Not Broken

CHAPTER III

(Change of POV)

Rummaging through the countless files, I finally found the folder. Thank god, I didn't lose my patience, even with how low it already was. After leaving the test results in the folder, I strolled through the large corridors of Portage Bay Medical Center. They seem to get smaller as the days go on, creating that suffocating feeling like getting stuck in the sewage system. Ok, not exactly like the sewage, but it's just as unsanitary. Arriving back to room 511, Justin had already taken care of the patient inside; removing a bedpan. Judging by the cussing I could hear from under his face mask, it was awful. I held my breath as he began to carefully carry the bedpan out of the room, and I didn't even bother to look while someone carried another human's urine and fecal matter.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you," Justin warned, shaking his head.

After turning the corner, I finally exhaled. I'm used to awful smells, but I've never had to handle bedpans, and I'm dreading the day. The horror stories I've heard live rent-free in my mind. Heeding Justin's warning, I texted Ash to see if there was anything I could do to help as I finished up with my recurring tasks for the day. Just before hitting send, however, I heard over the PA system: ICU patient inbound, I repeat, ICU patient inbound. Could Dr. Chandratre please hurry to the ICU floor?

I booked it to the ICU floor to have the bed ready and made sure the machinery was turned on. Just as I finished, Julie and Wanda entered the ICU floor but stopped the second they saw the bed ready.

"Wow," Julie exclaimed out of amazement, "maybe leave a little for us next time."

"Sorry," I said with a chuckle, "What's the ETA on the patient's arrival?"

"Maybe a minute or two," replied Wanda.

"Make that a second or two," said Julie with a look of shock on her face.

Immediately, there was a clamor outside the ICU room. Dr. Chandratre was walking along with three orderlies getting the blow-by-blow of what happened; an Evergreen University freshman involved in a three-car accident on the I-5. He sustained multiple deep gashes, nasty burns, and potential pneumothorax. After they transferred the patient safely, I rushed to start documentation, but then two more patients on hospital beds were about to enter the ICU just as I was leaving. Bracing for impact, I felt a pull on my right arm, and the beds barely missed me as they were wheeled in.

"You alright?" asked a familiar voice.

Looking behind me, it was Ashley Wilson; our charge nurse, who is also my roommate and one of my close friends.

"Thanks for the save, Ash," I said while catching my breath.

"Quite the scare there," she replied, "I wouldn't want you in a wheelchair or relying on crutches for months."

"What happened?" I asked, "is this all the same accident?"

"So it seems," Ash answered, "the kid got the worst of it from what I hear."

Looking at the two other patients who were wheeled in, they had severe injuries, but nothing as bad as the first patient. EKG readings were being taken, life support was being administered, and specialists hurried into the ICU room to tend to the student. The clamor around him got louder as orders were fired left and right. The beeping of the life support machine got faster and faster, and I couldn't bear to hear the sound. I stepped outside and just prayed; hoping he made it. I made sure everything was ready for him when he arrived, and if something went wrong because I didn't get something right, I couldn't live with myself.

- - - - - - - - -

I sat on the floor outside the ICU room, everything seemingly going silent. Ash came outside to find me curled into a ball, hyperventilating, and my hands trembling.

"He's fine, Sara," Ash said consolingly, placing a hand on my shoulder, "it was just a scare before they brought in the defibrillator."

I let out a huge sigh of relief and stood up. I felt myself wobble a bit, but I supported myself by grabbing the wall.

"Are you feeling alright?" Ash asked, looking very concerned about me.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"You look a little pale. Hold on, I'll get you some water and a granola bar," Ash said as she led me to a seat along the walls.

I sat down and just waited for her to come back with some fuel. I was about to doze off, but I was met with the smell of tea and chocolate.

NOTE FROM AUTHOR: Sorry for the short chapter this time guys. I haven't been on top of this, but I promise to do better and bring more content.