𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 (𝟏)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟐

I carefully place the last neatly wrapped bandage in the sectioning storage case, stacking it on top of the others; I then whip open the wooded cabinet and place said case tucked into a corner, right next to the four other ones I've done.

I re-tighten my high ponytail before exhaling in relief. I made the mistake of telling Nora that I'd help her organize and restock the hospital. She says that our hospital can be barely called a hospital compared to where she works.

It's small, I remember it vaguely. I remember staying in a room when I had first arrived, I remember how sore and stiff my leg was when I was in that room. I also remember how painful my leg was before I arrived.

Shaking off the terrible memory, I throw the empty box behind me and into the big pile of other boxes I had emptied. Luckily that was my last box. I wish I could say no to Nora, It's just so hard to say no when she looks at me with warm eyes and comforting smile.

I always get the sudden urge to just do whatever she says so I won't disappoint her. I don't want to disappoint her, And I want to help around here more frequently. So I said yes, and I regret it.

She treats me completely differently than Kimberly. She is sweet and encouraging while Kimberly is always sour and degrading. Nora's patient with me and always smiling when I'm around. Kimberly has no patience and has a permanent frown etched her face.

Kimberly's expectations for me is high, very high, too high. Nora's expectations for me are also high, but it's just different with her. I don't know how to explain why it's different, but it just is.

This was the hospitals storage room; It had a countertop lining the wall with cabinets above them filled with medical applies, ranging from syringes, bandages—Ugh. Bottles of Saline, plastic bags, latex gloves, sterilizers, scalpels: And more things I don't know a thing about.

My eyes lock on the four-inch long needles with clear plastic wrapped around them. I violently shudder when my mind fills with an endless amount of scenarios of me being violently stabbed by one and how painful it must feel—Oh God.

I spin on my heel and squeeze my eyes shut to attempt and block out those unnecessary scenarios that will hopefully never happen. After exhaling a shaky breath and taking one last look around the room, I start toward the door.

Just as I am about to reach for the knob I hear a voice, two voices actually. Both are extremely familiar, and one makes me jump out of my skin and bolt back to the box of bandages. I start pretending to clean the stupid boxes up in fear she'll open the door.

"Thank you for coming and helping me," Nora's voice is muffled behind the door. I hear a distant hum in response. I know that hum. I know that there's only one person here who would hum to Nora.

Nora's voice is louder now. "I really do, Rowan. I have to work late today and I probably wouldn't have been able to make time to put things up once I got back, with Kimberly and everything."