"Mrs McKenzie, I'm here!" Mary called as she entered the small apartment, carrying her medical bag with her and shutting the door quietly, careful not to startle Mrs McKenzie. She was a fragile old lady and certainly had a temper on her when she needed it. The smell of mint humbugs and the lemon diffusor Mary brought her for Christmas lingered in the whole apartment. The tv was on quietly in the background, playing the latest episode of Paradise. A soap opera about a neighbourhood in Maryland and the drama and gossip that runs over the five main family's that live there. It's a decent piece of tv to watch if you have nothing to do all day which is exactly what Mrs McKenzie did.
As expected, Mrs McKenzie was sat in her plush chair directly in front of the tv, her warm fluffy slippers over her feet and her favourite blank draped over her lap. Her thick glasses rested on the bridge of her nose as she intently watched the show, a grin on her face. She lived for this show. It was probably the only thing going for her otherwise she'd be asleep all day, dozed off without a care in the world. If they ever watch this show, the old lady would have a heart attack.
She didn't bat an eyelid as Mary walked into her small lounge room, dumping her medical bag on the floor. There was a small glass of water beside her on the little table along with her box of tissues and small jar of mint humbugs she loved to suck on now and then. Mary checked the time on her small watch hanging from her pocket above her breast, ensuring it was the correct time for her to take her medication.
"How are you to- ".
"Shush" she was immediately cut off my Mrs McKenzie, her wrinkly bony finger silencing her as she stared at the tv. Mary zipped her lips and waited a minute, looking between her and the tv. There was some sort of argument going on between two of the characters, Debbie, and Casandra. Suddenly Debbie slapped Casandra, the two fighting with hair pulling and scratching until Tom the husband of Casandra forced himself between them, breaking them up. The show cut to its advert, and Mrs McKenzie chuckled, leaning back in her chair.
"I never liked that Casandra" she murmured, and Mary giggled, shaking her head a little. This woman and her programme.
"Now what were you saying dear?" she said sweetly to Mary as if she hadn't just shushed her so she could watch her programme. Mary took a seat in the chair next to her, smiling at her.
"I was saying how are you today?" Mary said softly.
"Oh, you know, same old, still stuck in this hellhole" Mary stood and wandered into the tiny kitchen to gather her medication. It was kept in box with the days of the week on it, each little compartment a different colour. Before she had this, Mrs McKenzie was constantly losing her medication, finding packets fallen at the back of her cupboards, pressed between the cushions of her plush chair or fallen underneath her bed. The box was a good idea and it helped Mary to know which medications she had taken already.
"It could be worse; you could be in one of those care homes" Mary pointed out from the kitchen, raising her voice loud enough for Mrs McKenzie to hear and she heard the discomfort of Mrs McKenzie.
"Oh god no, I couldn't think of anything worse, whatever you do, do not put me in one of those" Mrs McKenzie said with a warning, looking at Mary hard from over her glasses as she came back over.
"You know I won't do that" Mary handed her the two small tablets she fished from today's compartment and held her glass of water for her. She swallowed them with ease, rinsing them down with the water and thanking her politely. Mrs McKenzie was too comfortable and put together to be put in a care home. She was perfectly able to look after herself, but she required some assistance.
Being a nurse was something Mary dreamed about when she was a little girl. It was either that or becoming a vet. She was always saving little birds in her garden, helping injured squirrels or hedgehogs, and nursing them back to health. She remembers vividly that day she rescued a baby hedgehog from being eaten by the family dog Buster. She had made the little thing a warm cosy nest in an old shoe box and kept him safe in her bedroom without her parents knowing. She'd spend every waking moment with the cute little hedgehog and even gave him a name, spikey. A classic for a hedgehog. The day she set him back off home when he recovered was a sad one for her, but she was happy to see him go back to his family.
But as she grew older and her love for animals increased, she realised that becoming a vet was a lot of work and she would hate to have to put any animal down. She couldn't live with herself if she did. Not only that but a couple years before attending university, her mother was diagnosed with stage three cancer. There wasn't much that could be done to remove the cancer despite the hospital trying everything. But her mother couldn't keep fighting any longer and passed when Mary was just sixteen, leaving her and her father. So, she chose the route of becoming a nurse. Mary grew up in a Christian household. Her parents were heavily religious people, with her mother working at the local church and her father now a retired cop. They were a typical Christian family. Of course her parents named after the Virgin Mary. Her older brother Tyler moved to California with his wife after marrying her and have two beautiful boys. Every Sunday they would attend church and help with fundraisers and bake sales held by the church. Mary did everything the bible said. Every night she said her prayers, she blessed her food, she thanked God for everything he has done and continued to do. She never once did anything against the bible. Never smoked, never gambled, and of course never sinned. She was the perfect student in school, of course going to an all-Christian girl's school in her pleated plaid skirt and white shirt with her knee-high socks. She was everything a Christian girl would be.
