Broken Ice

Chapter 2

Chantelle

There are some days when I love my job. Today was one of those days... until it wasn't.

The day started out the right way. The late shifts are my favorite. From an emergency physician's standpoint, what isn't to love? The shifts are nonstop with lots of drama and typically trauma too. When my alarm sounded at 5 pm, I rolled out of bed. After briefly contemplating the real need for a daily run, I begrudgingly threw on my shorts and running top. My phone alerted me to the new episode of my favorite podcast that had dropped today. The time flew by as I listened to the brothers detail the weekend's football games. It always made me chuckle as they bantered back and forth, poking fun while expertly recounting the important plays and foibles of the various teams. It made me feel like I was back at the stadium cheering or cringing at those plays live. In recent years, it had been more cringing as a Cowboys fan.

I loved watching football each weekend, but it just wasn't the same as when I had been able to be part of the action. Season tickets to see the Dallas Cowboys had been my first big splurge after I finished residency. It was the reward that I had used as an incentive when things would get tough during those early years of training. Long nights, negative patient encounters, bad outcomes, tense interactions with intimidating attendings, and endless studying were daunting more often than it was rewarding.

Finishing my run, I smiled, remembering that feeling I had when I finished residency. It was a bit frightening but exhilarating to finally be a "real doctor." I still had that sense of exhilaration mixed with fear but for different reasons. Even after four years, walking into the hospital each day was like punching a ticket for a new adventure. No two days were ever the same, and I loved every minute of it.

I had decided to forgo drying my hair in favor of coffee. After the shower, I threw it back in a ponytail and headed out the door. In anticipation of a busy night, I had packed enough snacks and protein bars to get me by, but I still needed to start my day off the right way. We are superstitious in the ER. It's best not to tempt the fates, so I pulled into The Beanery. I smiled as I walked briskly into the store and was greeted by the owner and my favorite barista.

"Evening Doc. You're cutting it close." Tori yelled from behind the espresso machines.

"I swear I try to leave early but then time flies even when I'm not having fun!" I replied.

"I got you covered. This one's on the house." She smiled as she handed me my usual. "Have a great shift!"

"Thanks! I appreciate it more than you know! See you tomorrow... maybe early."

I could hear her laughing as I hurried back through the door. "But likely late..." She tossed out the closing door.

Tori was good people. I liked to stop in on my off days just to read and catch up on my continuing medical education. The ambiance of the place was great, and I enjoyed being there. Always a gentle bustle with a dull buzz of conversations that could keep my hyperactive brain engaged. I often attempted to pay her for all the coffees she spotted me during our rushed encounters, but she wouldn't hear of it. She told me to think of it as her way of doing her part to help people. She was definitely my lifesaver more often than not.

The shift started like many others. Dr. Cooper was ready to leave as I breezed through the door with a short 5 minutes to spare. He smiled as he looked at his watch.

"Wow! You are early! I'm so lucky." Mark Cooper and I have worked together for the past 6 months since I moved to Tampa. It was common knowledge that despite my best efforts, I was 5 minutes late more often than I was early. Last month, when I got to work, I had 12 wrapped boxes at my workstation. Each one held a watch set exactly 10 minutes ahead of the actual time, their not-so-subtle attempt to get me to work on time. It was quite epic. For the next two weeks, I showed up with 2 different watches on for each shift. Unfortunately for my colleagues, it did not affect my timeliness.