Code Blue

~ Chapter 3 ~

Chapter 3
Wednesday August 16th
Mallory's POV

Its day 3 of my surgical residency and I already am beginning to feel like I live at the hospital. I thought that feeling wouldn't arise for at least two weeks, but here we are. At least I was enjoying myself so far, well, somewhat. I loved what I was doing, but that first day with Mason and Camilla was still in the back of my mind. When I told Veronica about it and my fears that they might ruin my residency, she offered to beat them with a baseball bat. I told her I didn't think it would be necessary and I was probably overthinking it all, but she kept the offer on the table.

Yesterday's shift was better, in a sense. I continued to work on Mr. Delgado's case with Dr. Machado. Like she said, she ordered him an MRI, which confirmed my fear that he had a brain tumor. Although I was proud of myself for diagnosing correctly, It was rough to watch their faces when we broke the news to them. Because of the placement of the tumor, Mr. Delgado and his wife had to decide between surgery or a Gamma treatment.

Operating would've given him 5-10 years, but he would more than likely lose his memories and parts of himself. He would be alive, but he wouldn't be the person that he is now. The other option was to not operate surgically, but he would only have 3-5 years left.

I stood in the corner while Dr. Machado explained all of this to them. It was really hard for me to watch the heartbreak and despair on their faces, asking questions, and processing the hard information they were given. I thought that I prepared myself for tough conversations like that, but I didn't, because I ended up having a moment in the supply closet.

In the end, the two of them decided that surgery was their best choice, and Dr. Machado removed 99% of the tumor. She was unable to remove all of it, which she told them upfront, because of the fuzzy edges.

I wish that my first actual case would have been one with a better outcome...

On the other hand, I didn't have much interaction with either Camilla or Mason, because they were busy on different services yesterday. I was glad that I didn't have to hear any comments or abrupt questions from either one of them, but maybe they were just nervous on their first day and that's how they expressed themselves. I am willing to give them another chance, because after all, I do have to spend the next several years alongside them.

Right now Beau and I, as well as a bunch of other interns were in the locker room getting ready for the long day ahead of us. My long wavy hair was pulled back in a French braid that Veronica did for me last night on our debrief session. My face had just enough makeup on to hide the tiredness I was sporting, and my scrubs were freshly washed and ready to go.

I closed my locker door shut, waving to Isabella as she walked in the room. She surprised me by handing me a breakfast sandwich she obviously picked up along the way, and I graciously thanked her because I hadn't eaten this morning. Living in your car means you clearly don't have a kitchen, which means my food choices are very limited. No easy access to a microwave, stove, or toaster means typical breakfast items such as pancakes, toast, eggs, burritos, are out the window unless I make a stop somewhere. It's definitely a struggle when my food options are limited as it is, and now that I'll have even less time to myself, it'll only get worse.

"What? None for me?" Beau teased, handing his palm out.

Isabella bit her lip. "Uhmmm, here you can have mine"

"I'm just joking" Beau waved her off and chuckled. "I already ate"

Meanwhile I was shoving mine down my throat like I haven't eaten in days. To be fair, I really haven't had much since Monday morning.