Even during her university days, she was never as wild as some of the girls there were. She never went out on benders getting smashed and waking up in stranger's beds. Of course, she had a drink here and there, but the bible doesn't accept getting drunk and the last thing she'd want to do is anger God.
After studying for three years in California, she moved back to her hometown of Brooklyn New York to work at the hospital. She worked there for a couple of years before becoming a field nurse and helping the community. Her family did so much for it whilst she was growing up and she felt she needed to give as well and after her mother's death, she knew she wanted to help as many people as she could after going what she went through. From time to time, she works a small shift at the local hospital, helping with staff shortages and caring for patients that need it the most. It was her dream come true.
But the pay wasn't the best. Her extra shifts at the hospital helped with the bills and kept her going but she rarely had money to spend on herself. It was always bills first, car payments and food. She can't remember the last time she treated herself to anything. Her clothes were getting a bit old, but she had no money to buy new ones and her apartment was costing her a fortune with everything breaking all the time. One day it's the heating, the next it's the oven, then the bathroom. It was never ending.
Mary loved her job. She loved seeing the smile on peoples face when she cared for them, ensuring patients had a smooth journey when they came to the hospital and keeping them company. Some of these elderly patients of hers never had any visitors and she was the only person they would talk to and being a Christian girl, she was to be kind to everyone and love thy neighbour. Mrs McKenzie was one of them. Her husband died ten years ago, and they never had any children. She didn't have any company until Mary came.
She had gotten into an accident falling down the stairs in their house. She had done a number on herself what with breaking her leg and cutting her head open. She was brought to the hospital when a neighbour was concerned and called for an ambulance when they found her unconscious on the floor, bleeding. Mary was the one to care for her in the hospital. They had created a bond that Mary would cherish forever and since then she had come to see her every week, helping her with her meds, changing her dressings when required and providing her a different face to talk to. Over the years she had grown a bit cranky, but Mary didn't mind, it was her personality and she loved it.
"So, then what's new?" Mrs McKenzie asked, relaxing back in her chair, resting her head back and clasping her fingers together.
"Oh, not much, same old" Mary shrugged. Lately it had all been about work. She hadn't had much time or money to go out with her friends which she would have liked but right now she didn't have the funds for it.
"Don't tell me you've been sat at that apartment of yours like an old coot and doing nothing" Mrs McKenzie scolded, and Mary blushed a little, unable to hide her truth. Mrs McKenzie sighed, shaking her head.
"You know what you need to do, find a man" she pointed.
"Mrs McKenzie- ".
"Now hang on dear, let me finish. You need to find yourself a good man to take you out and show you a good time. Back in my day we had…" Mary rolled her eyes, laughing softly as Mrs McKenzie began one of her rants. If she had a dollar for every time she said 'back in my day' she'd probably afford to go out.
"I haven't had time" Mary tried to make an excuse. It wasn't that she didn't have time, she had plenty of time. It was more than she hadn't found someone that sparked her interest. All the boys were the same, either a fuck boy or some werido. The last time she went on a date was probably about nine months ago and since then it's been a few swipes on Tinder and then nothing more.
Mary was a shy girl. She had long blonde hair with soft bangs at the front and bright blue/green eyes with long lashes. She had plump pink lips and a perfect set of teeth. She always wore her tiny cross around her neck, never taking it off expect for work at the hospital or in the shower. It was one her mother gave her before she passed and she always kept it with her. Around her friends she was more outgoing and talked more but upon first meeting her, she was quieter than a mouse. Not only that but you could say she was… innocent. Being a Christian, the bible strictly forbids sex before marriage and sins of any natures. She hadn't much experience with boys, especially going to an all-girls school and in her college days, she didn't do what the other girls were doing which was kissing every boy around the corner. She spent most of her time in her dorm, studying, praying and staying away from the troubles awaiting out there. She could be a little ditzy at times, not quite understanding the latest slangs or keeping up to date with the gossip spreading around the town. She was stuck in her little world of Christianity and a life of obeying God. And she wouldn't change it for anything.
