Love Hurts

One

                Enjoy the video before you start the next chapter!

Camilla,

                 It has been a couple of weeks since I arrived in Ocala, a small town in Florida. The place is beautiful and tranquil. I have taken precautions to ensure that Alan, has not been able to track me down. However, my savings are depleting quickly due to the expenses of staying in a motel and buying food.
     My funeral has already taken place, which gives me some reassurance that I am safe here. Now, I am determined to find a job at the local hospital and start rebuilding my life. To blend in and change my appearance, I have cut my hair into a pixie style and dyed it red. I have also switched from wearing eyeglasses to contacts, reverting back to my natural gray eye color instead of the blue that Alan preferred. After contemplating my plan, I quickly shower and dress in my best suit, preparing to submit job applications at various hospitals. The hospital back home saved my life, and I hope to find a similar opportunity here.
     While enjoying my breakfast, I take out my phone and search for hospitals in the area. I found two options and decided to visit the library later to print out my resume. As I stand up, I accidentally collide with a man who appears intimidating with his tattoos and intense eyes. Strangely, he has a youthful face.
     Anticipating his anger at the coffee spill on both of us, I cringe. "Damn!" he exclaims, grabbing my arm to steady me. "Ma'am, I'm sorry for not noticing you coming. I was looking back and wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Did I hurt you?" he asks sincerely.
     I am taken aback, expecting him to berate me for my carelessness. Instead, he apologizes to me. I simply stare at him, shocked by his unexpected response. "Um, sorry. Yes, I'm fine," I cleared my throat. "I'm so sorry I ruined your shirt. I can give you some money to have it dry cleaned."
    He smiles at me, and it is a captivating smile. "Stop that," I scolded myself internally. "You're married and just escaped from an abusive marriage. Don't start thinking about another man."
     "No, ma'am, that will not be necessary," he reassures me, bringing me back to reality. "I have about 10 spare shirts in my patrol car for situations like this."
     "Patrol car?" I inquire, puzzled.
     "Yes, ma'am. I've been a cop for the past fifteen years," he says, giving me a strange look as if he suspects I'm up to something nefarious.
     "If you'll excuse me, I need to freshen up," I whisper and quickly make my way to the bathroom.
     Calm down, Camilla! You're okay! He has no idea that you just escaped from your abusive husband in the middle of the night. Besides, it's not a crime to leave your spouse, right?
     I rub my hands over my face, trying to quiet my racing thoughts so I can make it through the day without breaking down. Stepping out of the bathroom, I hope the officer has left by now. But, of course, luck is not on my side. He's sitting with a group of men at one of the round tables, his gaze fixed on the bathroom, so he spots me as soon as I emerge. However, he simply gives me a thumbs up.
     I nod in response, grateful that our interaction ends there.
     About ten minutes later, I find myself in the library, printing out a few copies of my resume. It's been ages since I've set foot in a library. It would be nice to establish myself in this small town, so why not start with a library card and a few books? I had to leave my collection behind.
    An hour and three books later, I finally make my way to ORM hospital. After parking, I check my hair and makeup, giving myself a pep talk about being a strong, confident, independent woman.
    As I step out of the truck, I feel a sense of determination. It's time to reclaim my life, starting now. Walking into the hospital, I quickly locate the nurse's station. I put on a smile and approach the desk, asking to speak with someone who could accept my resume.
    "You must have seen the advertisement in the newspaper," Mrs. Tammy, the desk nurse, says with a smile. "My, that was fast. We only posted it this morning."
   Someone must be looking out for me today, I think to myself.
   "Actually," I reply, "I'm new in town and thought I'd try my luck by leaving resumes at different hospitals. Yours was my first stop."
   "Well then, Ms...?"
    "Camilla."
    "Well Ms. Camilla, you're in luck, my dear. Please have a seat and I'll quickly fetch the hiring nurse for you."
     Wow! Is this really happening? Five minutes later, nurse Tammy emerges with a tall, slim older woman who exudes a sense of past beauty.
    "Hello, I'm head nurse Dorothy." The older lady introduces herself. "Shall we walk and talk? I'd like to interview you, but we're quite busy today."
    "Sure!"
     "So, I assume you have your RN license."
     "Yes, ma'am, I've had it for about eight years now."
    "Have you been practicing during these last eight years? And if so, was it in a hospital or a doctor's office?"
   "In a hospital, but I don't see how that matters. An RN is an RN regardless of the setting right."
    Dorothy chuckles. "No, I suppose it wouldn't matter if you were applying for a nurse's position, but this is a head nurse's role."
    "Wait, what! I was just applying for an RN position. I know nothing about running a hospital. You wouldn't want to hire someone with my lack of experience."
    Nurse Dorothy simply laughs at me. "Let's just go through this interview and see how it goes, and then I'll decide if I want to hire someone with more experience or not."
    Okay, you're the boss! I thought to myself.
    "Our patient chart and database are now on iCloud. So, the head nurse always has an iPad in hand. This allows her to see which triage areas are open and which ones have patients. It also helps her determine which patients need to be seen by a doctor or nurse." Nurse Dorothy explains. "Now, I'm going to have a doctor come over and we'll do a minor role play. I'll inform the doctor about the patient in triage who hasn't been attended to yet and explain the reason for their visit. You'll watch me do it first, and then you'll do the same. After that, we'll simulate a fake emergency and see how you handle the pressure. Are you ready?"
    No, no, I'm not. I'm scared out of my mind, can't you see?
     "Yes, ma'am, I'm ready." I respond with more confidence than I actually feel. "Doctor Phillips, could you assist us real quick?" Nurse Dorothy asks a young doctor.
