Cake, speeches, a small gift and plenty of coffee. It was my farewell morning tea in the cafeteria. My practical placement was over and my assessment came with a glowing reference. The biggest surprise was Miranda, who I’d last seen when I helped to load her into a plane four weeks previously. A sleep-deprived man had his arm around her and in her arms was her tiny, sleeping daughter.
“We called her Felicity Belinda,” Miranda told me, shyly, as the man handed me a bunch of pink flowers.
Good luck dragon. What a name for a little girl. I smiled and thanked them both. I held the tiny child for as short a time as I felt was polite, before handing her back to her parents. As soon as I could, I intended to escape back to the ward to take care of patients. I did not like being the focus of so much attention, particularly when I was supposed to blend in.
I shook hands and smiled back at people until I managed to retreat into the corridor, where I bumped straight into Aidan. The crushed pink flowers sent up a heady cloud of scent.
“I’m so sorry, I wanted to make it to your morning tea, but I had to finish my rounds and there was this kid in the ED I had to take care of…” Aidan was at full speed in voice and motion.
I smiled reflexively and told him there was plenty of cake. I walked past him, headed back to the ward and my patients.
“Wait,” he said breathlessly. “When’s your last day?”
I stopped. “Today,” I answered.
“Have dinner with me again tonight?” he asked, anxiously.
I shrugged. I had no plans and was probably going to pick up some fish and chips again. “Okay.”
“I have to work till five, but I know your shift finishes earlier. Can I pick you up?” He sounded so eager.
I agreed. I headed up the corridor to my ward, whilst he entered the cafeteria in search of cake.
YOU ARE READING
Water and Fire - A Short Story
ChickLitWorking as a student midwife in an Australian country hospital is never easy, but Belinda finds more trouble than most. There's the intern doctor who follows her around like an overgrown puppy, the dangerous local wildlife and her own secrets she m...
