The Way My Heart Beats

Chapter 22

Clara

My feet are killing me. It's been a long, busy day in the emergency department. It's been a good day, though. A normal day. Right now, that's the best I can ask for.

The busyness didn't help keep my mind off of Grant's confession of love, though. His words have bounced around my mind all day. I'm not sure if I'm in awe or annoyed. Who tries this hard for a girl? I'm practically an accident waiting to happen, a damsel in distress, whatever you want to consider my shit show of a life.

My body is moving rather slowly now that I'm no longer dealing with patients. I just finished the last of my charting. That's the worst of it all.

I trudge my tired body to the locker room gathering my things to head home. Before I make it to the exit, Amelia surprises me by meeting me at the elevator. "Mel? What're you doing here?"

"Just being a good friend, bringing you coffee, and driving you home after your first official day back on the job." She smiles brightly.

Even though something feels off about the gesture–random really, I take it and run with it. "Okay. Sure." I take a sip of the coffee as it soothes my aches and pains as the heat seeps through my bones. Just what I needed.

"How was your day?" Amelia asks cheerfully. Why was she so upbeat? I mean, she's a happy person, but it's eleven PM and I've just worked a sixteen hour shift. How the hell does she think my day went?

"Um..just like any other, I guess." I say, giving her a curiously weirded out look. "How was yours?"

"Just fine. I ate everything in my cabinets and binge watched one too many episodes of New Girl." I gave her a nod of acknowledgement.

I've never been much for TV. I just always stay busy, mainly to keep my mind off things.

I practically throw myself in her passenger seat finally sitting down for the first time in 10 hours. I chug a bit more coffee feeling more and more relaxed and tired with each sip.

"Geez. I am so tired. I guess the long shift is just now hitting me." I say, but notice my words are slurring.

"Amel...ia? What's wong wi me?" When she replies, her voice seems very distant. Almost like I'm listening to her under water. Then, black completely surrounds me. My body suddenly limp.

All I can see is black, but I hear sounds and a sudden bump. My head hits something hard, like glass.

"She's out. The coffee worked. I just hope this works, too." I faintly hear Amelia's voice.

Coffee? That was some good coffee. She always makes the best.

"Good. I promise she will be safe. I'll keep in touch best I can, but may not have much access." Was that Grant?

I want to open my eyes but they feel so heavy. My body feels numb. I can't remember much. I must be in a car. I can slightly feel a seatbelt around me holding me in place.

Then suddenly the seatbelt is gone with the sound of a click, and I fall over just to be caught by warm hands. My body is slowly being raised and cradled. A scent hits my nostrils, and it smells familiar.

Just as quickly as I'm picked up I'm sat back down again having a seatbelt wrapped back around me. The slamming of the door jars me from my slight unconsciousness. More muffled sound hits my hears. I can't quite make out what the voices are saying. Then, they stop and another door slams with the same familiar scent hitting my nose.