My Fate : Single Mom, Second Chance Romance

CHAPTER TWO

AUGUST
ANNA

I'm running towards the hospital, almost late for my shit because I heard my alarm 30 minutes a little too late. I've been inhaling my granola bar during my run since this late start didn't give me enough time to throw together my usual fruits and oatmeal. I don't know who I was, thinking I could handle working and my masters program at the same time. The other 9 students in my program are lucky, they have families to financially support them through schooling. I can't afford to pull out more loans just to fund my living expenses. Luckily for me, school has always come easy, so studying for exams and practical's have never been an issue. Physically though. I feel completely drained. 32 hours of school, three 12 hour shifts a week, and squeezing studying hours in between. I barely have time for any self care. I need another vacation. I pouted to myself as I made it in just on time.

Throwing my hair in a messy bun, I plop down on my usual chair at the ER station. Luckily tonight seems like a slow night. I pick up the first chart on my desk and scroll through the patient's form. Grabbing everything I need for stitches, I walk over to bed 5, I see black leather shoes and black dress pants. I look up in hopes searching for AJ's face, but my shoulders drop when I see it isn't him, but a random man lying in bed ogling my breasts. I rolled my eyes, ignoring him to set up my work area. If I applied a little bit more pressure than needed, nobody had to know, but whatever keeps his eyes closed in pain works for me.

I slump down back into my chair after my 5th patient. I've been searching for AJ's face everywhere I go. I wish he wasn't listening to me so closely when I went on and on about believing in fate. I know he gave me a nickname on purpose, but I wish I knew where he came from so I can know if it's even possible for us to bump into each other again. It's been 5 months since that night and he's been filling my thoughts every free second I have.

I sigh as I hear the sound of multiple ambulance trucks roll through to the entrance. Throwing on gloves and running out the door, and the on-call doctor rushes over to me with, "Multiple car accidents coming our way. 2 are in critical condition, 2 with head injuries needing a CT scan and multiple stitches. They controlled most of the bleeding, but it won't hold for long." I nod my head in understanding and rush to the first patient. It's busy after all.

As my shift ends, the exhaustion is weighing down on me. I feel lightheaded. I walk out of the doors to the thick humidity and through the parking lot hoping I can catch the next bus instead of walking back to my apartment like I normally do. I'm not far from the bus stop when I feel my world tilting around me and my vision going in and out. I felt my body slowly drop and arms wrap around me before I was able to hit the pavement. "Shit, Anna, are you okay?" is the last thing I hear before everything turns black.

I feel cold hands press against my veins. A warm sheet over my body. A constant beeping sound. I open my eyes and look around feeling disoriented. I'm in a familiar hospital bed. A hospital I work at. Confusion written all over my face.

"Hey hun, how are you feeling?" Nurse Joanne says next to me as she checks my vitals. I start to lift my body up, but she gently pulls me back down. "Don't get up yet."

I slump back down, "What happened? Why am I in the bed?"

"You passed out in the parking lot at the end of your shift last night."

"But I'm okay?"

She's scribbling into my chart, "Your vitals are good. Overworked yourself last night, but you need to take better care of your body. Especially during your second trimester."

I blink. I must have misheard her, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Hm?"

"You said the second trimester?"