You're stuck in denial // Campbell Eliot

trapped in a blur

Let me out, I'm trapped in a blur
Started out the way I wanted but it's weird now
Let me out, I'm lost in the woods
Too much in my head, I shoulda seen the bad signs

-blur, mø

Elle screamed when Kelsey told her, out of happiness or disbelief, maybe both. She was amazed at the change she saw in Kelsey, almost like the flip of a switch. Elle had been friends with Kelsey before New Ham, when it was just West Ham, and they were even closer now. Kelsey's depression had i been expansive, filling up every crack and crevice of her life after Jared passed away. Elle had seen the change, slowly at first and then all at once. Kelsey didn't want to go to communal events, she rarely left her house at one point. When Kelsey told Elle about going out with Campbell, she had been so happy she nearly cried. After chatting with Kelsey about what they may do and the party afterwards at Harry's, doubt crept in, but she didn't say anything for fear of discouraging Kelsey.

Elle and her had hung out nearly everyday, something that hadn't happened for some time. Today was going to be the same, as soon as Kelsey got off of work she would go on a run with Elle and then see where the night took her. This new carefree attitude was refreshing, but still took some time getting used to. Kelsey's mind occasionally drifted back to sadness, and she could feel it's tendrils attempt to sink in, but she pushed it back. She found one of her housemates, Molly, to be an avid listener and felt it easy to confide in her. She felt like her life was finally beginning to turn around.

It was currently Thursday afternoon at the hospital, almost time for Kelsey to call it a day. The weather had been especially miserable that day, the wind blowing a cold rain over the town. Kelsey shivered in her scrubs, wishing she could be home with a cup of tea and a good book. So much for that run with Elle, she thought. The second hand continued to tick on the clock, but was interrupted by the sound of hacking. Kelsey leapt of the counter to see what the commotion was, and stumbled upon a sick Caroline. She was currently in the middle of what appeared to be a coughing fit, blood pouring from her nose and onto the ground. Kelsey rushed to help her to a bed, avoiding the blood as it continued to flow.

"Katie! Grab some gauze so we can stop the bleeding," Kelsey commanded, putting on her gloves so she could see what was wrong.

Katie scrambled over with some gauze, which Kelsey grabbed and held up to Caroline's nose. The poor girl was still coughing, unable to hold the gauze on her own. Kelsey's mind was working overtime to try and figure out what was wrong. Caroline began to weep blood, scaring the living shit out of Kelsey. She was in way over her head, and had no idea what to do. She thrust a cup of water into Caroline's hand, urging her to drink so she could alleviate her cough. She took a sip and the cough subsided for a moment.

"Please help me," she rasped, looking more and more like a zombie every moment.

Kelsey didn't want Caroline to see the fear in her eyes, so as calmly as she could she said: "Just lie down for right now, and I'll be back to do an IV and get some fluids into you."

Kelsey sped away, her mind numb from fear. She had never dealt with anything like this. It could be anything from poison to disease to environment. However, it was not her job to figure out what it was, she just treated the patients. Kelsey arrived back to put the IV in, trying to hide her shaking hands as she slid the needle under the skin. "When did you start feeling sick?"

"About 3 days ago. I thought it was just the flu, because it's been such shit weather, but then this cough started and it didn't go away," she replied, her voice strained from the coughing. Kelsey didn't want her to worry, but the bleeding had not stopped and her blood pressure was dangerously low. "Am I going to die?" She asked, panic dripping in her voice.