You Choose Family

Chapter 1

Lauren

These girls have been with me since the beginning. We grew up in the same neighborhood, we went to the same schools, we were always hanging out, and we went to medical school together, now all three of us working on our residencies together in the exact same hospital. Because we did everything together, the three of us were the top of our classes, graduating early from high school at 17, we have made it a goal to work together for the rest of our lives, or at least in the same town. We're more than best friends at this point - we're sisters. Sisters for life.

"Lauren!" I hear Sarah scream from behind me. I turn around, seeing Sarah and Melissa wearing matching dark grey scrubs, sneakers, Sarah's hair braided to the sides while Melissa had hers tied up high, "We bought a few movies before our shift. Do you want a movie night tonight?"

Any chance we had hanging out, we took, even if we shared our apartment complex together. Because our schedules are now always busy, we don't always get a chance to hang out as three, but we always enjoy it when we do. They already knew my answer even though I didn't say anything.

"Of course!" I say, the three of us standing near the nurse's station, me grabbing another chart for another patient, "I'll make the popcorn."

I could hear the two of them begin to laugh as I walk off with the chart, looking for my next patient. A young 7-year-old boy with a sprained ankle after a soccer game. The little boy, named Noah, seemed to be perfectly healthy, but the parents just wanted to make sure their kid was ok - something I remember from my parents all too well.

"Hello, are you Noah?" I ask, opening the curtain separating the little boy and his parents from the rest of the patients. The little boy nods in fear, scared from the random people coming in and out of his room, "My name is Lauren, I'm a doctor here. I just wanted to check on your ankle, is that ok?"

Noah nods his head softly, a little more relaxed since I introduced myself by my first name. His parents stood by his bed while I put on gloves, slowly feeling his ankle, Noah whimpering when I hit a soft spot.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," I say, "Noah's ankle is sprained, but it does not appear to be extreme. We'll have him wrapped up and you'll be free to go. Just make sure you have his leg elevated above his heart, keep lots of compression and ice on it."

"Thank you," His mom says, me turning back to face Noah, "Noah, sweetie, we'll be going home soon."

"Noah, it will hurt for a few days, but that is normal for a sprain," I say, looking at Noah, "Your mom and dad will be taking care of you, but I think that if you take care of your ankle properly, you will be back outside and playing soccer by next week."

Noah began to smile, before he opens his arms up wide, pulling me in to hug him. I've never had a tighter hug from a complete stranger in my life, but I wasn't going to back away from a child. After holding that hug for a few seconds, I back away, smiling at him. He was now smiling brightly, something that I wanted to see.

"I will be right back, and we'll get your ankle wrapped up, ok?" I say, Noah nodding in delight. I leave the room, walking towards the nurse's station, where a nurse working with all the patients nearby is standing, "Hey, Hannah, I need a compression wrap in Bay 2."

"On it," Hannah says, walking towards the small storage closet nearby. I begin writing in my chart as Hannah coming back holding some supplies, "I'll see you in there."

After finishing filling out what I can, I begin walking back towards Noah's bed, Hannah by my side. Noah was smiling happily, Hannah setting down the supplies at the end of the bed.