When I finish her medication check, I go straight to the administrative office. My boss, Dr. Collins, barely looks up from her computer when I knock.
“Morning, Kira,” she says. “You look tired.”
“Morning. I—uh—I wanted to ask if I could take a few days off.”
Her fingers pause on the keyboard. “Days off?”
“Just a few. Maybe a week.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You’ve never taken a week off in three years.”
I shift my weight, trying to sound casual. “I know. I just need to take care of something personal.”
“What kind of something?”
I hesitate. “Family,” I lie. “My brother’s going through a rough time.”
Her expression softens, but only for a second. “I wish I could approve it, but we’re short-staffed. You know how it is.”
“Please,” I say quietly. “I’ll make up the hours when I get back.”
She shakes her head. “You’re one of my best nurses, Kira. But right now, I can’t afford to lose you for a week.”
The words hit hard, even though I half expected them. “Right,” I say, forcing a small smile. “I understand.”
I leave the office before she can see the panic starting to rise in me.
In the break room, Lilly’s pouring herself coffee. She looks up the second I walk in. “Hey, stranger,” she sounds cheerful until she takes a closer look at me. “You okay?”
I nod too fast. “Yeah. Just tired.”
She hands me a cup anyway. “Is there something going on?”
I stir the coffee, staring at the swirl. “Just… family stuff. I might need to leave town for a bit.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “Is Lucas okay?”
I hate how easily the lie comes. “He’s not back yet and I don’t think I’m handling it that well, to be honest.”
“Kira,” she says softly, “you look like you haven’t slept.”
I take a sip of the coffee that tastes like guilt. “I’m fine, Lil. Really.”
She doesn’t believe me, but she lets it go.
The rest of the morning drags. I check charts, change IVs, smile for patients. Every time I look at my phone, the seconds feel heavier. By lunch, I can’t take it anymore so I step outside to the courtyard behind the ER entrance and dial his number.
He answers on the first ring. “Kira.”
I hate the way my name sounds in his voice, like he already knows what I’m about to say.
“I can’t come,” I tell him. “They won’t give me time off. I could lose my job.”
He’s quiet for a beat. “That’s unfortunate.”
“That’s not unfortunate, it’s my career.”
“You’ll come with me.”
