After the Sun Sets (18+)

CHAPTER 2 - Suppression

Lora glanced at her watch. It had just turned seven. They wouldn't be taking Jonathan down to the operating theatre for at least another hour. She knew that and yet there she was, all but running to his room.

She pressed the intercom button knowing the door would be locked this early in the morning, and a familiar buzz sounded as soon as she announced her name. The door to Jona's room was closed with the linen trolley parked in front of it.

"If you're here for the morning shift, you're late!"

Lora smiled at the sound of the familiar, deep voice. "Sorry, Chief, but I don't work here anymore," she countered as she turned to the Charge Nurse with a big grin on her face.

A tall, balding but undoubtedly handsome man in a dark blue uniform chuckled amicably at her retort as he approached her. "They're bathing him. Come on, let's have some coffee," he offered, taking the heavy bags from her hands.

Lora could not refuse. She didn't have time for coffee that morning and she had the most restless night after having to comfort Siena for over an hour.

"Is Daddy going to be okay, Mama?" her little voice piped from under the pink unicorn sheets.

Lora's heart throbbed. She never lied to her children. So she sat on the little girl's bed, curled her onto her lap and brushed her fingers through her soft, golden curls. "Let us pray so that God may keep him safe."

And pray they did. And while prayer gave Siena the peace she needed, Lora tossed and turned all night.

"Coffee sounds wonderful," she nodded following her old boss into the staff room.

It was like stepping back in time. More photos of the staff had been added to the notice board, all of them with broad smiles or forcing funny faces. A new plant sat on the white fridge in the far-left corner causing Lora to smile. It was a well-known secret that not a single plant had ever survived the black thumbs of the staff. But they always tried.

Other than that, the narrow room looked exactly the same. The lockers were in the same place against the left wall. The blue couch sat opposite them under the colourful notice board, just where it had always been and the table sat in the middle, surrounded by four black chairs. It was spotless. The cleaners always started from the staff room, then the visitor's kitchenette and then the nursing station.

"How have you been, Scout?" Mike started, going straight for the kettle.

Lora's smile widened. She loved it when he called her Scout. Mike was about the same age her father was when he passed away and maybe that's why he reminded her of him so much.

"I'm okay. A bit anxious, but okay."

"Anxious? About the surgery?" he questioned, raising a worried brow. The metal teaspoon clinked loudly as he dropped it into her old mug. She had forgotten it in the cupboard and Cara had joked about keeping it safe for her for when she came back.

Who knew it would be under these circumstances?

Lora hesitated. Even as her heart missed a beat, she knew she could never lie to Mike. "Not just. It's strange to be back. I mean, it's great seeing you guys but... It's just so... I don't know." She didn't. She didn't know how to explain what she was feeling because she couldn't make sense of it. For a moment, only the soft hiss of the kettle could be heard.

"How are the kids?" Mike asked gently, knowing when to drop the subject.

Lora pulled a chair and sank into it. "Good. They're growing up too fast. Jess and Krista are both in university now. Krista is taking medicine. Did I tell you?"