Josie
The nurse's station buzzed with the usual mix of chatter and paperwork. I flipped through patient charts, scanning each one to ensure I hadn't missed anything. My shift was busy but manageable, with the occasional interruption of someone asking for supplies or a quick consult on medication dosages.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two of my colleagues whispering at the far end of the desk. Their voices were low, but the name josh caught my attention. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it was hard to ignore when I was standing right there.
"Did you see his file?" one of them said, a tone of awe in her voice. "His family owns that huge electronics company. What's it called? Titan Engineering?"
"Yeah, I heard the same thing," the other replied. "And apparently, they're close to Dr. Park the owner of this hospital. That's probably why he's in a private room. Must be Nice to have that kind of influence."
I frowned and turned my focus back to my charts, pretending not to hear. Gossip wasn't uncommon here, but something about it irked me. Josh didn't seem like the type to flaunt his status. If anything, he came off as… grounded.
"He's not bad-looking either," one of them added with a soft laugh. "Too bad he's injured—otherwise, I'd—"
"Can we focus on our jobs, please?" I interrupted, unable to hold back any longer. I glanced at them with a pointed look.
The two nurses exchanged sheepish smiles and quickly returned to their own work. I sighed and finished updating the charts before heading out to check on my patients.
The rest of my shift passed in a blur of rounds and routine care. I checked vital signs, administered medications, and reassured anxious family members. But despite the chaos, my thoughts kept drifting back to Josh.
His siblings had been so warm and protective when I met them earlier. It was clear they were a close-knit family. And Josh himself—he didn't fit the image I'd conjured in my mind when I first heard his background. He wasn't demanding or entitled. If anything, he seemed… normal. Polite, even.
I shook the thought away as I entered another patient's room. There was no point dwelling on him. He was just another patient under my care, nothing more.
By the time my shift ended, I felt the familiar exhaustion creeping in. I grabbed my bag from the staff locker room and headed out, grateful for the cool evening air.
My phone buzzed in my pocket as I walked toward the bus stop. I glanced at the screen and smiled. Dad.
"Hey, Dad," I answered, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.
"Adesewa!'' my dad likes calling me by my Yoruba name. "How's my favorite nurse doing?"
"Tired, but I'm okay," I replied. "How's everything at home?"
"Good, good," he said. "John's been hitting the books hard for his exams. He says he'll ace them, but you know your brother he's always so confident." My brother is preparing for his final exams in highschool and wants to study law in college.
I laughed softly. "Sounds like John. Tell him I'm rooting for him."
"I will. So, when are you coming home? We miss you around here."
I hesitated, glancing at the time. "Soon, I promise. Work's just been… hectic."
"Don't work yourself too hard," Dad said, his voice full of concern. "We'll be here when you're ready."
"I know. Thanks, Dad."
We said our goodbyes, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket as the bus pulled up.
That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't shake the image of Josh from my mind. It wasn't just his injuries or his family's wealth that lingered in my thoughts. It was the way he carried himself despite everything—calm, composed, and even a little self-deprecating.
I rolled onto my side, staring at the faint outline of the ceiling in the dark. Maybe it was because I'd been surrounded by so many demanding patients in the past, but Josh was different. He didn't treat me like I was beneath him or as if I owed him anything.
I didn't know much about him beyond what I'd overheard and what little he'd said to me. But something about him intrigued me, and that thought stayed with me as I drifted off to sleep.