Serenity | Fragile Hearts

chapter 16- new beginnings

Aila

I finally found a job. It was at a local community hospital. It wasn't the best hospital around. Since it was one of the only ones in the area that didn't require insurance, there were loads and loads of people everyday. It was one of my last resorts, being it wasn't necessarily the safest place to work. But I had no choice.

I couldn't add to my debt anymore. I had to take what I could. My plan was to gain experience and then apply somewhere else.

Regardless I'd go into it with an open mind.

It was 6am and I put on my scrubs and got ready for the day. No, they weren't the pretty FIGS scrubs that all those nurses wear, but cheap ones that I had from one of my old rotations from nursing school. I threw on my 5 year old crocs as well and started to make my lunch.

Ms. Rosie came early. As always she greeted me with a warm smile, and wished me well on my first day. I gave Sofie a quick kiss on her forehead, and made my way to the clinic.

The walk there was quiet. After all, it was 6:30 am. It was actually very peaceful.

As soon as I arrived to the clinic and the double doors opened, chaos unfolded in front of me.

I took a deep breath.

There were tons of people in the waiting room, taking a seat wherever they could find. Nurses and doctors were running everywhere. It was madness.

I took a deep breath and placed my stuff in a cubby by the front desk. I then went in search for the director who hired me to see where I was supposed to go.

Sifting through the crowd of crying babies and sick patients, I finally found her at a desk, looking disheveled.

She looked up. "Oh hi, yes, Aila, welcome. It's already a shit show. We are short staffed and have a ton of traumas. You're in trauma bay 2." She said quickly as she pointed to the room.

I made my way to the said trauma room, and what I saw is a scene I'd never forget. On the bed was a man who seemed to be beaten so badly, his face was unrecognizable. I could see traces of blood covering his clothes that the doctors cut around. He looked half conscious, groaning in pain.

"Hey, newbie, don't just stand there. Jump in." a deep voice shouted at me, breaking me from my trance.

I shook my head and went up to him. "Hold here while I stabilize him." he told me as he pointed to a stack of gauze on his abdomen.

I took over and applied pressure. The other nurse began to hook a ton of electrodes to his chest and insert multiple IV's into his arm.

Soon, two doctors came in and began to work on him as well.

"Don't let go pressure. That's what's keeping him alive right now." one of them told me.

I nodded. I was too afraid to let go. I was basically holding this man's life in my hands right now.

Don't freak out.

I was in a state of shock. I didn't expect this on my first day. It's like one of those scenes out of Grey's Anatomy, where you jump in the minute you start.

Didn't expect that to say the least.

But if this is what I had to do to put food on the table for my daughter, so be it.

After an hour of standing there and applying immense pressure, the man was finally stable. I felt like I could finally breathe.

The rest of the day went by similarly, just not as crazy. There were so many patients who would finally got care after waiting HOURS in the waiting room.

It was never ending. That waiting room was never empty. Ever.

After my complete first day, I was exhausted to my core. I got home around 9pm, meaning I worked almost a 13 hour day.

I left before I could se Sofie and came back when she was sleeping. A pang of guilt ran through me.

I took a shower and headed straight for bed. I didn't even eat. I was beyond tired.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

A/N hi! So sorry this took longer than expected! Life has been a bit crazy, but finally back on track! I hope you guys enjoy! :)

I am going to try to update once a week for now until I find a balance! :)

Love you all! Please don't hesitate to leave a comment & vote!

Oh and don't worry, there are more exciting chapters coming very soon! 😉

-Alayna