...DUSK TILL DAWN...

...Chapter 1...

Ana's POV

I woke up from my slumber to the voice of the flight attendant, who had just informed the passengers that we have successfully landed at Heathrow Airport, London.

As I slowly started to regain my senses and put myself together after the long flight from Thailand, I couldn't help but think about the people I left behind.

I have been working at The London Hospital for more than three years now, but I have never been on a mission like this before. The hospital often sends doctors to the most hurricane-stricken areas during so called „hurricane seasons", when tropical storms and typhoons are likely to cause serious damage and doctors are needed from all over the world to try to help wherever they can to save lives.

I volunteered when we heard about the typhoon that destroyed the coasts of Thailand. Thousands of people needed to be rescued and they needed medical help. Our hospital provided us the necessary equipment, so our little team flew to the unknown to find undescribable conditions.

All this happened 3 months ago. I saw things I never thought I would see. I did things I never thought I would be capable of doing. We lost many people. But we could't just sit and be sorry, because we had many more to save. It was probably the most challenging 3 months of my life.

I was exhausted. I haven't gotten a normal, more than 3 hours of sleep for weeks now. I tried to feel content and happy about what we did, but somehow all I felt was uneasiness, exhaustion and sorrow. I knew that this was my job, this is what I do, but still, after 3 years of working as a doctor at a usually overcrowded hospital, I just sometimes couldn't handle the loss of human lives in my hands. But on the other hand, I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. This was my life now.

"Ana? Are you okay?" – Lizzy asked me with soft but worried eyes. Lizzy is one of my colleagues and my best friend. We went to university together and after graduation we were both chosen by The London Hospital to start practising there, due to our excellent grades and results. We've been working together ever since, on the same floor, we usually have the same shifts and schedule too.

"I'm fine, just a bit tired." – I gave her a weak smile as we entered the lobby of the airport.

"I don't blame you, I feel like a wreck myself..." – Oliver said, trying to keep his sleepy eyes open. Our always cheerful and energetic colleague seemed out of his usual shape.

"Oh, come on! We did it! We've just landed, we are all safe and sound, we saved hundreds of lives, now let's celebrate that we're home again!" – came the suggestion from the fourth member of our little team, Jake, which seemed unbelievably impossible to me at the moment. "I want to celebrate, I want to forget some things that we'd seen, I want to feel alive and I want a hot date as soon as possible!"

"You can do whatever you want, I already have a date with my bed. It's big and soft and all mine. I haven't seen it for 3 months now. I miss it too much to go anywhere else!" – Lizzy exclaimed with a mischievous grin on her face. We all burst into laughter as we were sleepily trying to get our suitcases.

"Right now I'm too tired to even try to lay my eyes on a girl. But I promise, we'll go and celebrate together when everything's settled. Now I"ll go get a cab." – Oliver stumbled out of the building trying to get us a ride home.

"I think everyone needs some time to process and come to terms with everything that happened. I can't imagine myself dancing and flirting at a club right now. Not after everything we've been through. I guess I just need some time." – I said quietly as we were waiting for a cab.

"You're right, but..."

"We've got a cab! Come on, guys!" – Oliver shouted and waved us through the transparent doors.

When all the four of us managed to get into the tiny cab, we were ready to go. We stopped at Oliver's and Jake's house first, they rented an apartment together.

"See you tomorrow, guys! Get some beauty sleep, everyone!" – Jake exclaimed laughing, looking at us with Lizzy. We must have been looking terrible.

"You go get some sleep before I slap your beautiful face!" – Lizzy replied. She sure is aggressive when she's tired.

The next stop was my place, I said goodbye to Lizzy and after collecting all my belongings from the cab, I climbed the stairs and went directly to my bedroom. I sat on the edge of my bed, looking directly at the framed photo on my bedside table. I slowly ran my fingers over the picture and I felt the hot tears gathering in my eyes.

What would she think if she could see me? Would she be proud of me?

I felt myself slowly drifting off with these thoughts in my head, hoping that the nightmares would stay away this time.