Still Time

Chapter 1.

"Nasty cheesecakes it's almost 7 am now!" My friend, Dianne, blurted out of nowhere as we were trying to pack our things up. We were awake since yesterday after an emergency operation, which, as usual, did not have us afford even a 5 minute nap.

"Didn't you say today's the day you'll be meeting your Soulmate?" I looked at my Timer. "40 more minutes." "Look at this sunny sunny day. And my friend's meeting up her love today." Dianne teased as we walked out of the building. I smiled at the thought and imagined how it will feel like. I hope my yellow cocktail dress still fit me well.

We were taking off our white coats when suddenly, "All surgeons proceed at the OR immediately. Five in need of emergency operation. Patients arriving in 8 minutes."

"Are you kidding me?!"
Dianne let out her frustrations and cursed five more times as we made our way back to the OR. I glanced at my Timer and let out a sigh. It's almost up.

"What are you doing here?" My senior asked me and my friend as he saw us all geared up.
"Two more pairs of hands can help"
"Good, then. You two, be ready for the fifth."

They brought in a man in his late 20s. I cringed at the sight of blood that wet almost the entirety of his head and shirt. I never got used to it.

"We lost his pulse on our way here but his Timer's still running" Sir Leo said. His eyes are all alert but I can still see his shock.

"Okay. All is ready."
20 minutes resuscitation and his condition's still not getting better.
25 minutes..
30 minutes..
"This is out of your control," I reminded myself. This is normal. This is a part of work.

After few more couple of minutes,I glanced at his face one more time and whispered "I'm sorry.I know Ididn't have to apologize but I said it anyways.

I was about to call it off when a tiny blue light gleamed from the center of my wrist.

"Doc, your clock."
9 seconds..
I forgot everything about the Soulmate stuff.

5 seconds.. 3.. 2.. I glanced at the people in the OR but all I saw were the same exhausted faces trying to rescue four more lives.

"I guess I should have been elsewhere," I smiled to Dianne.
1 second..
I closed my eyes and held my left hand. Maybe I've always known this was going to happen. Maybe this is what I've signed up for when I took this job.

Ttttttttttiiiiiiiiittt.
I almost jumped when it beeped. But the sound isn't coming from my wrist.

"Doc, it's back!"
A student nurse shouted as she pointed at his ECG.