Pretend

the patient

Erien

Water splashed on my pale green scrubs as I washed my hands before visiting the next patient. Working in surgery was less exciting than being with the newborns. It was just smoother. Things weren't as hectic, and I got to talk to patients who actually spoke back to me..in English. The only con were the extra long days. I often spaced out with my hands under the faucet until someone handed me another file.

After preparing the operating room, I made my way to T. Harrison room, my new patient.

"Good afternoon Mr. Harrison. My name is Erien Lee and I'll be the nurse helping out with your procedures today," I spoke without actually looking at the patient.

"Nice to meet you," the thick California accent replied back to me. I stopped as I tried to recognize the voice. It sounded so familiar yet it was unrecognizable. 

Where have I heard that before?

Shocked, I looked up to make eye contact with a perfect set of charming eyes.

I remember I demanded no more male patients because I was always getting hit on. The receptionist knew that so she began giving me female patients. She was like the mother figure here at the hospital.

"Have we met before?" Mr. Harrison questioned. I shook my head no and began looking for the tools I needed.

"I'm going to start your IV and your doctor will be in very shortly," I winked at him, "I'm a nurse who's trying to make you comfortable before we rip you open while you're sleeping with drugs filled inside of you."

"Thank you Ms. Erien," the nervous God on the bed spoke, "and call me Tyler."

"Well let me tell you something Tyler. The less nervous you are, the faster you actually recover. And I'm saying that from personal experience," I said while rubbing his shoulder.

"It's hard not to be nervous when you've never had surgery before and your nurse is really beautiful. Plus this is the first hospital I've been to since I've come to Virginia. I'm literally across the country getting some unnecessary surgery."

Ah yeah.. the drugs are definitely kicking in.

"Well I think that's very brave of you."

"Thanks," he replied with a less nervous tone. Tyler just stared up at me with heart eyes.

"Hello, Mr. Harrison. I'm Dr. Le-," Dr. Lee stopped when he looked up at me. "Ah I see you've met my daughter, Nurse Erien! Most of her male patients seem to become very find of her," he joked.

"I don't blame them," Tyler said to the doctor, yet his eyes were still locked on me 

Dr. Lee. began talking to Tyler and Tyler's eyes soon began to droop, a clear sign that the meds were taking over his system.

I began to move the IV while other nurses moved the bed. Tyler's head bobbed slightly as we made our way to the operating room.

"Please don't leave me," he whispered once I had stopped walking.

"I'll be here the entire time," I said as his eyelids closed.

The surgery took about an hour and I waited for him to wake any moment. In the meantime, I made my way to the receptionist desk, passing nurse interns who were gushing over some dude. Something is wrong with them.. I made my way to Verona, the lady who schedules my patients.

"Go ahead and thank me miss lady."

"Huh?"

"Mr. Harrison right? The cutie I sent you to."

"Oh he's cute alright. Buuut I thought I told you no more males!"

"You two were made to be together. Plus the interns are too busy staring him down and you always get the job done."

So he's the one they're talking about? Uh oh. 

After talking to Verona, I made my way back towards Tyler's room where he was just waking up. A smile crept on his godly sculpted face. I couldn't dare to look in his hypnotic green orbs.

"I thought you left me for a minute," Tyler frowned. He tried to sit up but that was getting nowhere. I pressed the button on his bed so he wouldn't have to actually move.  

"Thanks Erien."

"No problem. It's kind of my job," I chuckle and take a seat in the chair next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy."

"That's common."

"Is it common for your patients to ask you out on a date?"

"Usually they ask before I even put the IV in."

"I can see why. Nurse Ty is probably the cutest nurse I've ever seen."

BINGO. 

I sat back in the chair, "Who is Ty?"

"You are. You're the girl from the club."

My hands smacked my face as memories from Dare Night came to focus. "So you're the man with the shades?" I instantly began to blush. This is a small world!

"Yeah. So Ty was a fake name?"

I shook my head and laughed, "Tyler is my middle name and everyone I know uses it."

Tyler chuckled, "Do you see how this is fate bringing us together?" he referred to our names. "I'll call you Erien. It's very beautiful like the owner."

I could feel my cheeks getting hotter.

"Thank you Tyler."

He messed with the cast on his wrist before looking back at me, "When I get out of here, the first thing I'm going to do is take you out for lunch."

I do recall him having a female friend already.

"Dr. Lee should actually be in here already. He said he has news for you."

"Was that your way of rejecting me?" Tyler let out a chuckle, "by changing the subject?"

I quickly shook my head no, "I'm just doing my job.. I'd love to take you upon your offer Mr. Harrison," I changed my tone as Dr. Lee stepped in.

"I see you and Nurse Erien were having quite the conversation. I didn't interrupt did I?" my dad spoke to Tyler. I think Tyler felt a bit more nervous than he was when he first met me..today. "Well Tyler your surgery went well. You can be released today if you want. Remember to take the meds I gave you earlier and to schedule an appointment for next week. Also, if you shower, cover the cast. If you need any help and I mean any, I'm sure Nurse Erien will be glad to help," Dr. Lee turned on his heels and exited the room. I'm sure he has another surgery to get to.

"Can you hand me my clothes?"

I retrieved his clothes and helped him to the restroom, not without checking out his little bum.

"Erien are you checking me out?"

I chuckled, "No thanks! If you need any help I'll be outside the door."

A small group of interns walked in.

"Is Tyler still here?" one of them asked. They had to be new. Where were the manners?

"Don't you have something to learn?" I snapped back and they left with their tiny remarks. I don't understand what the big deal was about Tyler. I mean yeah, it looks like God took his time sculpting his face, and he had eyes that could make you melt on spot, but for real, who was he?