A week later, Dr. Kaufman approached Lisa for the first time.
She was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, doing her best to juggle a cup of coffee and her medical books. It was a much more mild morning, allowing the nurse to stay outdoors without the need of a jacket.
When she saw him approach, the girl placed her selection of books on the floor, blowing slightly on her hot beverage. She didn't particularly enjoy the powerful flavour, but the caffeine helped her stay alert.
Afraid to make eye contact, she stared at the pale grass beneath her feet, listening to the faint bustle of rush hour traffic. The roads were busy during the early hours, with people travelling as far as Shepherd's Glen to get to work.
Turning her head away from her superior, the teen found herself in a very uncomfortable position. Like the monsters that used to lurk beneath her bed, Lisa believed that if she couldn't see him, he'd eventually go away.
The man cleared his throat, 'Am I interrupting something?'
Summoning the courage to look round, the intern focused all of her attention on his chin, trying to give the illusion that she was staring him square in the face. She hoped he wouldn't notice how she was averting her gaze.
'No, not at all.' She breathed, silently cursing herself for being so timid. Why did she find him so damn intimidating?
Without a word, the much taller man stared at her for a moment, the mildest glimmer of curiosity in his stern features. Even when he was in a good mood, if that is indeed what this was, he still failed to deliver in the expression department.
'May I?' He finally spoke, gesturing to the empty spot beside Lisa.
Swallowing her pride, the teenager gave him a weak smile, somewhat irritated at his presence. Knowing that she couldn't say anything other than yes, the girl gave a wry nod, reluctantly inviting him to join her.
Tugging gently on his tie, Kaufman took the spot beside his employee, seemingly oblivious to the nurse shifting further up the bench.
Why now? She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts, her books and her coffee. It was the reason she'd arrived to work a half hour early than was scheduled. It gave her the time and isolation she needed to focus on her studies.
Sipping her steaming coffee, Lisa wriggled on the hard wood, feeling awkward in the silence that followed. She wasn't sure whether he wanted a conversation, or was merely enjoying a pleasant view of the garden. He didn't strike her as the scenic sort.
Crossing her feet at the ankle, she cupped the plastic cup with both hands, not caring that it was essentially scolding her sensitive palms. If she could concentrate on the searing pain, she wouldn't be inclined to look at Kaufman.
A sudden breeze blew in from the lake, causing her books to fly open. Lurching forward, the girl slammed a hand upon the thick paper, trying to prevent her notes from being whisked away. She'd been working on them all morning.
Placing them safely between her pumps, the teen sat back with a relieved sigh, her heartbeat pulsing rapidly against her chest. With the effort of bending over, Lisa's skirt had rode up her thigh, exposing more flesh than she cared to reveal.
Flushing, she quickly yanked it down, though not fast enough to prevent the doctor from getting a good look at her legs. It was the briefest of glances, but the girl was certain his eyes had lingered on her bare skin far longer than she found acceptable.
Hiding behind a curtain of hair, the intern began to nervously rap her nails against the cup, afraid to take a drink. As long as she had the coffee, her hands would remain busy. Without it, she'd find herself fidgeting.
'I'd like to have a quick word with you.'
He spoke so suddenly, and with such clarity, that it took all of Lisa's self-restraint not to jump. Holding her breath, she awaited the terrible news of her failure, firmly believing that he had come to relieve her of her duties. She always did believe she'd make a terrible nurse.
Clenching her eyes shut, the nurse began to conjure all sorts of unpleasant images in her head. What would her mother say? Would she be transferred to another hospital? She prayed it wasn't Cedar Grove.
Slowly placing one leg over the other, Kaufman sat back and folded his arms, much to Lisa's surprise. He was acting so casually that she couldn't believe he was the same stuffy, perpetually unhappy fellow that had crossed her in the elevator.
'Do you like working here?'
Taken aback, the girl took a moment to gather her composure. Was that a trick question? He could have asked for her name and she still would have faltered.
