Starlight

-1-

Asher___

"Cmon man, let's have a drink," one drunken man said stretching out his hand holding a bottle of vodka to me. I looked at him then at the bottle. He took a long sip of vodka directly from the bottle. And he wants me to share that with him? Funny.

To be honest, I don't know why I am here. I don't know why a club was the first thing that crossed my mind. A red hair bimbo just walked up to me, settled on the stool beside me.

"Bad day?" She asked, eyes focused on someone. I wasn't interested, I wanted out. Is she talking to me? I'm not too sure.
She averted her gaze to me. Raised an amused brow at me like she caught me red-handed. Of course she did. I was already checking her out when she turned to me.

"You like what you see?" I took a look at her body. I'm not sure I noticed this but she's so fake. Everything screamed plastic surgery. How sure am I that she's a natural red haired?
Most of these women do a lot of jobs to be deemed the 'perfect girl'. I don't blame them though, may have tasted rejection to do such.

She frowned once she realised I wasn't gonna give in to her absurd demands.
"Did anyone ever mention you being an ass?" I don't cuss. If I do, I'm sure she would have taken her fake body away from my sight. She's making me sick. I don't answer her, I turn my attention to the crowd of drunken people dancing their ass off.

"Are you deaf or dumb?" She clenched her jaw glaring daggers at me.
"Are you blind?" I'm sure she got the hidden meaning behind my words cause she hissed and scurried off.
Thank goodness! She was getting on my nerves. I think I have had enough sightseeing for today. Glanced at my watch, it's getting late and I have work tomorrow.

***
My alarm put me out of Dreamland. I wish I could just stay in bed and do nothing but sleep. That's when I do have peace, sleep's been my only peaceful activity I look forward to for the last six years. I shook my head. If I keep on staying in that line of thought, I know where it's headed. I'm super sure, I don't want to be grumpy today.
I got up and freshened up, grabbed a quick breakfast and left for work.

On arriving the hospital, I went straight to my office. It's been one hell of a weekend and we are back to busy days. I love my job, I feel it's a way for me to reach out to people especially to stop them from taking their lives.

I settled down and got busy on my desktop, just when a knock interrupted my peace.
"Come in," a nurse walked in with a folder.
A patient's folder.
"Dr. Martins asked me to bring this to you." She said pointing at the folders in my hands. I flipped through the pages going through the drugs prescribed for the patient.

"All good." I said picking up a biro and scribbling on the file inside the folder.
"He should administer pain killers to the patient thrice a day, would help with the migraine." With that being said, I turned her out. Didn't notice when she left.
I was transferred to this hospital six months ago.
Wouldn't say I like here better than my last, cause I don't. We are just three pharmacists here, did I mention this being a remotely small hospital?
Though, I'm not complaining but I barely have time for myself talk less of my family. I can't recall when last I visited ma back in New Jersey.
One reason I hate being here is the memories.
Memories, I long buried. I hate that I am constantly being reminded of her. Either in the restaurant we had our dates in or places we occasionally visited. Everything dates back to her.

Rose....

I hate being in NY.
I don't wanna ever run into her, never!

But I couldn't stop myself from wondering how she's faring?
Is her baby daddy treating her better?
Did she ever love me?
Was I being played the whole time?
Is she married?
I guess she would.

I shake my head, I shouldn't be letting my thoughts stray to her.

Get it together,Ash. She's gone.

I hate that my conscience mocks me all the time. I chuckled lightly, my bad.

Someone clearing his throat got me startled.
"Earth to Reign." I glared at him. Dean Gibbs, my annoying best friend. Dean and I were both transferred here. Dean is a radiographer. We went to med school together, looks like we were stuck till the end.
He cleared his throat___again.

"I think you get lost in your little world more often these days, what's wrong?" I didn't miss the iota of worry in his voice. He was worried.
Everyone was worried about me.
I am fine___or so I think.
"I'm all good. Shouldn't you be working?"
"I took a break. I came to invite you for lunch but you were caught up in your world. Were you thinking about..."
"Don't!" I said harshly. I know I shouldn't have sounded that way but he shouldn't have tried bringing her up.
I think he already got his answer cause he nodded twice.

"I don't know what's wrong with you, man but you have to pull yourself together. You have a lot of people depending on you, I don't need you slacking off. Try to keep your thoughts in check around here. With that being said, I'll see you down the floors." He spun on his heels and left.
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair.
What am I saying? I ran my hand over my head.
He's right.
I need to keep my thoughts in check. I can't afford making slight mistakes leading to the loss of a life. I won't be able to live with that guilt.
Stood up and left my office heading to the elevator. I have to eat, my shift's coming up in two hours.
This sucks!

###
He got some thoughts there. Couldn't blame him.
Have a wonderful day y'all.
God bless you 🤍