"Now don't give me that bullshit" Mary burst into a laughter at Mrs McKenzie's swearing. The old lady had a fire inside her that sometimes couldn't be tamed. She was like a grandmother to Mary, always full of wisdom and answers to her problems and a great laugh. She could always cheer Mary up whenever she was feeling down.
"I'm serious, I've been struggling with the bills lately, but I think I'm back on track" Mary said a little sadly.
"I keep telling you to get a job in a private practice or one of those private hospitals, you'd make more money and not have to spend your time in this dump".
"But then I wouldn't see you, and then you'd have to go to a care home" Mary gave her a sideways glance, her lips turning into a smirk.
"What! Absolutely not, I'll die before I go to one of those" Mary giggled, and Mrs McKenzie gave a faint smile to her.
"How's your leg, does it need redressing?" Mary sunk to the ground, holding up Mrs McKenzie's right leg and pulling her skirt up to reveal the very clean bandage she had applied the other day. It looked well and the skin had turned less purple than it was a few days ago which meant it was healing.
"The meds are helping but the morning is the worst" Mary frowned and dropped her leg slowly as to not hurt her, standing up and straightening her blue scrubs out.
"I'll ask the doctor if he can get you something for the morning to stop it hurting so much" she suggested, and Mrs McKenzie smiled at her.
"Thank you, Mary" her fiery temper had now become dormant, and her sweetness erupted instead. This woman could go from one to a hundred with the click of your fingers.
Mary stayed for another fifteen minutes, brewing up a cup of tea for Mrs McKenzie and sharing a biscuit from her special tin. It was round and had two border collie puppies on the front. She kept the tin under her chair as she was paranoid the other carers that sometimes came by when Mary wasn't available would steal it. Mary insisted that wasn't the case but there was no stopping this lady. Paradise played on in the background, but Mrs McKenzie didn't take notice. Mary made a mental note to rewind it before she left, knowing if she didn't get her fix of Paradise, she'd be a cranky lady for the next time she visited.
"Well, I better be off now, you got my number if any- "for the third time she was cut off with a wave of her hand.
"Yes, yes I got your number, not that I know how to work this bloody thing" Mary smiled kindly at her and picked up her bag.
"Now next time you come back I want to hear a man's name coming from your mouth" Mrs McKenzie ordered, and Mary scoffed, shaking her head.
"Mrs McKenzie, you are too much" she murmured and picked up the remote, rewinding her programme to the beginning of the second half.
"Let me know what happens yeah" she said but she didn't get an answer as Mrs McKenzie was now engrossed in the conversation between Rosa and Camille. Mary slung her bag over her shoulder and left the apartment, walking down the hallway to the elevator. She was all finished here and had another patient to attend to which was about fifteen minutes away. She hummed softly to herself as the elevator descended, reaching the bottom floor, and pinging open.
The sun shone brightly, almost blinding her as she stepped out into the warm blaze. It had just passed spring and was now turning to a hot summer. People were turning from the thin jackets to strappy tops and shorts, the increase of skin showing significantly. There was a light breeze as Mary jogged out of the building, the warmth from the sun slowly giving her skin a glow as if she had been under the sunbed. She was an easy girl to tan. She had that skin that even when burned would turn into a great tan a day later. She was lucky. Some only burned and turned into a red-hot mess, looking like a tomatoe. Not her though. Mary stared at her phone as she walked across the parking lot to her little polo parked in an awkward spot. Parking was not her forte, especially parallel. She only did it once on her driving test and since then she never done it again. But hey, her car wasn't blocking anyone's, and the parking lot was pretty empty. It's not like the residents here were driving around.
Mary kept her head down, staring into her screen, unaware of her surroundings when suddenly she felt herself walk into something hard, or should she say someone. A high gasp and a grunt came from her and the person in front, knocking her back slightly. There was a clatter of objects, one being her phone, another being her bag and she stumbled backwards, her feet losing their balance until a strong hand grabbed her, pulling her back to safety.
Mary looked up with wide eyes, her body freezing, and eyes locked with bright blue ones.
Hey I hope you like the first chapter, let me know what you think in the reviews