At the end of her shift, Christine stripped off her outer coverings and headed back to the nurses' locker room to gather her things. She saw Meg collecting her belongings as well.

"Hey, your shift is done too?" asked Christine.

"Yes, thank God." said Meg, "I'm so tired. Phillip is going to have to drag me through the house to bed, cause I'll probably pass out at the front door."

"Yeah, hopefully I make it to the couch, at least." said Christine, donning her jacket and putting on her cross-body bag.

"Did you hear how many more positive cases were confirmed today?" asked Meg.

"Last time was around noon, and I think I heard fifteen new cases."

"I just spoke to Joann before I clocked out. Up to thirty-two."

"Oh man," sighed Christine, "This is just going to get worse and worse."

"Some of the people can just isolate at home until they're better, but these poor people with additional health issues…that virus just wipes them out."

"I know. I wish I could do more. Surely there are scientists working on a vaccine."

"I'm sure." she said, "I swear, most of our patients are Covid related; I miss the easy fixes, like…someone who accidentally cut themselves with a steak knife, or a kid who shoved pea gravel up his nose on a dare…."

Christine laughed, "Yeah, the simple cases were better. Although, we did have that car accident today."

Meg smiled, "Oh right, I had the guy with the mild concussion. Didn't you have his friend?"

"Yes. The seatbelt cut into his neck. I bandaged it and he was good to go."

"Yeah,…simple fixes are my favorite." she sighed.

Meg and Christine left the hospital and walked to the parking garage. With most businesses closed down, traffic was very low, so the noise was a lot less. It was more peaceful.

"He was really nice," said Christine after a long period of silence.

"Who?" asked Meg.

"The man from the accident, with the neck laceration."

"Oh yeah?" said Meg, slyly, "Did you get his number?"

"Of course not," said Christine, "He's probably married."

"How do you know if you didn't ask?"

Christine rolled her eyes, "He spoke very well; was polite and understanding about the Covid policies…and…he talked to me like I was the only one in the room. Which,…I mean I was, until Dr. Parker came in. He told me I was smarter than the doctor."

She snorted, "You probably are. Did you at least get his name?"

"Erik."

"Erik…?"

"I didn't get the last name."

"Hmm…well, the odds of you seeing him again are probably slim, but if you should, find out more about him. You need a real man who'll treat you right. You need to kick Randy to the curb, permanently."

Christine sighed, "I know I do."

"He just thinks he can waltz into your life whenever he wants, and you let him. Time to cut him off."

She nodded, "I know, I know, Meg. I'm finally ready to."

"Good."

They arrived to their cars and parted with a fist bump.

"See you tomorrow." said Christine.

"Oh of course; another day in paradise." said Meg, "Goodnight, hon."

Christine smiled and climbed into her tiny car. As she drove home, she thought more of the polite gentleman, Erik, and couldn't help but smile. He reminded her of the kind of dark, mysterious fictional antagonists that she couldn't help but love. She always gravitated more towards those characters, because they had more of a story than the handsome, silver-spoon-fed typical heroes. She knew Erik must have a story of his own, based on the mask he wore over his eye, and it naturally made her curious. Deep down, she hoped she'd see him again, but Meg was right. With the isolation and quarantine orders for the virus, it was highly unlikely that they would.

"My sweet, Christine; finally!" sighed Erik, as he paced his office, feeling light as a feather. The cut on his neck did nothing to dampen his mood. He'd finally made contact with his angel; she knew who he was now! Well, sort of. She knew he existed, but not that he was invading her privacy with hidden cameras, tracking most of her moves. But she knew his name now, and it was a relieving feeling. He didn't have to lie or orchestrate their meeting to make it look coincidental. Though both he and Nadir suffered minor injuries, he was secretly happy about the accident.

"Now, how to move on from here," he said to himself, "Would she even want to see me again?"

He sat at his desk and wrote down different possible scenarios for a second meeting.

"She sometimes goes to the coffee shop beside the hospital…., but I never know when. Would it be too soon to start sending her gifts with my name attached to them? How long should I keep up the 'admirer' façade?"

Just then, his computer chimed, and Erik excitedly turned on the monitor to see Christine entering her apartment.

"Hello, my love," he said.

She hung up her jacket and bag, and kicked off her tennis shoes. After cracking her neck, she walked into the kitchen and looked to be preparing some tea. After looking in the fridge, she pulled out the leftover chicken and rice she'd made the day before.

"Well, definitely better than usual." said Erik, slightly pleased she didn't go for the traditional cereal or dry toast.

Christine's phone rang and she left the kitchen to dig it out of her bag. She sighed, reading the screen before answering it.

"Hi, Randy."

Erik's jaw set in anger. Randy Carter; her…well, he wasn't sure what to call him. Boyfriend was a bit of a stretch. He treated Christine like a play thing, that he could take out and humor himself with whenever he pleased, and then ignore her for months. She deserved so much better.

"I'm tired, Randy, I just got off work." she continued, "My shifts have changed; I'm on-call now due to the virus…..Um,…no I don't think that's a good idea. The hospital wants all of the doctors and nurses to self quarantine when their off work, so it wouldn't be a good idea to visit…..Well, of course I miss you, but… Randy, will you listen and be reasonable? You've been all over the country, exposed to so many people and places; if my hospital administrator found out I didn't quarantine and hung out with you, after all the places you've been, I could get in trouble…. That doesn't surprise me, Randy, most musicians' gigs are cancelled because of the virus, but that doesn't mean you can just decide to crash with me. Go home to your own family."

"Good job, love. Put him in his place." said Erik, seeing how riled up Christine was getting.

"Meg was right," Christine whispered to herself, "I said, Meg was right, Randy! This ends now. I've put up with you for a long time now, wondering if you would ever decide to get serious, but it's clear you're just an overgrown child, looking for a second mother to take care of you when it's convenient. We're done. Stop calling me, don't come to see me. Find a girl who wants what you want, cause it's not me anymore… No, there's no one else, Randy…. No, there isn't!... But I'll tell you what, there easily could be. I met a man today who treated me with respect, and kindness, and thought I was bright and kind as well. He was a stranger, and he treated me with more respect than you have the last ten years. I only regret not asking him for his number, cause I absolutely would call him….I'm dead serious. Goodbye, Randy."

Christine hung up and tossed her phone on the small table under her coat hook. She sighed and covered her mouth, not believing she just did that.

Erik was also sitting there, staring at the screen in shock. Was she talking about him? He was thrilled when she called off their…relationship, but when she started talking about meeting a stranger that day… He didn't want to presume, but deep down he knew she meant him.

I only regret not asking him for his number, cause I absolutely would call him.

His heart was hammering in his chest. With a new sense of determination and hope, he began looking up florists.