A Deadly Affair

One

Why would anyone who is terrified of needles become a nurse? I say it's because it was my calling, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else: but as the needle moves closer to me, I feel like that's a mute thought as fear pulses through my veins. 

"Wait," I exclaim, gasping as I push myself back on the exam table. The nursing student who everyone refers to as Bertha (real name, Janna) stares at me with a bored expression. She's been trying to get her RN degree for three years; and as we have our stare down, I wonder if she's considered it's because she has no emotion to calm a patient. Her eye roll only spikes my fear.

"Julie, it's only a needle. Grow up." She huffs, as I blink at her in surprise. My older sister, Charlotte, is fearless. Skydiving is on her bucket list, and she isn't afraid of needles or heights or spiders or snakes like me. I wanted to be more like her, so I decided I'd volunteer for one of my fellow nursing students to find a vein and draw my blood: but now, with Bertha coming at me with the thing, I find myself throwing the white flag- which is actually just hyperventilating and screaming like she's murdering me. I'm sure that's what she wants to do anyway considering the look she sends me when our teacher, Ms. Taylor approaches us with a raised brow.

"I feel light headed." I blurt, transferring the sweat on my hands to my scrub pants as I wipe them down the microfiber fabric.

"I'll get her a juice box," Hanna, the petite blonde who gets at least eight hours of sleep each night, always has perfect makeup, and freshly pink painted nails, offers as she smiles brightly at me.

"Alright," Ms. Taylor frowns, before nodding to Hanna. Hanna scurries from the room with absolute elegance as another girl is assigned Bertha. I watch the student swallow roughly before squeezing her eyes shut. I wince for her, as Hanna skips back into the room. Ten minutes later, after I've finished two juice boxes, and a bag of gold fish which Hanna said always makes her feel better, we're dismissed and I head out to my car, looking over my shoulder in case Bertha wants to ambush me for being such a coward. I'm easily startled, though with my life the past few years, it's no wonder I'm always prepared for someone to pop around a corner.

"Auntie Jules!" My nephew, Liam screams, launching himself at me as soon as I walk through my front door. I grin, despite my tired state, and pick his small body up into my arms.

"Liam!" I exclaim back, "How did you get here?" I tickle him, causing him to giggle and scream so I set him down. He runs around the corner into the kitchen announcing to whichever family member is in there that I'm home. I drop my book bag next to the couch, before following the five year old ball of energy. Mom greets me with a smile, and a hug.

"Hi, babe. How were clinicals?" She inquires, smiling happily as she cuts vegetables for dinner. She's wearing her signature red lipstick along with her ruby red nails; she's the epitome of old time Hollywood, minus the curls- she prefers straightening her blonde, bob. 

"I almost got attacked by a needle." I inform her, making her raise a brow and Liam gasp. I widen my eyes at him, and he giggles, making me smile as I plop him down in my lap. "How was your day?" I poke him in the stomach, which leads to him trying to tickle me, and me winning our match.

"I got a new tractor!" He announces enthusiastically before drinking from his cup; I eye it wondering if someone gave him caffeine. My sister and brother in law banned it after he got his hands on sweet tea a few months ago. Let's just say that was a fiasco that led to his parents almost having mental breakdowns. 

"Another one?" I joke, looking at my older sister as she emerges from the pantry, shaking her head.

"Mimi bought him it." She jerks her head toward Mom, who hums quietly.

"He's my only grandchild." She states, as though this is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why a five year old has ten different types of tractors.

"Have you heard back from the apartment hunting?" Charlotte asks, as she places a chicken in the oven. I smooth out Liam's jet black hair which he got from his Dad, as our entire family carries a medium brow hair color; I always liked that his is different from ours. Mom frowns at Charlotte's question, as I kiss Liam's head, and he snuggles into me. She's not a fan of me moving out. 

"No, not yet." I settle Liam in my arms, thinking he's ready for a nap but he's had enough of our bonding because he shimmies down to the floor and takes off into the living room, excitedly talking to himself about his new tractor.

"I still don't see why you have to get an apartment." Mom mutters quietly, though she's frowning. I frown too; I don't want to leave my parents, truly. But...

"You know why, Mom." I reply gently, reaching over to grasp her hand. She looks down, and I know there are tears in her eyes, so I let go after a squeeze so she can compose herself. "He messaged me last night."

"He found your number again?" Charlotte is as equally as upset as I was, and Mom looks distraught. I nod, scratching my wrist, earning a slap on the hand from my sister; she claims scratching will give me hives which I know is true, but it doesn't stop the instinct. "Please allow Drew to help you sue him, Jules."

I shake my head. When I was in high school, I dated a guy names Miles Hartley. He was nice at first, and I thought I was in love: but by senior year, he had become more controlling. He told me I couldn't go away to college, even though I'd always wanted to go to the University near home: but him telling me what to do concerned me so I broke it off. He's been stalking me ever since. At first it wasn't horrible; he would call a lot, or leave a note on our door. It stopped for a few months, but now he's come back like a roach. My brother in law is a successful lawyer, which is great because it allows Charlotte to stay home with Liam: and he's been wanting to sue Miles since it first started. I just want to get away from him, put it all behind me: but I don't want to leave my family, and I don't want to be the reason they leave our family home. I want to be able to come back here and spend Christmas when I have my own family. The other option was to get an apartment, and keep it on the down low.

"I'll be fine once I can get an apartment, Charlie." I assure her, and her scrutinizing hazel eyes find my blue ones before she nods slowly.

"Okay, Jules." She agrees, helping Mom continue with preparing dinner. 

Everything will be fine; I just need to get an apartment.