Josie
The smell of fried plantains hit me the moment I stepped through the front door of my family home, and it felt like a warm hug. I couldn't help but smile. Home always had a way of making me feel like a little girl again, even when I was dragging a tired body through the doorway after a long week.
"Josie!" My mom's voice rang out from the kitchen. "You're back!"
I dropped my bag by the door and walked into the kitchen, where my mom stood at the stove, flipping plantains in the pan. She turned to me, a smile spreading across her face. Her arms opened, and I leaned in for a hug.
"You look so tired," she said, holding me at arm's length to inspect me.
"It's been a long week," I admitted, sinking into one of the chairs at the dining table. "But I finally have two days off."
"Good. You need to rest," she said, turning back to the stove. "You've been working too hard."
"Tell me about it," I muttered, rubbing my neck.
My dad's voice boomed from the living room. "Is that my daughter I hear?"
I laughed, getting up to greet him. He was sitting in his usual spot, his reading glasses perched on his nose as he flipped through a newspaper.
"Hi, Dad," I said, leaning down to hug him.
"You look thinner," he said, frowning. "Are you eating enough?"
"Dad, please," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm fine."
"Hmm," he said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, it's good to have you home. Your brother's been asking about you nonstop."
"Speaking of John," I said, looking around, "where is he?"
"In his room," my dad said, pointing down the hall.
I headed toward my brother's room, knocking on the door before pushing it open. John was sprawled on his bed, headphones on and a gaming controller in his hands.
"Josie!" he exclaimed when he saw me, dropping the controller and jumping up to hug me.
"Hey, buddy," I said, ruffling his hair. "How've you been?"
"Good," he said, pulling me over to sit on the bed. "But it's been boring without you here. Mom and Dad won't let me do anything fun."
I laughed. "I'm sure that's not true."
"It is," he insisted. "They're so strict."
"Well, someone has to keep you in line," I teased.
We spent the next hour catching up, with John filling me in on his school, his friends, and his latest gaming achievements. It felt good to just relax and talk, with no patients to check on, no charts to update, and no alarms ringing in the background.
Later that evening, we all gathered around the dining table for dinner. It was simple rice, plantains, and grilled fish but it was perfect. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and teasing.
"This is what you needed," my mom said, watching me from across the table. "A break from work."
"I know," I said, smiling. "I missed this."
After dinner, I helped my mom with the dishes, listening as she shared updates about her friends and the neighborhood. Once the kitchen was clean, I stepped out into the backyard, the cool evening air a welcome contrast to the warmth inside.
As I looked up at the stars, I felt a sense of calm I hadn't felt in a while. Work had been overwhelming lately, and while I loved being a nurse, it was easy to get caught up in the stress of it all.
Being home reminded me of why I worked so hard to give back to my family, to make them proud, and to create a future where I could care for them as much as they cared for me.
Tomorrow, I'd head back to the city and return to the chaos of the hospital. But for tonight, I let myself breathe.
************
The moon hung high in the night sky as I tied my hair back and prepared for my night shift. Night shifts had a different rhythm, quieter but longer, with hours that seemed to stretch endlessly. Tonight would be the first of three straight night shifts, and while I had enjoyed my time off, I wasn't sure I was ready to dive back in.
I grabbed my bag, double-checked that I had my ID badge, and headed out the door. The cool night air nipped at my skin as I walked toward the hospital. By the time I arrived, the hallways were dimly lit, and the usual daytime bustle had been replaced with a calm stillness.
At the nurses' station, the day shift team was wrapping up their handover. I skimmed through the patient charts they handed over, noting that a couple of my patients had been discharged during the day. It meant fewer rounds, which was a blessing on a night like this.
Once the day nurses left, I began my routine. I did a quick round, checking on my patients to ensure they were settled for the night. Most of them were already asleep or quietly reading. I then prepared the night medications, making notes of what needed to be administered later.
When I finally entered Josh's room, he was awake, sitting up slightly and scrolling through his phone.
"Good evening," I said softly, careful not to disturb the quiet atmosphere.
He looked up, his lips curving into a faint smile. "You're back."
"Yes, I am. Did you miss me?" I teased lightly, checking his chart.
"A little," he admitted, his voice holding a playful tone. "But don't let it get to your head."
I smirked, setting his chart aside. "How have you been? Did you survive the weekend without me?"
He chuckled. "Barely. But my mom brought some home-cooked food yesterday, so I finally got a break from the hospital meals."
"Ah, so she came to your rescue," I said, smiling. "What did she bring?"
"Jollof rice and fried chicken. You'd think I hadn't eaten in weeks with how quickly I cleared my plate," he said, a boyish grin on his face.
"I bet that was a nice change," I said, pulling a stool closer to his bed. "Hospital food can only do so much."
"You're not wrong," he said, leaning back against the pillows. "What about you? How were your off days?"
"They were good," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I went home to visit my parents and my brother, John. It was nice to spend some time with them, even if it was just for two days."
"That sounds… peaceful," he said, his tone softer now.
"It was. My mom cooked all my favorite meals, and my brother wouldn't stop talking about his video games and his upcoming exams," I said with a laugh.
Josh was about to respond when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his expression softened. "It's my mom. Excuse me for a moment."
"Of course," I said, leaning back to give him privacy.
He spoke quietly into the phone, his voice warm as he reassured his mother about something. It wasn't the words that caught my attention, though it was what she called him.
"Ireoluwa," she said, her voice faint but distinct through the phone.
Ireoluwa. It wasn't a name I'd heard anyone use for him before. When he ended the call and set the phone down, I couldn't help but ask.
"Ireoluwa?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
He looked at me, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Yeah, that's my Yoruba name. My mom always calls me that. It means 'God's blessing.'"
"It's beautiful," I said, letting the name roll off my tongue. "Why don't you use it more often?"
He shrugged. "I guess Josh is easier for most people to pronounce. Plus, it feels… less formal."
"I don't know," I said, tilting my head. "I think Ireoluwa suits you. It has a nice ring to it."
He gave me a small smile, his eyes searching mine. "Thanks. Not many people say that."
"Well, I'm not most people," I said, giving him a playful wink.
The conversation flowed naturally after that, moving from his childhood to my own, from stories of our families to random musings about life. For the first time in a while, the hours on a night shift didn't feel so long.
When I finally left his room to check on my other patients, I couldn't shake the warmth his presence left behind. Something about him felt different tonight lighter, more open. Maybe it was just the quiet of the night, or maybe… it was something more.