Amanda rubbed her tired eyes as she walked down the dimly lit hospital corridor. It had been a grueling few days—one emergency after another, non-stop surgeries, and a string of night shifts that seemed to blur into each other. She hadn’t been home in days, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders, but the steady hum of the hospital kept her moving. There was always someone who needed help, always another patient to tend to.
As she reached the cafeteria, the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted toward her. It wasn’t much, but it was the only thing keeping her awake. She stepped inside, the fluorescent lights harsh against her weary eyes. There were a few other staff members scattered around, slumped over their own cups of coffee, all looking just as tired as she felt.
“Dr. Amanda, you look like you haven’t slept in a week,” a voice said from behind. Dr. Chang, a fellow surgeon, slid into the seat across from her at one of the small tables, his own cup of coffee in hand. He gave her a sympathetic smile, though his face looked just as worn out.
“Feels like I haven’t,” Amanda sighed, letting herself sink into the chair. She wrapped her hands around the warm cup, letting the heat seep into her cold fingers. “This past week has been brutal. Non-stop operations, barely any sleep… I can’t even remember the last time I saw my own bed.”
Dr. Chang nodded, his expression one of understanding. “It’s been rough for everyone. I just finished a twelve-hour shift myself. Trauma cases are piling up like crazy. Are you on call again tonight?”
“Yeah,” Amanda said with a tired laugh. “I thought I’d grab some coffee before heading back up. Maybe it’ll keep me from passing out on my feet.”
Chang chuckled, but his tone shifted to something more serious. “You’ve been burning the candle at both ends, Dr. Amanda. You need to take a break. Even the best surgeons need sleep.”
“I know,” Amanda admitted, taking a sip of the coffee, though it tasted more bitter than usual. “But right now, there’s no time. Every time I think I’ll get a breather, something else comes up. And with the long night shifts... I’m lucky if I get two hours of sleep.”
Dr. Chang studied her for a moment, his gaze softening. “You can’t keep this up. You know that, right? You’re one of the best we’ve got, but even you have limits.”
Amanda sighed, the weight of his words sinking in. She knew he was right. She was pushing herself too hard, but what choice did she have? There were too many patients, too many emergencies, and not enough time. “I know. But these patients… they need us.”
“We can’t help them if we collapse from exhaustion ourselves,” Chang replied gently. “Promise me you’ll get some rest after this shift. Even if it’s just a few hours.”
Amanda smiled faintly, appreciating his concern. “I’ll try. Coffee’s my only lifeline right now.”
Dr. Chang stood up, patting her shoulder. “Don’t push yourself too far. We need you in one piece.”
As he walked away, Amanda stared down at her coffee, her mind spinning with the endless responsibilities weighing on her. She knew she was reaching her limit, but how could she stop when the work never did? Taking another sip of coffee, she leaned back, closing her eyes for just a moment, hoping the caffeine would kick in soon enough to keep her going.
But deep down, she knew she couldn’t keep running on fumes forever.
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Instant Regrets Book II
Fanfiction( You're reading Book II ) When Jennie family discovered the truth about her relationship with a married woman, they were unable to accept it, and she brought shame upon them. To preserve the Kim family's reputation and status, her father made a dra...
