“Are you dragging today or is it just me?” Sarah asks with her eyes heavy.
I can guarantee we are tired for two separate reasons.
However, the day has been on the slower side but I don’t dare say that out loud. The minute those words are whispered into the universe in this hospital all hell breaks loose. I want to get through my next two hours in peace.
The bells go off signifying an emergency. Dang it! I shouldn’t have even thought those words. I don’t know I don’t learn.
The doors swing open with a pregnant woman holding her stomach and two EMTs pushing the gurney through the doors. The woman isn’t screaming or making any noises which is not a good sign.
“What happened?” Sarah asks before I can.
I slide my phone into the pocket of my scrubs then run after them into the operating room. The woman on the gurney looks to be about my age- maybe a little younger. I’m wondering where the EMTs found her because her clothes are filthy.
“We found her under the bridge in tent city with a bunch of other homeless people,” one of the EMTs informs us. “She was passed out by the time we got there but what I have gathered is she was kicked in the stomach to the point where she fell down.”
“Do you know why she was kicked?” I ask.
There have been some homeless women who have come into the hospital after a failed at-home abortion. I don’t like seeing the aftermath of those women when they come to. Sometimes they get their wish and it is too late, but sometimes they regret it.
“I have no idea what happened. All I know is she came to in the ambulance and asked about her baby then passed back out,” the EMT stated while handing me the form with basic information on it.
Unfortunately, we have had several homeless people fake a problem to get into the hospital to steal drugs. I’m hoping this isn’t the case.
*
We worked tirelessly on the woman who came in while pregnant. Unfortunately, she had lost too much blood and the baby had been dead for weeks.
I yank my cap off and stuff it in my scrubs pocket out of irritation. None of us like to lose our patients but this one was different. The woman might not have known her baby was dead all of this time because she didn’t have the resources or support needed to help.
“That was a tough one, huh?” Sarah asks while sitting on the bench in the locker room next to me.
I’m trying to summon the strength to change out of these dirty scrubs and into some actual clothes. My plan when I leave here is to drink a couple of glasses of wine while sitting in my bathtub.
“It was. I can’t believe we lost the woman.”
“I want to believe she knew the baby was dead and now they can be together,” Sarah whispers.
I smile at that thought. It isn’t often she is so insightful. I would have said something sarcastic but I decided not to.
“What are your plans for the rest of the night?” I ask her.
I have been so caught up in everything that has been happening to me, I haven’t been a good friend to Sarah today. After being dumped by Colton and running into Luke, my mind is spinning nonstop.
She shrugs. “I’m not sure. I might go to the bar or I might go home and pass out. Who knows?”
Smiling at her, I shuck off my dirty scrubs and slide into the clothes I wore earlier. Truth be told, I probably should go out with her tonight to calm my mind and think about something other than Luke.
However, the invitation I turned down earlier is still playing in my mind. Should I have accepted it? I’m not even sure anymore.
Sarah and I walk out of the hospital and into the employee lot behind the hospital together. After a quick goodbye, I’m in my car driving the ten minutes back to my place.
I’m more than happy to get inside to take that bath I have been thinking about since after the last patient. I’m needing the comfort only I could get from a bath or a cuddle session with something.
After thinking that last thought, Luke’s face floated in front of my mind’s eye.
Do I like him?
I’m beginning to think I do.