Eyes wide and like a gaping fish am suprised I didn't catch a fly in my mouth then , the chief had indeed handed over the baton to mr. Narcissist I met over there in the staff kitchen and judging by the wink he had sent my way mr. Jack Peter's as I have learnt is his name had gotten the exact reaction he wanted .
Well I finally figured out what he meant by "see you soon little girl" . But I was still pissed , just because he is an overachiever and became a consultant at such a young age doesn't give him the authority to call me a little girl. And if we weren't at work with an influx of patients from an accident this morning I might gave gone up to him and given him a piece of my mind. But alas here I was in a coffee stained blouse standing next to his overly perfect self being observed as I administer treatment to a nine year old boy , one of the victims badly affected by the clash between the school bus and a truck. Taking my anger down a notch I sympathized with this little boy who only wanted to get to school as I stiched the gaping wound on his leg in the ER.
A scream coming from the other end of the ER revealed all one needed to know . Another one had been lost , a little child gone from the arms of their parents snatched away by the wicked talons of death all because of another's mistake . The truck driver was said to have been driving under the influence he said it was solely to stay awake as he had been driving all night long. The man had survived sustaining some injuries, a blow to the head , broken arms and a crushed ankle. That's better than what most parents got from their kids cause some were already gone before they could be brought here.
Done with the stitches a nurse handed me the sterilized gauze and some plaster to close up the wound and we left to attend to other casualties of the fatal accident.
At around lunch break the cases had been tamed but the cries and screams of sorrow hadn't, it was a bus carrying 56 school children both middle schoolers and kindergarten students and 10 had died along with the driver . One would think working at a hospital would shroud you in apathy but that was never the case at least for me, everytime something like this happens it feels like it's the first especially accidents like this which tends to rip out the bandaid used to cover old wounds. Rubbing my hands on my eyes to clear the blurry vision and tune out the voices , I walk robotically towards the cafeteria gently declining Eric's invitation to join them at 'Charlie's ' a diner down the street. Fetching a tray I take little portions of everything faintly aware of the dark clutches of PTSD pulling me into a dark place .
Letting out a shaky breath I count to 10 and make my way to a table at the far corner of the cafeteria nearly tripping on air as my nerves try to get the best of me. A figure takes a seat next to me and I look up to meet the eyes of the new chief , clearing my throat I arm myself with sarcasm. A weapon and shield I have mastered over the years , always came through whenever it seemed like my emotions were too much on display to avoid the raising of eyebrows and people trying to investigate on matters clearly not of their concern .
" what? Falling for me already " I asked to earn a raised eyebrow and calculating eyes trying to decipher my emotions. Too little too late, had he tried that 5 seconds earlier he would have hit the jackpot but the indifferent facade I learned from my nona when she forced me to attend events with her had come In handy.
Flashing me a boyish grin he replied
"Are you okay? thought you had a stroke from how long your mouth was open this morning "
"Nice one , but you know what would have been nicer " I paused for dramatic effect " introducing yourself "
"Well how about we start anew"
"Uh, okay not really sure what you mean but why not"
"Hi am jack Peters new chief Incharge of the pedratic department resident team" he said sticking his hand out
"Well am Ashira Del a Rosa nice to meet you" I shook his outstretched hand and a chuckle escaped my lips
" that wasn't so hard now was it little girl"
"No it wasn't but if you call me little girl again i will stab you with my fork"
"What I think its cute" he pouted, actually freaking pouted
"Am 5'6 not little in any way am the size of the average girl , infactam a grown woman"
" okay okay, by the way saw what you did today your skills are really neat and the fact that you didn't falter shows that you are a keeper"
"Yeah thanks I know"
"Such humility how will you ever cope" he said dramatically hands on his forehead
"Yeah I will live" I replied as I stood up to exit but a call of my name stopped me in my tracks.
"Ashira, I can call you that right "
"Yeah sure Jack " I say trying out his first name and the amused glint returned to his eyes
"Want to have dinner and a movie with me tomorrow night "
" um, sure why not"
"Well I will pick you up at 8 just scribble your number and address over here okay" he said handing me a piece of paper and pen . I wrote down my number and address and walked out the cafeteria doing a mental happy dance that I've got a date with a hot guy. I was also aware that during the span of the conversation my PTSD kinda stopped, well not permanently but one thing I have learned in life is never to look a gift horse In the mouth.
********
Meanwhile in HR a deal had already been made wearing a red check shirt and jeans was Damian Kingston shaking hands with mr Warren head of HR
" thank you mr. Warren "
" it will be a pleasure to work with someone of your caliber "
"So when am I expected to call in" his rich deep voice asked
"Tomorrow "
"Well see you tomorrow " he replied black back pack slung on one shoulder as he exited the room. Made way down the stairs and towards the door feeling eyes on him . The female gender had always been that way towards him for as long as he could remember , immediately he walked through the double doors that lead outside he pulled his black shades on the 5o'clock shadow aiding his carefree appearance.
Remember appearances can be decieving..