Issues

Helplessness

Alison's POV

It's been almost a week since Emily broke my heart. The stable foundation I thought I had beneath my feet is now reduced to rubble. To make it even worse, Emily is now MIA without any clue as to when she will return. I've moved on from being consumed with sadness to now feeling confused, bummed, and angry at times.

As I stare expressionless at my work computer, my thoughts turn to Emily. This night has been more hectic than usual and I just wish I could go home to her, snuggle, and tell her about my night. That safety net and soft place to fall at the end of the day is now gone though. Was it ever real or was it all just a lie? You see it felt so real to me. How could it be anything else but love?

Suddenly a voice over the loud speaker says, "Helipad admission in 5 minutes and another admission via ambulance in less than 20 minutes".

"Great. Just when I thought we'd finally get a break" says Grace sarcastically from her work computer.

"Must be really bad if they're bringing them in on the chopper. I wonder who's gonna get that one" Ryan continues sarcastically as he points at me.

"You guys I'm so tired. I don't even care. We can share that one" I reply to the both of them. "I'm sure we'll need all the help we can get".

Jeff, the man in charge of the unit tonight, picks up the phone and calls the first responders on the chopper and the ambulance to obtain a more in depth status update on the patients.

Hanging up the phone, Jeff says, "Lisa, you've been assigned the patient in the ambulance. Multiple gunshot wounds. Pretty standard. Alison, you've got the patient on the chopper. They say this one is barely holding on. Book the OR now. You'll want to get Dr. Grayson on this one with you. He's the best chance we have at saving this one. Oh and Alison, this one is coming in under an alias. Don't want the media swarming this place".

"Of course Alison gets to work on a celebrity" Grace says with a heavy amount of jealousy in her voice.

Rolling my eyes, I reply, "Well how about you help me. You can even meet them on the helipad. I'll get the supplies, page Dr. Grayson, and tell the OR to prepare a room".

Jumping up excitedly, Grace grabs a resident and another nurse and heads for the helipad.

Within a few minutes, I'm all prepped for whatever is about to enter the ER. The familiar and addicting feeling of adrenaline pumping through my veins begins to excite me as Ryan and I anxiously await the new admission to arrive through the elevator door.

The elevator door bursts open and all I can see is a ton of people working on whoever is on the stretcher as they wheel him or her in our direction. The resident is straddling the pt, presumably apply pressure on wounds as everyone else frantically discusses the status of the patient. That's when I see Grace. Her face is ghostly white as her eyes meet mine. They're filled with panic. This can't be good.

"Ryan, keep Alison back" she yells with authority as they all get closer.

Ryan gives me a bear hug without question, causing me to be unable to move underneath his embrace.

That's when I see Emily laying on the stretcher virtually lifeless, beaten up, and drenched in blood.

"Emily!" I yell desperately as I try and free myself from Ryan's hold on me.

Tears begin to stream down my face at the sight of her.

"Let me go! Please Ryan! I beg you! I need to see her" I plead as I continue to fight to free myself.

"No Ali! Not yet! I'll let you know when. I promise" Grace yells to me as she feverishly works to hook Emily up to the machines. The resident and the other nurse are quickly working to stop the endless amount of blood gushing from different wounds on her body when Dr. Grayson comes rushing in and takes over.