A Year In Fort Lauderdale

Distance

Chapter Fourteen

I scan the words on the paper with my finger, only reading the parts of the documents that are relevant to what I'm looking for. Medications, diagnosis, history, the whole care plan. Words on the paper stick out to me immediately. Tachycardia. Myocardial infarction. Smoker.

"Learn anything new about the patient?" Julia asks as she moves to stand next to me at the nurses station.

I shrug a little as I close the patient's chart. "Nothing I didn't already know from simply walking into her room."

"Where are you applying to start your pre-requisits for nursing school?"

"I would like to get into Seattle University, but it's a very competitive school to get into. I hope they will understand why my grades weren't as good last year as they usually are."

She puts the patient's chart back onto the shelf and grabs her stethoscope, hanging it around her neck. "I'm sure your grades from last year are just fine. You're a smart girl." Her eyes meet mine and she lowers her voice. "After your situation, you still managed to end the year with your lowest grade being a B."

I almost forgot that we had to let Julia in on my past, in case I had an episode while at work.

We begin walking briskly down the hall, heading in the direction of the patient's room.

"Hey Julia? Have you heard how things are going with Asher and his new helper?"

She stops at a charting computer on the wall, logging in, her manicured nails tapping lightly on the screen as she types. "I haven't heard much, but what I do know is that he hasn't hurt them yet. If that happened, the whole hospital would be buzzing about it."

I lean against the wall, watching workers and visitors rush up and down the halls, some pausing to speak to one another, others keeping their heads down.

My heart aches at the thought of Asher with his new helper.

Julia looks up from the screen, her bright eyes lined with her usual dark liner. "Not to be pushy or anything but I saw your phone earlier when we were on break and it looked like he's messaged you a bunch. Does he know about your past? Or did you quit for another reason?"

I rub my eyes, feeling an overwhelming wave of exhaustion. "He doesn't know about what happened, and he can't know what happened. It'd just make things worse."

She nods as she logs off the computer. "I get that. Just remember, it's worth it to let some people in. Don't make the mistake of shutting someone out that could be worth the risk."

"I'll keep that in mind. Now, should we go see this patient?"

She rolls her eyes at me, a small smile on her lips, then begins walking down the hall.

+++

I poke around at my plate of food with my fork, pushing the grilled chicken into the mashed potatoes. My glass of milk still full and the pile of vegetables on the plate untouched. We've been sitting here for half an hour, but hunger has yet to make itself present. I got home a few hours ago and used up most of the time between that to sleep.

Aunt Jenny grabs another roll from the small basket, then holds it out to me. "Do you want another roll?"

My eyes glance quickly at the uneaten roll on my plate. "I'm fine, thanks though."

"So how was your day at work?" She wonders as she places the basket back in the middle of the table. "Anything exciting happen?"

I shrug a little. "Nothing crazy; just another average day."