Bite Shift

57

Monica was locked in her office and would not open the door. I knocked, begged through the wood and texted.

Nothing.

She was not going to talk to me and I was running out of night time. I had to leave. This would have to wait until the next night. And, it was probably for the best. I didn't know what to say to her anyway. She had seen her best friend snuggled up with the man of her dreams. How would I ever explain it or get her to forgive me, without telling my big secret? Which, I could not do because it was putting her at risk and she was already on the monster's hit list!

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and reviewed the screen.

RHYS: You have ten minutes, max, before you NEED to be on the road. I am bringing you up some to-go meals. Do you need to come back to my place? Are you okay?

Shit. I have to go. I can't apologize to her if I am a pile of ashes.

I responded.

I'm okay. Long night. I will tell you tomorrow. Thank you for food. Please bring the #2 unit for 501 too. Then, I am going. No thank you. I will go home again. Rain check?

I faced the locked door. "Monica. I have to go. I will get so sick if I am here when the sun comes up. Please text me."

I held up my cell phone and hit the spot for my text conversation with Monica. I typed quickly. Please don't hate me. Let me explain. I love you and would never hurt you.

I saw the three dancing dots that indicated she was texting back. I waited but they disappeared. She changed her mind and continued the silent treatment.

I pressed the palm of one hand against the cold wood. The next was a whisper. "Please, Mon. I can't go through this without you."

I heard steps behind me and turned. Rhys was there with the requested unit in one hand and a lunch box in the other. The lunch box was large, like the one body builders use to fit six meals into. He held it up and extended it to me. "This will last a few days. Call if you need more or something happens. Are you sure you are okay?"

I wasn't but I didn't think now was the time, or place, to go into it. "Yeah. I just want to go home."

"I will drop this with one of the nurses and then, I am done for the night. Are you leaving?"

I looked at my watch. "I guess I better." I gave one last glance towards the office and took the offered lunch box. "Will you be okay?"

He laughed. "Yes. I will be fine. Text me before bed?"

"Sure."

"Kate?"

"Yeah?"

"I feel like you are mad at me or unhappy. Did I do something?"

I don't know, Rhys. Did you?

"No. I am just exhausted. It was a bad night. I had a code."

"I know," he said. "They have a few units on standby in case he needed a transfusion. Did he make it?"

"He did." My chest swelled a little. As crazy as the night was, I had saved a life. That was something, right?

"Please, go home. It's too close and I am getting nervous." He tensed, like he was going to step towards me or reach for a hug, but he didn't. He turned towards the nurses' station and walked away. I felt like I should have said something but didn't know what to say. I turned in the opposite direction and, also walked away, mirroring him.