INNOCENCE

• three

NELLIE

I sit across my patient & sigh. This elderly woman refuses to eat & I am growing impatient. She's been giving me a hard time for the past 30 minutes & my head hurts from repeating the same thing multiple times.

"Ma'am please." I plead for the 50th time. She huffs & turns her head once again. I groan in annoyance.

"I don't want a negro." She mumbles & I raise an eyebrow.

"& I don't want to feed a racist old hag but here I am." I reply & she gasps. I tilt my head & shrug.

"Disrespectful nigger." She tucked in her lips & flipped me off. I do the same & her grey eyes widen.

"We're not in the 50s anymore hoe, I will slap the fuck out of you." I stand from my chair & set the bowl of soup on the small table beside her bed. I leave her bedroom & shut the door.

"Racist motherfucker." I mumble. I walk down the long hallway & head to my boss's office. I find his door slightly opened but I knock anyway.

"Come in." He speaks & I enter his office finding him sitting at his desk with a pile of papers stacked on it.

"Hi." I smile & he beckoned me over. He motioned me to sit down but I kindly declined.

"Do you need anything Ms. Wade?" He asked & I nodded my head.

"I want to be assigned to a new patient please." I spoke softly & he leans back in his seat staring at me in question.

"Is there a reason why?"

"Uh yes, she's racist." I speak truthfully & he sits up clearing his throat.

"I'll get you a new patient by Monday. You can feel free to go home." He nodded his head at me & I smile softly.

"Thank you Sir." I smile & leave his office. I shut his door behind me & dance happily.

No more old people for the rest of the week.

I practically run down to the locker area & grab my belongings. I strip out of my scrubs & change into my original clothes I came with. I head out & wave goodbye to the kind janitor, he gives me a bright smile & waves. I leave the nursing home with a smile.

I cross the street & my life flashed before my eyes when a car almost hit me, the hood of his car touching my knee softly. I cuss but then cut myself off. I stare at the black shiny Rolls Royce in front of me. I automatically fall on the ground & pretend I've been hit.

I'm getting money today.

The person steps out of their car & chuckles. I lift my head & stare at the man. I begin groaning & whimpering pretending I'm in pain. He looked familiar. I then remembered he's the attractive man I seen in the elevator.

"Seriously? I didn't hit you." He laughed beautifully, his deep voice making my breath hitch. He crossed his arms over his chest shaking his head, amusement filled his eyes.

"You did!" I twitch my eye & he laughs.

"I didn't darling. You're in the middle of the road. Get your pretty ass up." He chuckles in pure amusement. I groan & stand from the ground. I dust myself off.