     "Of course, anything for my favorite person here," Doctor Phillips tells Nurse Dorothy.
     "I will inform Doctor Phillips about the patient in triage 3. We have a pregnant woman who is three months along and came in with stomach pains. She believed it was just gas but wanted to be cautious. Nurse Olivia brought her to the room a few minutes ago and should have all the necessary notes for the doctor. Doctor Phillips will meet with Nurse Olivia to gather information before entering the room. I will update the board to indicate that the doctor is on her way to see the patient. Once the doctor is finished, she will mark off that she has completed the examination. Then, you can review the doctor's notes and provide the patient with instructions and discharge information. If you are hired, I will show you how to perform these tasks."
    We reviewed the process with Doctor Phillips again. Now it's my turn to shine and do what I do best.
     "Doctor Phillips, you have a patient in triage 4. It's a 3-year-old boy with a fever of 102.2 and a cough. Nurse Jasmine brought the patient to the room, and they have been waiting for about 5 minutes. Nurse Jasmine should have all the necessary notes for you." Nurse Dorothy complimented my detailed report, and I thanked her.
     "Now, for the real test,"  Nurse Dorothy said, and then communicated through a headset to have paramedics bring in a patient on a gurney. Two paramedics rushed in with a patient on the gurney.
     You have been working in the ER for eight years. You can handle this. My training kicked in, and I quickly approached the paramedics to gather information.
     "We have a 16-year-old male who was shot in the abdomen. His blood pressure is 98 over 20, pulse is 48, and respiration is 20."
      I quickly checked the iPad for the hospital's triage system and confirmed that this patient is critical and should be taken to triage one. "Nurse Stella, you will accompany Doctor Omar immediately."
      Nurse Dorothy praised my response, and we continued with similar cases for another hour. Once I left the hospital, I was promoted to the head nursing position. I felt ecstatic and wanted to share the news with my best friend, but I hesitated due to safety concerns. Since I have a new phone number, even if Alan had Kim's phone bugged, he wouldn't know it was me.
      I reminded myself to stay focused and not let fear consume me. Only Kim, Gracie, and possibly a doctor know about what I have done. This secrecy makes it easier for my family, as they won't have to lie to Alan when he contacts them about my supposed death. They will grieve alongside him, and when the time is right, I will call my parents to explain why I faked my death. I hope they can forgive me for not involving them and causing them unnecessary pain.
      Finally, I couldn't resist and called Kim to share the good news while heading back to the hotel. She expressed her excitement and reassured me that things were looking up, just as she had predicted. I missed her dearly and suggested that once I settle down, she could come for a vacation and potentially move here with me.
      Kim laughed and entertained the idea. She enjoyed her single life and occasional dates, so settling down wasn't a priority. Despite Alan's prohibition, I never gave up on my friendship with Kim. She has been my best friend since grade school.
      Curious about her love life, I asked if she had a new romantic interest. Kim replied that no one had caught her attention recently. "What about you miss lady? Any love interest." Kim asks me, and I remind her about the relationship I just got out of and don't plan on making that mistake again.
      Kim advised me not to close myself off completely, but I insisted on taking time for myself. Eventually, we ended the call, and she wished me luck for my big day tomorrow. "Love you Kimmie." I tell her. "Love you to Cam.
     After ending the call, I make my way into the hotel and settle in. Feeling hungry, I decide to treat myself to a pizza since I now have a job and can afford takeout. While waiting for the pizza to arrive, I take a quick shower and change into comfortable clothes. With no plans to go out for the rest of the day, I grab the remote control and start surfing through the TV guide. Although I don't watch much television, I figure it's a good way to pass the time while waiting for my pizza.
      I stumble upon a sitcom and start watching it when suddenly there's a knock on the door. Curious, I ask, "Who is it?" as I get up to answer. The person on the other side informs me that it's the pizza delivery guy, so I quickly make my way to the door and collect the pizza. After paying the delivery person, I close and lock the door behind me.
      Returning to the table in the motel room, I sit down and begin to enjoy my pizza. Once I've satisfied my hunger, I make myself comfortable on the couch and reach for one of the new books I purchased earlier in the day. It's a book by Siobhan Davis, and I'm excited to dive into the story and lose myself in its pages.
       As I open the book by Siobhan Davis, I am immediately drawn into the captivating world she has created. The characters come to life on the pages, and I find myself becoming emotionally invested in their stories. The plot twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what happens next.
       Hours pass by as I lose track of time, engrossed in the book. The outside world fades away, and I am completely immersed in the fictional realm. The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting vivid pictures in my mind. I can almost feel the emotions of the characters and imagine myself in their shoes.
     As I reach the final chapters of the book, I can't help but feel a sense of bittersweetness. On one hand, I am excited to see how the story concludes, but on the other hand, I don't want it to end. I savor each word, prolonging the reading experience as much as I can.
     Finally, I reach the last page and close the book with a sigh. The story has come to an end, but its impact lingers in my mind. I take a moment to reflect on the journey I've been on with the characters and the emotions they evoked in me.
      Feeling a mix of satisfaction and longing for more, I put the book down and take a deep breath. It's moments like these that remind me of the power of storytelling and the joy of getting lost in a good book. With a contented smile on my face, I decide to take a break and let the story settle in my mind before diving into another adventure between the pages.