POV Jess
"Ellanor?" I ask out to her dark room. It's my last work night and Eleanor will most likely be discharged in the morning.
I hear muffled cries coming from her bed. My heart is absolutely breaking for this poor girl. Today, the biopsy results came back and it was not good, she has officially been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
"It's not fair," she sobs out.
Fuck if she's not wrong, it isn't fair at all. Ovarian cancer claims most of its victims. I hold out hope for modern medicine to make significant improvements but we're just not quite there yet with some cancers, they're just so aggressive.
"I know Ellanor, I know it's not," I just don't know what else to say other than to agree. I'm not one to sit on my patient's bed but it feels wrong not to at this moment. I try to be a person first, nurse second.
"Why me? What did I ever do in life to deserve this? I'm healthy, I eat right, exercise, I'm kind, I say my prayers every night so why is this happening? I just got married, and I wanted to start a family, grow old with Alex. Now, am I even going to make it to my next birthday?" Tears stream down her face and down her neck.
I let out a heavy sigh, "because the devil doesn't make life harder for those who are already his."
She bob her head in a small knowing nod, not that whatever is happening with her makes any sense or the statement makes it hurt any less.
"Look, treatment has come such a long way, this isn't over, you fight this. I won't sugarcoat it, chemotherapy and radiation will be hard but you will stay strong, you live your life and make the most of it. Don't give up hope on your life with Alex or on creating a family. Cancer does not get to rule how you get to live your life, you hear me?"
She nods her head and streams turn to agonizing sobs. I embrace her in my arms tightly and a tear involuntarily escapes from me.
"I was so cruel to Alex, he was only trying to be supportive and all I did was push him away every time," she leaves my arms and rubs under her nose to transfer the snot to her arm.
"You were only processing everything and were scared it's a normal reaction and I'm sure Alex knows that too," I try to console.
"I'd better give him a call," she says sniffing.
"Okay, I'll be right out there if you need anything."
I leave her to it and go back to the nurses' station to type out a report for a patient. My phone buzzes against the countertop causing me to jump.
Char: wanna meet up for break?
Me: can't. I can maybe take 20 minutes if you wanna hang down here.
Char: Be there in 10
The woodsy scent invades my nostrils, and I look up from my laptop and connect my eyes with his crystal blues.
"Hey Jess," Roman smiles and the slightest dimple appears.
"Hi," I squeak, so embarrassing, jeez Jess.
"These are for 311," he hands me a folder, great more work.
"Okay, thanks," I reply trying to be compliant instead of complaining like I want to.
"Uh hey, so I have an extra ticket to a Brad Paisley concert on Wednesday night, would you maybe be interested in going?"
My heart literally stops. Did he just ask me out? I hate country music but shit I do not care if he asked me to pick through garbage with him I'd be down.
"Oh, yeah sure sounds fun," I try to play it off cool when really I want to jump up and down with joy.
"Cool, well let me get your number so I can send you all the details," he says handing his phone over to me.
I type in my phone number with slightly shaky hands scolding myself internally for being such a sappy schoolgirl.
He retrieves his phone from my hand and our fingers brush against each other. The feeling of his smooth skin alone almost sends me into an orgasm. He smiles brightly, "gotta check on 313, see ya later Jess."
Before he turns to leave he gives me a wink and I swear I'm probably salivating until I spot Charlotte's stupid knowing smile and quickly get myself in check.
She saunters over and around the desk, plops herself in a chair, spins it a full 360, and lifts her feet on the desk, crossing them at the ankle and very questionably asks, "What was that?"
"Nothing, drop it" I plea but try to make it sound as if I'm not.
She sinisterly laughs, "spill."
I dramatically roll my eyes at her. She crosses her arms over her chest, "I'm not letting this go so stop wasting our fifteen minutes."
"Fine!" I drop my voice to a whisper as I gauge the surrounding area for any listening ears, "he said he had an extra ticket to a Brad Paisley concert on Wednesday and asked if I wanted to go."
"You hate country music."
"Yeah, I know but that's beside the point, I'm freaking out right now Char! I need your help. What am I supposed to wear, how do I style my hair.."
She cuts me off before I lose my mind, "dude chill! We'll figure it out. I can't believe he finally asked you out! I'm so jealous!"
I love it when Charlotte pretends she even thinks about anyone other than Matt. They're the overly in love, slightly nauseating type of couple. If I'm being honest I'm the jealous one. To have someone who loves you unconditionally, a partner to fall asleep to and wake up to, to laugh and cry with. I really am so happy they found each other, true soulmates. I'm quite positive there won't be a dry eye at their upcoming nuptials. Which reminds me I still have to find a dress for her bachelorette party.
"I'm the jealous one Char," I say as I swipe her feet off the countertop, she knows better.
She slouches down in the chair, "I'm so tired."
"Rough night?" I ask as I type away on my lap.
"Understatement of the century," she grumbles.
I give her my full attention and swivel my chair in her direction, "What happened?"
"Cole."
She straightens in her seat, "Well for starters, he spit in my face and has a bad habit of calling me ginger."
I laugh and try to conceal it with my hands as she glares at me, "laugh all you want, you're getting him soon."
That halts my laughter because she's right.
"Why ginger?" I ask in confusion.
She points to her locks of copper hair.
Ohhh.
"He's a royal pain in my ass Jess. I get this is all normal behavior but he is next fucking level. He's been sedated twice now, he tried to pull out his IV and make a run for it which let's be real he ain't gonna get very far with that broken leg. His memory is hardly existent and it's becoming detrimental to his physical health. I haven't been this drained by a patient in a while." She glides her hands down her face in defeat.
"Wow, that's a lot. Have any family or friends come to see him yet?"
"No, his dad is coming tomorrow though." She shrugs her shoulders.
Cole's dad appears in my mind as I remember the picture of him online, hopefully Cole seeing him will help with some of his mental recovery.
"And physically? How's he doing?" I ask to get a feel for what I'm in for.
She clasps her hands on the countertop, "I guess as expected. He's got a minor infection from one of the asphalt fragments. Femur is doing okay, stats are good."
Great..he'll definitely be coming down here soon. I don't know what to expect in the least. Will I feel awkward? Protective? Indifferent? I guess only time will tell but until then there's no point in stressing over it. In the meantime, I want to allow myself the bliss of being asked out by Dr. Roman Ridley.