the fashionable girl dreamed. And she went out.

She had a wonderful time at the disco. Although she didn't have money, she didn't have to worry about it. Several suitors, trying to pick her up, kept buying her drinks. She didn't refuse. "What else do I have left?" she thought to herself.

Things moved quickly from there. The alcoholic beverages meant she couldn't remember the rest of the party. She woke up in the morning. When she opened her eyes, she realized she didn't know where she was. She was naked. A man lay next to her, but she couldn't remember who it was or how she'd gotten there. She stood up quickly, terrified by the whole situation. Something like this had never happened to her before. The stranger rolled over lazily, onto his back.

"Are you going already?" he asked casually, and stood up even more slowly. He was naked. Karolina turned around.

"It didn't bother you last night." He smiled.

She didn't answer him. She dressed hurriedly and was about to leave when he held her hand, kissed her forehead, and put money in his other hand.

"See you next time," she heard as she left the apartment. She ran down the stairs to get as far away from that awful place as possible. She forgot all about the money. She ran through the streets, crying. Once in her apartment, she lay down on the bed. For the first time, she was treated like a prostitute. Then she remembered the goodbye gift. She pulled the money out of her pocket. She had earned 200 złoty for a single night she had no memory of. That was the first time the thought occurred to her. If she got that much for one night, why not do it more often?

From there, it was all downhill from there. A few similar parties and she could afford a cell phone, a new apartment, and a few new clothes. She no longer felt like a common prostitute. Now she was the one choosing her own jobs. She could afford them. But the most important thing was that she wouldn't be going home. She started university. Things were starting to fall into place. She told her parents she had a job in an office as a secretary. Everyone was proud of her. Why would she change that now?

After a month of working, Karolina could afford a life she'd never been accustomed to. None of her friends even suspected what kind of life she was truly leading. No one cared at a private university, where most students came from wealthy families. Even now, she often allowed herself to take days off from work. She was the master of her own destiny. Was she ashamed? To a degree, yes, but someone once said that no job is shameful. This proverb was very relevant, especially now, when finding a job was as hard as finding ice in the Sahara. As soon as I finished my studies, I would definitely break away from that. She convinced herself. She had already started saving for the future. It was simply another stage in her career in the big city.

But one day everything changed. The future no longer seemed as bright as before. One doctor's visit made Karolina feel like she'd lost everything. Now she could expect death at any moment. A common cold could develop into a fatal illness.

And worst of all, she had no one to talk to. No one knew what she was really doing. Even her mother, who had always advised her on what to do when things were difficult, now couldn't find out about her daughter's illness.

Karolina didn't know what to do. Simple solutions had always seemed most effective, but not now. For several days, she hadn't left the house, hadn't eaten, hadn't returned calls.

One evening, she perked up a bit. She ate a wonderful dinner, washed down with expensive wine that had been waiting for a special occasion. She decided to take a bath. She filled the bathtub to the brim, poured in a generous amount of bubble bath. She submerged herself. It felt so good. She couldn't remember the last time she felt truly happy.

At one point, the water slowly began to turn red. The razor blade fell from Karolina's weakening hand and slowly sank to the bottom of the tub. Her face became calmer and calmer. Her eyes, staring at the ceiling, slowly dimmed...

But suddenly they lit up. The young girl tried to stand. She scrambled out of the tub. Blood gushed more and more from her severed veins. She crawled to the telephone, leaving a bloody trail behind her. She reached for the receiver and, with the last of her strength, dialed a number. She fell to the ground, the receiver falling next to her.

"I'm listening," a woman said on the line.

"I love you, Mom." And her heart stopped beating.

A blissful peace appeared on the girl's face. She had made it. She heard the voice of her loved one for the last time. She was gone...