Wrestling With Pain

Alejandro was on his way to the clinic when his fear began to intensify. He had worked so hard to be an Arizona State Champion, he couldn't believe it could be away from him like this. His mother noticed the light fading in his eyes and went to console him. “It'll be alright. The doctor will give you a note and you will be able to wrestle tomorrow, your coach even said so.” Alejandro never looked up. he nodded, the expression on his face never changing.

Pulling into the clinic there were a lot of cars. They had a feeling that they would be there for a long time. The waiting room looked busier than the parking lot. The two signed in and grabbed a seat as soon as two others were called by the nurse. All that ran through Alejandro's mind was how he was going to miss the tournament tomorrow.

Two hours had passed since they sat down. Camilla knew how important tomorrow would be for her son; which is why the two of them fell asleep waiting for the nurse to call their name. “Alejandro? Alejandro?” The nurse walked over to Camilla who was still asleep and shook her shoulder. “Excuse me but is this Alejandro?” Camilla's eyes widened. “Yes this is him. Are they ready for him?”

The nurse waived the two back with her. “Come with me, the doctor will see you now.” The two walked towards the back into the next waiting room. The nurse noticed that Alejandro looked deep in thought and after taking his vitals told him that everything would be OK. His mother thanked the nurse seeing that she was trying to make him feel better.

“See, you're worrying about nothing. The nurse even says everything will be fine.” Alejandro was still looking down at the floor. This made Camilla realize something else was wrong. Looking at his arms she noticed that the rash looked different. “Is this more painful than you are telling me? If you're in pain, let the doctor know. He can help you.”

Alejandro looked up as mother. “Yeah the pain has gotten a little worse.” The two looked at each other now both worried. The doctor came in and greeted them. “Hello Alejandro! My name is doctor , how can I help you today?”

The doctor looked out and saw the rash on Alejandro's arm. “Ah I see you have eczema. Is that bothering you?” Alejandro stayed quiet.

“Tell the doctor what's bothering you. He can't help unless you tell him what's wrong.”

Camilla began to grow impatient. They had been there for a hours and gotten the help they needed but Alejandro wasn't talking.

“So what is you're here for Alejandro?” Doctor watched him as he asked, looking for any kind of body language to tell him what was wrong. Alejandro could get out a couple words.

“I need a note. Saying that this is eczema. I can wrestle tomorrow.”

The doctor smiled. “OK, that won't be too difficult.” The doctor examined Alejandro and ran a tests before writing the note.

Camilla looked down at her son. “Do you need to ask the doctor anything else?”

The doctor looked at Alejandro, and he looked back at the doctor.

“It's starting to hurt a lot.” Alejandro said.

“OK, well I have some ointment that will help with the rash. Give me one second and I'll go grab it for you.” Doctor smiled and walked out of the room.

While waiting for him to return, the pain began to get worse and the eczema seemed to be spreading. Camilla began to see Alejandro wince when he moved. After a minutes of waiting she went out into the hall and found the same nurse that led them into the room. “Excuse me, my son is in a lot of pain from his skin condition. The doctor went to get him some ointment, but he's been a long time.”

The nurse nodded. “Let me see what I can do for him” and she walked into the room.

Alejandro was laying on the table in an awkward position trying not to move. The nurse examined him and then turned to his mother. “Did you see the flower shop next door?” she asked.

Camilla looked puzzled. “Yes they all look lovely but what does that have to do with my son?”

The nurse smiled and handed her $15. “Go next door and ask the florist for a dozen marigolds. Tell him that Rosa sent you.”

Still confused, Camilla agreed and went next door to get the flowers. Rosa stayed to looked after Alejandro until she got back.

Camilla began to grow concerned. “Why am I getting flowers when my son is in pain? I know these flowers, you put them on tombstones during Dia de Los . Is my son going to die?” Walking into the room she tried to put all that out of her head. Handing the flowers to the nurse she had to ask one question.

“Do you know what you're doing?”

The nurse replied “Please fill that cup over there with water from the sink.” Camilla still confused agreed and went to fill the cup full of water. When she turned around, she noticed that the nurse was picking the flowers apart.

“Here you go.” Camilla said.

“Thank you” The nurse then started to ground up flowers with her ring and mix them into the water.

Turning to Alejandro she offered him the glass. “Drink this, it will make you feel better.”

Alejandro looked at his mother who nodded an agreement, and then he took the glass; Taking a small cautious sip, not knowing why he was doing this.

The nurse smiled and turns to Camilla.

“You're right, marigolds are on tombstones during Dia de Los as a way to bring souls back. At least that's how the legend goes. I grew up in Mexico and my grandmother was a descendant of the Aztecs. They used marigolds to cure illness, mainly skin diseases, by ingesting them.”

After hearing that, Alejandro took a big gulp and finished the glass. A minutes later he began to feel better. He looked at the nurse and smiled. “Thank you, the pain is starting to go away.”

Camilla looked relieved and turn to the nurse. “Thank you so much! We're lucky that the flower stand was next door.”

The nurse laughed and said “You mean the florist is lucky he's next to the clinic. He must make a killing off me.”

Alejandro laughed catching the nurses' attention. “Looks like someone's feeling better. I bet you will be ready in no time for your tournament tomorrow.”

Camilla and Alejandro looked at each other wondering the same thing. Alejandro was the one to ask.

“How did you know I have a tournament tomorrow?”

“You're not the wrestler to come in here with a skin condition. Also, coach Alvarez and I are good friends, and he has told me that you are a good wrestler.”

The three smiled as doctor walked back into the room. “Sorry that took so long but I do have the ointment.” He handed the tube to Camilla. “Nurse Rosa, were you keeping our patient company?”

The nurse chuckled “Yes doctor. He was still being bothered by his eczema and asks for some .”

Doctor looked over and saw the broken up flowers on the counter. “Pedro should be able to afford an engagement ring from the Marigold you buy from him.” The two laughed and turned two Alejandro.

Doctor handed him the doctor's note. “Here you go. I hope you feel better.”

Camilla and Alejandro thank the doctor and the nurse and walked out of the room. The doctor turned to the nurse. “Do you think Alvarez gets upset every time one of his wrestlers tells him about his marigold trick?”

“If his trick, my brother would be the one using it.”