Another short chapter (though on time this week, sorry about that- I was in Newcastle with my mum all day last week). This isn't very well written actually, looking over it- I write in advance and I must have written this weeks ago XD so apologies, but I hope you like it anyway! -Sophie x
Charlie finished his shift later than usual, and he was an hour late by the time he clocked off. The nurse passed through cubicles and paused outside Connie's office. She had gone.
He made his way to his old ford focus but stopped when he realised the clinical lead's car was still parked in the same place it was left that morning. Frowning slightly, he went over to see if she was there.
Connie was sat staring straight in front of her in the driver's seat, eyes glazed over, evidently deep in thought. Her hands sat clasped on her knee; she seemed the pinnacle of calmness.
Seemed, being the operative word in that sentence.
Charlie moved to her side of the car and knocked on the window. Without any indication he had surprised her, she wound her window down and looked up at him.
"Yes?"
"Um, I just wondered why you were sat, well here." He gestured to the car park. "What's up, don't you want to go home?"
"I was just…thinking." She sighed. "Didn't realise the time."
"Alright. Just so long as you didn't get caught up in the what-could-be's." He smiled.
"Mmm." Was her only reply. The nurse raised an eyebrow when she didn't make any attempt to move.
"You don't want to go home do you?" Charlie said softly, and she shook her head.
"Home means sleep. Sleep means nightmares. Nightmares mean thoughts. Thoughts mean tears. It's just this whole waiting game Charlie, I don't know how anyone does it."
"With great difficulty, that's how. You'll have less than a week to wait, you've just got to battle your mind until then. Remember, you are your own worst enemy." He smiled slightly before straightening up. "You get home. Try sleeping pills from the supermarket if you're having trouble getting through the night. See you tomorrow."
Connie nodded, turning the ignition on. She looked up to him and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Thanks. See you." She wound her window up and reversed out of her space, turned slightly then drove away. Charlie put up his hand and stayed where he was until she disappeared from sight. Then he went back into the ED and straight to the nurse's station in cubicles, picking up a phone and reading from the list of department numbers next to it until he got the right one. The man dialled it and waited for an answer.
"Dr Dawson, how can I help?" The young woman's voice filled Charlie's ear as he cleared his throat.
"It's Charlie Fairhead from the ED. I was wondering if we could talk about Connie Beauchamp's biopsy…"
…
Back home, Connie was raiding her cupboards and drawers for sleeping pills. She had bought some for her nights in the on call room at work as there was never any chance of peace there, and each time she used them they worked.
She found the little blue packet eventually, hidden in her tea-towel drawer beneath a mountain of chequered cloths. After checking they were in date, the woman made herself a drink and went up to bed, popping a couple of pills into her mouth as she went.
Once in her pyjamas, Connie laid on her back and stared up at the ceiling. Charlie's words echoed in her mind- "You are your own worst enemy", over and over again. It was true though; she was starting to battle both her mind and her body, from evil thoughts and heartless diseases, something she wasn't very used to, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't scared.
Not so much scared of how her body and mind would change, but of how harsh her own body could be on her. She never took much notice when she treat her patients, their ails just kept her in a job. The woman never stopped to think just how malicious they could become. The body really is a cruel mistress.
These were her last thoughts before drifting off to sleep, her arms falling to her sides as she finally managed to relax.