Page 20 of Just Breathe

“That works for me. Just let me know so I can plan accordingly.” We reached the ER, checking to see if we had anyone waiting. “I leave the following Thursday, but I might be back soon, so I will let you know.”

“Alright, since we don’t have anyone waiting, let’s clean and restock. Hopefully it stays calm, and you leave in two hours. You got that?” She was stern, and it amused me because I swear she was only a few years older than me.

“Yes, Ma’am.” I made my way to the last two rooms I’d been in and began to clean the areas a little more thoroughly. I wiped down the beds, changed out the covers and the pillows, cleaning everything with steroidal wipes. I took my notepad to write everything that was missing from the room.

I made my way to the next room and did the same thing. It’s methodical work, but I enjoy it. The next thing I knew, it’s been three hours and I’ve finished restocking and cleaning everything. As I walked back to the nurse’s station and saw Michelle working on a file.

“Jane, you’re still here?” She didn’t look up from the computer, but she had a frown on her face. “Since I didn’t see you, I expected you to be gone.”

“I finished restocking all the rooms except the first two that you were using.” I leaned against the counter.

“Seriously?” She looked up, surprised.

“Yes, and made a list of things we might want to restock soon.” I took my notepad out and tore out the list I’d made. “And now I’m going home.”

“Please call or text when you get home, please!” she yelled as I walked back to the break room to get my things out of my locker.

“You got it!” I quickly grabbed my things, made my way out to the parking lot, opened my car, and started it. I didn’t want to take my time going home because once I relaxed, I knew my whole body was going to give out from exhaustion.

I hadn’t done a long shift like that since my resident days, and I was glad that this would not be a repeat thing. I smiled, feeling accomplished because I never thought I would go back to the ER. Fear kept me away, but I was so glad to go back. It was like a piece of me returned and maybe, just maybe, I was slowly becoming the woman I was before my tragedy.

---