Chapter 4
I awoke at 5 am. The smell of fresh coffee snapped me out of my dream world and back into reality. I imagined that Little Susie really wasn't taken away and that it was all a nightmare, but I knew I was only fooling myself. I kicked the blanket off my legs and stretched out my arms while I began to sit up.
On the table in front of me sat a note scribbled on a napkin. The note read: "Meet me downstairs. -Carter" I was somewhat confused by this but I stood up from the couch and headed down the steps to meet Carter. He didn't have to be at work until noon, so I was a bit surprised he was even up at this hour.
As my legs took me downstairs, I could hear the clattering of plates hitting a table. I assumed the noise was coming from the kitchen so I walked in that direction. John was rushing around the table to make sure everything was in it's place. As he turned around to grab the coffee pot from the marble counter, he saw me standing in the doorway.
"Oh...good morning."
"Good morning."
"I wasn't expecting you for another few minutes." He pulled out the chair from the table and motioned for me to sit down.
"The smell of coffee always wakes me up." My eyes wandered. I found stacks of pancakes, piles of bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice, and any other breakfast food you can think of, sitting in front of me, waiting to be eaten. "What's all this for?"
"It's for you." A coy smile appeared on Carter's face. "I know you're going through a rough time right now, so the least I can do is make you breakfast."
"Thanks, it's very sweet of you, although I don't have much of an appetite. You made all this yourself?"
His smile grew wider and he confessed. "Well, not actually, but it's the thought that counts, right?"
I smiled and answered his question. "Yeah, it's the thought that counts." I glanced down at the massive amount of food. "And I'd say you were very thoughtful."
John sat down in the chair next to me and we began breakfast. Before I knew it, it was time to make my way to the hospital for work. Ugh. Work. I wanted to just stay here and do nothing all day. One day off would make my life so much better. Maybe not so much, but at least I would get 24 hours to rest and relax. But then again, that would only be 24 hours to worry about Susie.
The food on my plate was barely touched as I headed for the door. "Thanks for the breakfast, but I really gotta get to work. I'll see you later, Carter."
The glass John was holding quickly made it's way to the table and he got up from his chair. "Have a good day." he said as he walked me to the door.
"I'll try." I walked out the door. "Bye."
The glowing sign of the Emergency Room can be seen and the sirens of the ambulances can be heard from a distance. I am already emotionally drained and the day ahead would drain me mentally and physically. I approach the ambulance bay with caution and proceed through the swinging doors. Making my way to the lounge, I am interrupted by Kerry.
"Susan, you're a little late, aren't you?"
"Yeah, sorry, Kerry." A frown makes it's way to my face. "It won't happen again."
"Damn straight it won't." Kerry heads off to help a patient and Mark brings himself over to me.
"Having a good day?" he said sarcastically, hearing the conversation between Kerry and I.
"I was until the wicked witch came over to chat." I smirked at Mark and he laughed in return.
I finally made it inside the lounge and crammed my belongings into the thin locker. A picture of Little Susie hung on the back of the locker door. Her sweet face made me smile but then I was overcome with sadness and the tears started flowing. I can't keep living like this. She was my life, how can I go on without her?
Chuny burst through the lounge doors. "Dr. Lewis, we got a trauma on it's way. Car vs. Pedestrian."
I wiped my tears with my sleeve, making sure the nurse didn't see me cry. "Yeah...I'll be right there." It is going to be a long day.
I awoke at 5 am. The smell of fresh coffee snapped me out of my dream world and back into reality. I imagined that Little Susie really wasn't taken away and that it was all a nightmare, but I knew I was only fooling myself. I kicked the blanket off my legs and stretched out my arms while I began to sit up.
On the table in front of me sat a note scribbled on a napkin. The note read: "Meet me downstairs. -Carter" I was somewhat confused by this but I stood up from the couch and headed down the steps to meet Carter. He didn't have to be at work until noon, so I was a bit surprised he was even up at this hour.
As my legs took me downstairs, I could hear the clattering of plates hitting a table. I assumed the noise was coming from the kitchen so I walked in that direction. John was rushing around the table to make sure everything was in it's place. As he turned around to grab the coffee pot from the marble counter, he saw me standing in the doorway.
"Oh...good morning."
"Good morning."
"I wasn't expecting you for another few minutes." He pulled out the chair from the table and motioned for me to sit down.
"The smell of coffee always wakes me up." My eyes wandered. I found stacks of pancakes, piles of bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice, and any other breakfast food you can think of, sitting in front of me, waiting to be eaten. "What's all this for?"
"It's for you." A coy smile appeared on Carter's face. "I know you're going through a rough time right now, so the least I can do is make you breakfast."
"Thanks, it's very sweet of you, although I don't have much of an appetite. You made all this yourself?"
His smile grew wider and he confessed. "Well, not actually, but it's the thought that counts, right?"
I smiled and answered his question. "Yeah, it's the thought that counts." I glanced down at the massive amount of food. "And I'd say you were very thoughtful."
John sat down in the chair next to me and we began breakfast. Before I knew it, it was time to make my way to the hospital for work. Ugh. Work. I wanted to just stay here and do nothing all day. One day off would make my life so much better. Maybe not so much, but at least I would get 24 hours to rest and relax. But then again, that would only be 24 hours to worry about Susie.
The food on my plate was barely touched as I headed for the door. "Thanks for the breakfast, but I really gotta get to work. I'll see you later, Carter."
The glass John was holding quickly made it's way to the table and he got up from his chair. "Have a good day." he said as he walked me to the door.
"I'll try." I walked out the door. "Bye."
The glowing sign of the Emergency Room can be seen and the sirens of the ambulances can be heard from a distance. I am already emotionally drained and the day ahead would drain me mentally and physically. I approach the ambulance bay with caution and proceed through the swinging doors. Making my way to the lounge, I am interrupted by Kerry.
"Susan, you're a little late, aren't you?"
"Yeah, sorry, Kerry." A frown makes it's way to my face. "It won't happen again."
"Damn straight it won't." Kerry heads off to help a patient and Mark brings himself over to me.
"Having a good day?" he said sarcastically, hearing the conversation between Kerry and I.
"I was until the wicked witch came over to chat." I smirked at Mark and he laughed in return.
I finally made it inside the lounge and crammed my belongings into the thin locker. A picture of Little Susie hung on the back of the locker door. Her sweet face made me smile but then I was overcome with sadness and the tears started flowing. I can't keep living like this. She was my life, how can I go on without her?
Chuny burst through the lounge doors. "Dr. Lewis, we got a trauma on it's way. Car vs. Pedestrian."
I wiped my tears with my sleeve, making sure the nurse didn't see me cry. "Yeah...I'll be right there." It is going to be a long day.