Outer space | klance au |

9: first day

Lance thought he might throw up in the parking lot. His nerves were getting the best of him and he was jittery with all his pent up nervous excitement. He was so scared he was practically sweating through his shirt. Today was the first day of his rotations and he never felt better or worse than he did now.

All of his years of med and premed escaped him as soon as he stepped through the sliding doors. Lance quickly sanitized his hands in quick practiced movements. It felt he was training for this moment his entire life. He spent countless nights up late to make sure he got all his work done; he barely had a high school experience. He dedicated the last three years to getting an associates degree.

As a tenth grader, he begged his guidance counselor to allow to participate in a dual enrollment program. After countless sit-ins and a threat of a protest, Lance was finally put into a few college classes. He walked to the college campus after his second period, worked throughout his entire high school career, and barely had any form of social life. It was all for this, to become a doctor. Lance thought it was pretty worth it.

He straightened his tie one last time before finally entering the building. Everything passed in a strange sort of blur. He was rushed and pushed around and given too many things all at once but putting on the white coat made everything seem worth it. The white coat felt almost too big on him even though he knew it wasn't. It was his exact size. It fit him almost perfectly. It was like he was meant to be a doctor.

His group's first rotation was neurology. Shiro's words were the only thing that came to mind for the next thirty minutes or so as he toured the floor and was introduced to all the doctors.

He stood with a group from his class and another small group from the other school. Lance didn't have that many friends so he stood sort of by himself. "Hello and welcome to your first rotation. I'm sure you're all excited to start working believe me I know but we'll have to give you a general tour of the hospital and get pictures done for identification purposes. Any questions at this time?" The monotone voice spoke to the group of eager students. The attending had to be Dr. Kaltenecker. Lance already wasn't looking forward to the next few upcoming weeks. No one dared to raise their hands. Nervousness practically radiated off the group.

"Great." The older man stood from the rolling chair. "Follow me." The group fell into line right behind him too scared to be left behind or walk beside him. It was a sort of dilemma that probably wasn't going to be fixed ever. He himself stood near the middle of the group. Lance glanced around the hallway, his eyes never staying too long on any particular thing.

The halls were a lot bigger than he remembered. Maybe it was a mental thing but they seemed never ending now. "Some of you will be placed under me and the rest under the various other doctors on this floor. No special treatment sadly. We put your names in a hat and pick who will be under us." No one laughed. Lance wasn't sure the last time Kaltenecker blinked.

"Rotations are a big deal," the doctor began. "They are essentially the first step you take outside of the classroom as almost real physicians." Lance looked down and counted the square patterns on the tiles as they walked. He was excited and nauseous. He knew he should have eaten a bigger breakfast.

"I heard we're going to be helping in the care of patients." A nervous voice broke the quiet of the group. The doctor to be was right next to him, her blonde hair was long and kept in two neat pigtails with an almost braid crown. His time with his sister Veronica really gave him experience in the beauty area.

"Ah, what a brave soul. Hopefully, I pick your name out of that hat." Lance wasn't sure if he was joking or not. The girl winced. "Yes. You have morning rounds followed by an afternoon conference and then afternoon rounds. I expect you to do everything an intern does if I'm being perfectly honest." Lance shoved his hands in his pocket. The girl bit her lip but continued to walk.