Page 68 of Burn Me Down

“My lips are sealed.” I smiled as she relaxed. “I better go, but it was good seeing you again.”

“Same,” Camryn said as I walked out the door. What was happening today? Never mind the stars not being aligned. It felt more like they were swirling around chaotically.

The ER was loud as I stepped into the nurse’s station and grabbed the next file on top. Flipping through the sheets, I saw there wasn’t much information. I pulled open the curtain, and a slim man sat on the bed. He smiled, and even though nothing was threatening about him, I kept my distance. I couldn’t say why, but on this weird ass day, anything was possible.

“Hi there, Mr. Grady. What brings you to the ER today?”

“Well, I haven’t been feeling right for some time now and thought I better come in,” he said, his voice causing the hair on the back of my neck to rise.

“What were you doing when you first started to feel unwell,” I asked, pen poised to take notes.

“I don’t really recall. It’s so long ago now.”

“Have you been outside of the United States in the last two weeks?”

“No.”

“Have you been near anyone sick in the last two weeks?”

“We’re all a little sick, don’t you think?” He chuckled, and I gave him a small smile, but I didn’t like his tone. It was too smooth and perfect, like a weird ass lullaby.

“Do you have any pain?”

“Only in my heart,” he said, holding out his arm as I picked up the blood pressure cuff.

“So you have chest pain?”

“Not really,” he said. I was thoroughly confused.

“I didn’t see a health card with your file. Do you have it with you today?” I looked at the pressure meter but could feel his eyes on the side of my face.

“No, I forgot to bring it with me,” he said as I ripped off the monitor, the Velcro loud in my ears.

“Well, your pressure is normal. I’ll have someone come and take your blood, Mr. Grady. See if we can get a better idea of what you have going on.

“Adam,” he said.

“I’m sorry?”

“My first name is Adam. I would prefer you to use it. I just like the sound of Adam. It’s very biblical. You know Adam and Eve? Tell me would you offer me the fruit?” He smiled and all the hair stood on my body, but I kept me face neutral.

Picking up my clipboard, I stepped out of the curtained room. “Sorry Adam but I need to get to the next patient. Busy in here today. I will send someone by to take blood, and I’ll talk to the doctor to see if he wants any other tests run.”

“Thank you….”

“Rebecca.”

“What a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.” I closed the curtain and marched away, feeling like bugs were crawling all over my skin. I glanced at the clock and didn’t know if I’d make it through the day if it kept up like this.

Derek

I dumped the last of the chocolate-covered peanuts into my mouth before stuffing the wrapper in my pocket.

“Do you think we should just blow it now before they find any of the devices,” Chase asked, and I glared at him out of the corner of my eye.

“Do I tell you how to run your MC?”