Through it All

Chapter 10

  Chapter 10

Zac groaned when he heard his alarm clock go off. Getting up, he looked at the clock on the side of the bedside to see that it read 5 a.m. Zac thinks to himself damn, it's early as fuck. Zac gets up and looks at the space beside his side of the bed and thinks so yet again, this bitch Karen did not bring her ass home again, I see. Zac heads into the bathroom to shower and prepare for his 10 shift at the hospital. Zac is a nurse at Emory University Hospital in Midtown. Zac is originally from New York but left there about 5 years ago when he was offered the Emory position. He was so grateful for the opportunity because it wasn't shit left for him back home in New York but a dysfunctional ass family and the streets or death.

Zac decided long ago that was not what he wanted out of life, so after graduating high school, he would enroll at the University of New York to study Nursing. Zac always loved helping people, and he would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need at any given moment. What gave him the push to pursue a career in the field of Nursing was when he spent time with his Nana when she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. It was tough for her, and Zac was there for all of it until she made her transition to heaven. So, his Nana is why he wants to preserve life to the best of his ability. So, at 25, Zac is the assistant head nurse to the Chief at Emory, and he plans to return to school to become an MD. He is unsure what kind, but he is weighing his options.

Zac finally got out of the shower; he dried off and wrapped a towel around his ripped physique. He grabbed his toothbrush and his Crest toothpaste to brush his teeth. Zac thinks to himself, ain't nothing like some good ass hygiene. Zac grabbed his Marc Jacobs lotion and oil and proceeded to moisturize his skin. He left the bathroom and headed to his closet to grab a pair of all-black scrubs for the day and his comfortable ass crocks for the day. Before heading downstairs to grab something to eat for breakfast, he made sure he had his Nike bag, his cellphone, and his Apple watch and headed downstairs. Zac was in the kitchen grabbing his first cup of coffee for the day and a Banana for protein when he heard the front door open. He looks towards the door and rolls his eyes. He thinks here we go.

Karen: "Good morning, baby." She says, walking towards Zac to hug and kiss him. He moves away from her embrace.

Zac: "Karen, it is 6 am. Where the fuck have you been all damn night without so much as a phone call or a simple ass text message?"

Karen: "Zac, do not start that shit. You know I was with the girls. Andi, Sabrina, oh, and that broke ass, fat, ass Danni too, she says." with a smirk on her face.

Zac: "Karen, you're wrong for talking about Dani like that. Who I thought was supposed to be your so-called Friend," he says.

Karen: "What the fuck? You care what I call her? ZAC she yells, moving towards his face.

Karen: "Laughing, you must be fuckin that fat ass BITCH?" huh, she says, laughing.

Zac: "Karen, listen to your ass for a second. Ain't nobody fuckin Dani." I find it funny, tho, that you said you were hanging with the girls, but you girls called here last night at about 10:30 pm looking for your ass," he says. So, again Karen, where the fuck were you all night? he says in her face now.

Karen: "Zac, I already told yo ass I was with the girls. I'm not repeating myself." she says, walking upstairs.

Zac says Ight to himself and walks towards the front door. Zac is now in the car, thinking to himself. Karen and Zac have been dating for 2 years, almost three years, and it has not been sunshine and roses, let me tell you. Zac should have known this relationship would not be a walk in the park, especially since they met at a club of all places. I'm not saying people cannot meet at a nightclub and cannot build meaningful relationships, but in my case, that is not the case. Karen was a great person in the beginning. She was intelligent, driven, motivated, caring, and loving, and last but not least, she had a damn job and was making boss-girl moves.

Within the last year, something shifted in Karen where she would not work. She was coming in at different times of the night and blaming it on working late. She was not cooking meals or keeping the house up to par. I'm not saying those things are only for women to do. Let's not get it twisted. Zac can clean and feed himself. Karen stopped doing anything around our home, and don't get me started on her not wanting to have any intimacy with me. I'm not saying Karen does not have great qualities, but it's not the same between us. I'm just ready for Karen and me to end. It's coming because I know she is cheating, and I'm fed up and tired of supporting her, and all she does is spend up my damn money. She acts like it ain't fuckin bills to be paid in this motherfucker. While Zac is thinking about his failing relationship, he has made it to the hospital and is pulling into his assigned parking spot.

Zac gets out of his 2025 all-black BMW and heads into the hospital. He says good morning to the front receptionist's staff and speaks to all the M.D.s he runs into on the way to his office. On the way to his office, Zac runs into the Hospital Chief, Doctor Stevens. Zac stops and says.

Hello, Dr. Stevens. How are you this morning?"

Dr. Stevens: "Well, good morning to you, Nurse Zac. How are you, and did you enjoy your weekend off?

Zac: "I'm doing wonderful this Monday morning, Dr. Stevens. Thank you again for approving last weekend off for me.

Dr. Stevens: "Don't thank me, son. You work hard around here, and you deserve the time off.

Zac: "Oh, Doctor Stevens, thanks again. It's still appreciated."

Dr. Stevens: "Again. Don't mention it." Before you go to Zac, I wanted to know about a week from today. I have one of my newer patients coming in, and I wanted to know if you would sit in on her appointment with me.

Zac: "Doctor Stevens, that would be great. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity."

Dr. Stevens: "Don't mention it again. I see you around here. You'll be a great doctor, especially since I know how you genuinely care for your patients.

Zac: "That means a lot coming from you, Doctor Stevens. I admire you, so that means everything that you see my value here at the hospital."

Dr. Stevens: "Zac. I appreciate that you look up to me. It's an honor to hear but let me give you some information about being in this profession. Being a doctor is a great thing. We are not gods or healers. We are human beings for whom God has placed the knowledge and tools in our hands to do what we cannot do in human form: heal the sick. Never forget that. Please keep an eye out on your work email because I will be sending the patient information over to you today.

Zac: "Not a problem, Doctor Stevens will do. You enjoy the rest of your day.

Dr. Stevens: "You too, Zac.

Zac finally makes it to his office. Let's get this day started he says while turning on his laptop.