Anon Promt from Tumblr: a year if the life of a character through the out the seasons.
This chapter based on the song Bird Set Free - by Sia
Casting down its red light the sun began to set on Holby. The birds retired to their nests. Zoe walked out of the ED doors, another day put to bed. Her jacket lay across her arm and her bag was slung over her shoulder. She just wanted to make it home, boil the kettle, take a cool shower and sit out on the balcony for the final few hours of the evening in cotton pyjamas with a good book.
But the reality was a quick shower before sitting down with a pile of paperwork she'd been putting off for the past few weeks and then the earliest bed time she could manage, for the morning would start before sunrise for sure. The evening seemed to creep by, the clocks hands moving with a silent tick as the hum of the radio made for decent background noise. Zoe sat crossed legged on the floor surround by paper all spread out in what seemed to have no logical order but to her made perfect sense. The look on her face was neutral no joy but no despair either. She'd chosen this career she couldn't really moan. The light outside began to fade the room grew dim and the laptop screen blared. The radio had been turned off and a lamp in the corner switched on. The paper had found its way into a neat pile on the kitchen table. Zoe bent down to pick up the laptop and pressed the power button. The room fell into a sleep. Zoe made her way into the bedroom and pulled back the covers, she climbed into bed. The room was surprisingly cool for early August. But with British weather you never actually know what to expect anymore.
'Clipped wings I was a broken thing'
Morning came far too quickly for the liking of Zoe. Even though it was still dark outside the sun had begun to make its way across the horizon, its light scattering as it hit the ground. The gaps in Zoe's blinds allowed a little bit to seep in. She shifted over to the other side of the bed at the sound of her alarm. Her hand flailed about trying to find the phone to put an end to the noise it was prevailing but it wasn't working. Zoe reluctantly opened her eyes rubbing them with her fingers. She managed to prop herself up enough to reach the side and turn off the alarm. She looked at the room around her as her head hit the pillow again. The temptation to just close her eyes again and ignore the day that lay ahead was almost too much to resist, but she had to get up. Her legs were forced to twist around, her feet finally hitting the floor and the rest of her body followed in the motion until she was standing beside her bed. She'd laid a dress out the day before, it hung from the wardrobe door, the blue material falling towards the floor.
She finally emerged from the bathroom, her hair slightly damp still and the ends of it were sticking up in all different directions. She sat down in front of the mirror, her eyes had little dark circles under them and lack of sleep would be the death of her one day she thought. She pulled the brush through her hair until it lay relatively flat, before pulling her dress up and reaching behind her to pull up the zip. She walked back over the mirror and began to apply her makeup. She sighed at the fact she had to get through another twelve-hour shift with nothing interesting to talk to anyone about and no one to keep her company. The hair straighteners clicked indicating they had reached temperature, she inspected her reflection and she pressed the heated plates to the sections of her hair. When does this job begin to break a person? Can no one get out completely unaffected right?
The car engine cut out as she made it to the hospital car park, the sun had risen and now lit her path. Her heels clicked along the tarmac. She reached the ED doors, they parted for her. She inhaled deeply before stepping in. Little did she know that was the day her whole life would change.
As late summer came around Zoe had a new spring in her step, he pace lighter, her face fresh and her eyes now had their twinkle back. She had met that day the one she referred to as the love of her life. It had been ordinary but then suddenly so extraordinary. His name was Max, he was younger than herself, but they got on straight away. Passing the odd sarcastic comment between them, laughing at inappropriate things. Then just last week she kissed him. No thoughts, no hesitation just their lips touching. The relief when he kissed her back could have made her fall to the ground. She was over whelmed her summer love story. So to answer the earlier question. Yes you can make it out without it breaking you. She'd finally found her hope. Over the remainder of the summer Zoe took some days off, which before would be completely out of her nature. She was finally enjoying life again. Max gave her a reason to smile in the mornings as she lay in bed next to Max their limbs entangled ad the covers pushed back to let the heat radiate from them. The times when she'd get out of the shower and look in the mirror the dark circles had faded, and behind her always stood max reminding her that she was beautiful and kissing her cheek before handing her a warm cup of coffee. These were the mornings she'd always dreamt off and now it was her reality she didn't quite know what the future held. She was happy, so happy. She didn't think a person could be this happy but apparently they can. In this life anything is possible and now with max she finally realised that. He was what she wanted her forever to be. The cheeky comments, the whispered compliments as they passed in the corridors and the stolen kissing when no one was around.
Everyone had noticed the sudden shift in Zoe, she seemed much more contented with her work as well as in herself. Those who knew her best had caught on without much thought, but other still seemed a little in the dark. As the last few days of August dawned and went Zoe decided that it was time to tell the world how she felt for this once stranger who turned out to be everything she'd wanted in life. so as the 31st August came she pulled Max towards in her front of the who department and kissed him, he was a little taken back at first but soon settled to the idea and pulled her closer. The sealing of the fate that was yet to come, a vow of love, of protection and of their future.
'I shout it out like a bird set free'
