MERCY

Chapter One

The blue and amber lights danced around the room as Andy made her way to the bar. She had just finished her first week at her new job and decided she would celebrate with a few drinks with her housemate Polly, however Polly was running late. Andy's long chocolate-coloured hair cascaded down her back and wrapped around her face as she ordered her usual Midori-lemonade.

Her week had gone better than expected where she was shown around the hospital and introduced to all the staff in the rehabilitation ward. Andy sat at the bar reflecting on her week and fighting the urge to call her ex-boyfriend and debrief with him. Mason was an occupational therapist too, and they dated for most of her final year of Uni, however he chose to stay in Melbourne and Andy moved to Adelaide. They knew it was for the best as their respective graduate programs were quite demanding in time and energy, however Andy found herself wishing they had at least tried ever since she got on her plane and moved.

*Buzz Buzz.

Andy felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and checked to see who it was, hoping it was Mason saying he was thinking the same as her.

Polly: Hey hun, I'm sorry to do this to you but I've been held up at work and don't think I'll be able to make it. I am so freakin proud of you chicken and promise I will make it up to you!! xoxoxoxox

Andy laughed to herself as she was not surprised. Polly is equally as passionate about her job as a social worker, however sometimes she blurs her boundaries between life and work.

Just as Andy was about to leave she noticed a familiar face at the other end of the bar, who also saw her as the person between them got up and left. She smiled before looking down at her drink to quickly finish it. It was cute nurse from her ward, only now he seemed more attractive out of his scrubs. He started to walk over to her with his pot in one hand and the other sifting through his ruffled almond-coloured hair.

'Hey you work at Collins Hospital don't you? I've seen you around a few times'. He pulled up a stool right beside her. Andy turned and nodded her head.

'Yeah I do, just finished my first week actually. I'm Andy', and put her open hand between them.

'Lewis', he said smiling and took Andy's hand gently to shake. Their hands remained connected longer than a normal handshake before Andy replied 'Nice to meet you'.

Lewis laughed and pointed out they had already sort of met at work before Andy corrected herself, 'Properly I mean' and quickly changed the subject.

'So how long have you worked at CA?'

'Just over two years now, I used to work in the emergency department downstairs but it could be quite exhausting and I like having more nights off, and then I got this job at the start of last year. I was actually celebrating my first year in a role I finally enjoy.' He grinned and gestured the barman to come their way. 'What about you? What brings you to Merv's tonight?'

'I was doing the same thing as you really, only for my first week.' She laughed before finishing the last mouthful of her drink.

'Nice. So is your boyfriend coming to celebrate with you or is he leaving you to party by yourself?' Lewis smirked as he took a sip of his new pot. The mention of boyfriend sent Andy's mind into a spin as she remembered Mason and wondered what he would be doing to celebrate his first week, and if he too was thinking of her.

'Ah, no, no boyfriend' She forced a laugh and started to fiddle with her drink straw. 'I was just meeting my housemate here, but she bailed so I was going to go after I finished my drink.' Lewis noticed that her glass was empty and hurriedly responded, 'Well in that case I better order you another one to make you stay.' Lewis asked the barman for another glass of whatever Andy was drinking.