'Um, yes.' She mumbled, her grip going tight around the cup.
He seemed to consider this, running a hand beneath his chin. As she stared at his profile, the nurse thought he looked rather worn, as though a great weight had settled on his shoulders. Something about his hunched, tired appearance made him seem less frightening.
'You seem unhappy,' He finally said, gaze fixed on the bars of the fence. 'Not having second thoughts, I hope?'
She'd been having second thoughts since the day she began, finding it to be a constant uphill battle with her willpower. So far her needs had overwhelmed her wants, but that didn't stop the teen from feeling the way she did.
'No,' She shook her head, unable to convince even herself. 'I've just been feeling a little stressed lately, that's all.'
She eyed the pile of books at her feet, hoping that he'd get the message and leave. Yet even as she wished for this, Lisa felt a growing urge to say by his side, finding comfort in the company he brought.
Her life was somewhat lonely, dominated by work and sleep. Contact with the outside world consisted mostly of walking to and from the hospital, whilst the staff remained cold and distant towards her.
It seemed the only thing keeping her from going insane were the patients she cared for, and even that was limited to delivering meals and handing out medication. An opportunity had now arisen, and she was conflicted about how she should feel.
'Well, actually, that's not quite true.' Her pulse quickened as she spoke the words, unable to keep them from escaping her lips. 'I wish the other girls would stop treating me like a child.'
'They do, do they?'
'Yes, I'm fed up of it.' The intern's voice rose, teal eyes revealing a deep anger which had been bottled up for many years. 'All I'm good for is sweeping floors and serving drinks. I want to prove myself. I'm training to be a nurse, not a maid.'
'I see,' The man replied, failing to convey emotion.
By now the girl was frustrated, fingers going white as she gripped the plastic cup hard enough to make it crack. Hot coffee poured all down her hand, causing her to cry out and drop the beverage on the floor. Some of it splashed onto her books, turning the once white pages a dark brown.
Nursing her scolded hand, Lisa fought back tears. Everything was going wrong. No matter how hard she smiled, it never seemed to make her feel any better. Despite her outward optimism, inside she was weeping for all that she wasn't, and all she would become.
If only she had said no to her mother. Perhaps she could have joined an acting school? At least it would have more interesting than her current predicament.
Seeing the girl's distress, Kaufman reached into his suit pocket and removed a small, white handkerchief, gently wrapping it around her burning flesh. It was a simple gesture, but it managed to calm her down.
The man's hands were much larger than hers. They were also rough and callous, yet somehow reassuring. This was in stark contrast to his blank mien, which still refused to twist his solid frown into something more amiable.
She couldn't understand what he was trying to accomplish. He was helping her, that much was obvious, but his sour expression did not change, once again leaving the nurse just as confused as she had been before.
'You should be more careful,' His deep, commanding voice told her. 'What good will you be if your hands are damaged?'
She slowly pulled herself away from him, using her free hand to hold the handkerchief against her aching skin. The wind blew once more, but the pages of her books were stuck together, eliciting a sigh from the girl. Her mother would be furious.
Stooping to pick up the empty cup, Kaufman crushed it with his fist, throwing the crumpled plastic into a nearby bin. The coffee trickled along the paving stones, finding its way to the grass and seeping into the soil.
'Thanks,' She replied, wincing at the pulsing pain.
'You should soak that in cold water,' He gestured to her hand, still obscured by the handkerchief. 'Wouldn't want to get a blister, I'm sure?'
'No.'
Fumbling with the sleeves of his shirt, the doctor turned to leave, his fancy shoes making their trademark clack upon the floor. Rolling his stiff shoulders, the older man paused to peer back at the nurse.
'Come and see me later, I may have some work for you.'
It was so unexpected that Lisa simply stood there gawking, her lips flapping uselessly as she tried to form words. After a moment of helpless silence, the girl gained enough confidence to finally answer him, deciding that there was really only one thing she could say.
'Thank you, I will.'