She hit the table with a loud bang but quieted down when she saw that her show had attracted the curious stares of the other workers.
“You don’t mean it.” She said in a hushed tone, pulling her seat closer to the table, visibly brimming with unbridled excitement.
“I wish I was making things up,” I replied coldly.
“But you don't look happy about it.” She cast me a riveting look, barely taking her eyes off mine.
“Just indifferent.” I shrugged, leaning back. “It’s just another job. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “If I didn’t know any better, I would have written you off as a killjoy. What do you mean by, you're indifferent about it? I would literally be over the moon if I could trade places with you right now.”
“I actually did try passing it on to another nurse, but the chief wouldn’t even hear of it.”
“I think we need to send you up to the psych team. You need to be checked out.”
I smiled drily, “Mel, you wouldn’t understand, so let's just drop the topic.”
“You don’t always have to be so prim and professional. Just loosen up and enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“I will keep that in mind. For now, I am so hungry.”
I successfully ended the argument as Melony walked over to the counter to pick my lunch. According to her, as Kevin’s nurse, she needed to treat me like a celebrity as well.
***
I barely slept a wink the previous night. My mind kept mulling over my present reality and replaying different scenarios. I needed to find a way to separate my emotions from my job. It was imperative that I did so. I couldn’t afford to trudge around like a bear with a sore head. So, I needed to see Kevin as a patient and not as the guy who hurt me… deeply.
Corbin offered to drive us to the Brown Estate. We first reported at the hospital together and got the final briefings from the Chief before we left.
“Michaels, you have been clenching your fist so hard since we left the hospital that it's almost white,” Corbin pointed out, taking his eyes off the road for a second.
I didn’t even realize I was doing that.
“Oh… didn’t notice.” I said with a weak smile.
He studied me briefly. “I don’t mean to pry, but what’s up with you? First you almost backed down from a golden opportunity yesterday under the guise of assisting with surgeries, and now this?”
“I’m good, Corbin. Just a little down. That's all.” I replied brusquely but convincingly, turning to the other side.
He didn’t push further, and I appreciated that. Someone like Melony would have worn me out with interrogations.
“It’s all good, if you say so. Want some music?” He smiled charmingly.
“Sure.” I nodded absentmindedly, peering out of the window while resting my jaw on my right hand.
“Any particular song request?”
He was really trying so hard to cheer me up.
“Uhm, something soft and soulful would be perfect.” I added without looking his way.
He selected a song, and soon the melody filled the car, making us hum along to the relaxing rhythm.
Corbin was a jolly fellow. Good looking and with the right physique, but I had never seen him as anything other than a colleague.
Since I worked closely with doctors from his department, we had met on several occasions, but that was just it. Every time he started off a conversation that wasn’t based on work, I was quick to change the subject.
“Here we are,” he finally announced, wheeling into the estate.
