a glimmer of hope

9.

Season 4 x 05
About a Boy

working the night shift meant dealing with a lot of drunk patients. even on my worst drunken nights i don't end up stumbling into the emergency room. i never craved that saline IV. i usually ended up someone's bed. or in the other days case, half naked on a certain someone's couch.
i ran toward my patient, holding a barf bag in my hand. i held it wide open, aiming it under her mouth.
she let out a groan, puking colours that shouldn't be seen out into this bag.
it reeked of tequila.
"it's okay, girl" i sighed, rubbing her back.
i held onto her hair as she gave it another go.
in all honesty, i felt bad for her. her eyeshadow was smearing off her eyes and her extensions were popping out from her hair.
i tossed the puke in a biohazard bin, adjusting her IV drip.
"how's the tylenol helping your headache?" i asked her
"it's ok" she sighed, laying her head back on the bed.
i went over to the computer, updating her chart.
4:31: patient vomited 3 times. alcohol, not reaction to medication. nausea and headache relieved with tylenol given an hour prior. saline IV drip adjusted to 70 dpm. patient beginning to fall asleep.
"alright, i'll check on you in a few minutes, but my best advice is to sleep this one off, okay?"
she nodded her head as i closed her curtain.
—————
6:27: patient awake and alert. pupils are no longer dialated and blood alcohol is better. no vomiting since two hours prior. patient is encouraged to drink lots of water and is ready for discharge.
i ran a brush through my patients hair, reclining her extensions in. a half hour ago, i helped her wash off her makeup.
"thank you, nurse"
"i know what this feels like"
"really?"
"i feel stupid"
"we all get trashed"
"but, what the hell, it's important to have fun out"
"i appreciate this a lot"
"it's my job" i smiled
"you're off to go" i added, helping her off the gurney.
"thank you so much nurse cassandra"
"stay hydrated" i waved as she walked down the hallway.
————
after work, i found myself in a particular direction. it was weird because i hadn't seen or heard from quinn in a couple days.
i knocked on the door a series of times.
"quinn?"
"open this damn door" i groaned
i knocked a few more times.
"he moved out about a week ago" a voice said from behind me
i turned around, a red headed lady stood in front of me.
"i guess i should've checked my messages before coming here" i smiled
"do you know where he went?"
"no idea" she shrugged
he was probably gone for work again. the other day, he said he wasn't going to quit after all, but i didn't know how serious he was about it all.
"sorry, are you cassandra?" the lady asked
"yeah" i nodded, slightly weirded out.
i had no idea who this lady was.
"quinn would talk about you"
i raised an eyebrow
"i'm the manager here, he was really bad at paying his rent" she smiled
i smiled
"sounds like him"
"you're a lucky girl" she smiled
"quinn and i are complicated most of the time"
"i'm busy and-"
"i don't know" i smiled, shrugging
"i didn't know he was leaving"
i looked down at my feet, then back up at her.
"could i get in here by chance?"
"i know it was trashed last time i was in here and-"
"it's no problem" she nodded, walking toward the door.
she took a set of keys and unlocked it.
"just close the door when you're done"
i nodded my head.
"you have a good day, cassandra" she smiled
"thank you"
"you too" i waved
what the fuck.
i went into the room and took out my phone.
sure enough, the place still had bottles lying around.
13 new messages
"cass, just wanted to let you know i didn't quit my job and i'm moving back to pakistan.. i don't know how long but, they need me there"
goddamn pakistan.