Love in the ER

CHAPTER 6

Paris's morning began as usual, with the soft light of dawn spilling into her small bedroom. The alarm on her phone buzzed, but she was already awake, lying still in bed, mentally preparing herself for another long shift at the hospital. She could feel the weight of exhaustion in her bones, a familiar sensation after so many days of balancing her internship, studies, and taking care of her grandmother.

With a deep breath, she sat up, brushing her tangled hair out of her face. Today was just another day, she told herself, but her mind couldn't help but wander back to the events of yesterday. Dr. Oliver Salameda—the owner's son, the doctor everyone was talking about—hadn't left her thoughts since their brief, awkward encounter in the hallway. She could still remember the surprise in his eyes when she bumped into him, followed by the soft smile he gave her.

Paris shook her head, trying to brush away the memory. There was no time to think about things like that. She had work to do, patients to take care of, and a household to run. There was no room for distractions.

She slipped out of bed, stretching her arms before heading to the bathroom. The cold water she splashed on her face helped shake off the lingering grogginess. After quickly brushing her teeth and pulling her hair into a neat ponytail, she changed into her scrubs, ready to face the day ahead.

When Paris entered the kitchen, her grandmother, Abuela Lucia, was already up, moving slowly but determinedly as she prepared breakfast. The scent of coffee filled the small kitchen, mixing with the warm aroma of fresh tortillas and eggs. Paris smiled as she watched her grandmother, the familiar sight bringing a sense of calm to her otherwise hectic life.

"Good morning, Grandma," Paris greeted, walking over to kiss her on the cheek.

"Buenos días, mi niña," Abuela Lucia replied, smiling up at her as she stirred a pot on the stove. "You're up early again. Are they working you too hard at that hospital?"

Paris laughed softly, shaking her head as she grabbed a cup of coffee. "No harder than usual. It's just been busy."

Her grandmother gave her a knowing look. "You always say that, but I can see the tiredness in your eyes. You're doing too much, Paris."

Paris shrugged, sipping her coffee. "I'm fine, Grandma. Really. Besides, you know I've got to keep things going, especially with everything at the hospital."

Abuela Lucia frowned, setting down the spoon and turning to face her granddaughter. "I know you work hard, but don't forget to take care of yourself too. You're always taking care of everyone else."

Paris smiled softly, feeling the familiar warmth of her grandmother's concern. "I will, Grandma. I promise."

They sat together, eating breakfast in comfortable silence. Paris cherished these moments, the quiet mornings with her grandmother before the chaos of the day swept her away. Abuela Lucia had been her rock for so many years, raising her after her parents passed away, and now Paris felt the weight of that responsibility—to care for the woman who had cared for her.

As they finished their meal, her grandmother glanced over at her with a thoughtful look. "You still need to pick up a few things from the market today, right?"

Paris nodded. "Yeah, I'll stop by after work."

Abuela Lucia sighed softly. "You do too much, mija. I could go to the market myself."

"No, Grandma," Paris said firmly, shaking her head. "You're not feeling well enough to go out on your own. I'll handle it. It's no big deal."

Her grandmother gave her a resigned smile. "Alright, alright. But don't work yourself too hard. I don't want to see you getting sick."

"I won't," Paris promised, though she knew the day ahead would be long. She kissed her grandmother on the cheek, gathered her things, and headed out the door, her mind already shifting to work mode.

As soon as Paris stepped through the doors of Salameda Health Care Center, she could feel the buzz of the hospital's energy. It was only morning, but the halls were already filled with nurses, doctors, and patients moving in and out of rooms. She made her way to the nurses' station, greeting a few colleagues along the way.

At the station, she spotted Clara, her friend and fellow nurse, flipping through patient files. Clara looked up with a mischievous grin the moment Paris walked up.

"Good morning, Miss 'I-bumped-into-Dr.-Oliver,'" Clara teased, her eyes sparkling with humor.

Paris rolled her eyes, trying to stifle a groan. "Can we please not talk about that?"

Clara laughed, clearly enjoying Paris's discomfort. "Oh, come on! You have to admit, it's pretty funny. You literally ran into the most talked-about doctor in the hospital."

Paris sighed, grabbing her clipboard as she scanned the day's patient list. "It was an accident, Clara. It's not like it was some grand moment."

Clara leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Well, he seemed to notice you. I saw the way he looked at you after that. You sure you don't want to talk about it?"

Paris shot her a look, shaking her head. "I've got enough on my plate without thinking about that."

Clara chuckled, but dropped the subject, knowing when not to push too far. "Alright, alright. But I'm just saying, if he comes around looking for you, I want all the details."

Paris couldn't help but smile, despite herself. "You'll be the first to know, don't worry."

As they dove into their work, Paris forced herself to focus on her patients, on her responsibilities. But every now and then, she found her mind drifting back to Oliver. The way he'd smiled, the way he'd looked at her like she was more than just another nurse in the hospital.

She shook off the thought, reminding herself that she had too much to worry about to let her mind wander. Work came first. Everything else could wait.