Saving Elliot - One Shot

two: you cannot kill what's not your creation

April 28, 2016

When I emerge from the twenty story building that I've been stuck in for eight hours, I sigh and grip the bag in my left hand even tighter.

This building is making me crazy. It's just a plain white building which owns a lot of windows, but still, in my office I couldn't find my rest. White, white, white the whole day! White floors, white walls, white beds, white coats. I wonder when I am going colour-blind; I swear at some point in my life I will only see white, no other colours.

Somewhere in there would always be a problem I should solve. Being a neurosurgeon isn't as easy as it seems. Sure, when I was younger, I have seen people working as neurosurgeons, and I've always found it so amazing and interesting, but once you get to know what you have to do, it is a lot of hard work.

I walk to my car which is parked few feet from the entrance and take out my keys. While walking I press the 'unlock' button on my car keys, and tug a loose strand of hair behind my ear that must've fallen out of my bun while I changed out of my office clothes earlier.

Once I'm in my car I throw my bag in the passenger seat, buckle my seatbelt, stick the keys into the ignition, and turn them. I slowly leave the parking lot and head home. The drive wouldn't take more then ten minutes, and then I can go home and sleep.

My phone vibrates in my bag just as I halt at red traffic lights. I slip my hand in my bag but rummage for the first second. The screen lights up and it shows a message from Tamara.

Tamara: Hey, any plans for tomorrow?

I quickly type my answer: No. What are you up to?

Behind me a car honks and I look up. The traffic lights have already turned green, so I press on the gas with my right foot and drive away. I didn't even realize the lights have turned. My phone vibrates again.

Tamara: Good. We haven't hung out for, like, forever. I need to see you. Is tomorrow evening okay?

I try my best to multitask, and drive and text at the same time, even though I shouldn't do this. I switch my gazes between the road and my phone that rests in my left hand, while I handle the steering wheel with my right hand.

Me: Tamara, I saw you two days ago, but okay. See you.

I put the phone on my lap and place both my hands on the steering wheel. I look down to my lap and see that Tamara's sent me a message.

Tamara: Where are you right now?

I grab the phone in my right hand and try to type my answer. I hate it to text with one hand. The thumb isn't fast enough and I always miss the right letters. Ugh.

Me: In the car, why?

She responds in even less than a few seconds. She's really fast at texting, I'll give her that. I bet she can use both hands.

Tamara: Texting while driving? That's a no go, El. Put the phone down ASAP. Text me when you're not driving a vehicle. See you.

That's the Tamara I know. Always caring. We have been best friends since - I don't even remember. She's been always there for me and I can count on her. She is the best friend you could ever wish for. She's always stuck with me, and never let me down. Even in the darker times she didn't leave my side. She just knows what to do. I wish there would just be more people like her in the world, but sadly there is not.

My other best friends, O'connor and Finley, have been my besties ever since. I can trust them as much as I can trust Tamara. I am lucky to have friends like them. But lately we haven't communicated much. I figured they are busy. I don't want to interfere with what they are busy with at the moment. Well, at least they are busy, not like me.