He walked over to the old man, took one look at him, and carefully helped him to his feet. The woman gave an irritated little huff that said exactly what she thought of the whole thing. “Lean on me,” the young man said. “Easy now. Let’s get you into the car.”
Elena grabbed the old canvas shopping bag from the bench and hurried after them. “You’re really doing this?” the woman said. “Open the door,” Mike said sharply.
“What are you waiting for? He needs help.” “You don’t have to bark at me,” she shot back, but she opened the door anyway.
“Watch your head,” Mike said, helping the man into the back seat. “I’m not riding in the same car with him,” his companion announced. “Then stay here and call yourself a ride,” Mike said.
“Get in,” he told Elena. She tossed the bag onto the seat and climbed in. The car pulled away fast.
“Which hospital?” Mike asked. “City General, Building Six. I work there.” Elena pulled out her phone and quickly called the charge desk.
“Hi, this is Elena. Is Susan on duty? Thank goodness. We’re a few minutes out with a critical patient. Can you have a gurney waiting at the entrance?” Elena had only been working at the hospital a short time, but she had already built a reputation as someone competent and steady under pressure.
Medicine hadn’t been a random choice for her. Her late mother had always dreamed that her daughter would wear scrubs and work in healthcare. Elena lost her mother when she was just seventeen.
After that, her older sister became her legal guardian, though she had little real interest in raising a teenager. At first Elena got dragged along into her sister’s nightlife and bad decisions, but eventually she pulled herself together, remembered what she wanted, and went back to her books. By the time Mike’s car pulled up to the ER entrance, a team with a gurney was already waiting.
Elena jumped out, opened the rear door, and pointed the staff toward the patient. The orderlies moved quickly and transferred the old man onto the gurney. “Please move fast,” she said.
Then she turned to Mike and held out her jewelry. “Please take this. I owe you.” “Keep it,” he said. “Just make sure he pulls through.
And I’m sorry for how I acted at first. When you stepped in front of my car, my heart stopped for a second.” “No offense taken,” Elena said. “Put yourself in my shoes. I panicked, and I’m supposed to be the calm one.”
She didn’t tell a stranger that what had really hit her was an old, familiar terror. Years earlier, that same helpless feeling had been there when her mother died. Back then, she hadn’t known the first thing about emergency care.
That wound had led her straight into medical school. “Could I get your number?” Mike asked unexpectedly. “I’d like to know whether the old guy makes it, if that’s okay.”
“Sure,” Elena said. “Here’s my card. Call if you want an update.” She thanked him again, and they parted.
When she stepped back inside, she ran straight into Susan, the head of the surgical unit. “Hi,” Elena said, even though they had just spoken on the phone. “How’s the gentleman we brought in? Is he stable?” “He’s upstairs in ICU.
Looks like a cardiac event. They’ve started fluids and treatment, and he should settle down. Is he family?” “No.
I only have my sister left, and we’re not close. I was waiting for the bus when he got sick. He did mention he has cancer.”
“That’s rough. We need to find out whether he has family so no one starts worrying. Can you handle that?” “Of course.”
“And while you’re at it, check on the patients in room three. Mr. Sanders is at it again. He wants his treatment plan reviewed. Says we’re not following protocol.
Apparently he read somewhere that his condition calls for a completely different medication.” “No problem. I’ll do rounds, then stop by ICU and check on my patient’s numbers.”
“Good work, Elena. What you did today was a genuinely decent thing. With that kind of heart, you’ll go far in medicine.” “I hope so,” Elena said. “Time will tell.”
With a small smile, she slipped into the staff room. Pulling on a fresh white coat and gathering a stack of charts, she headed off to do her job. She truly loved caring for people.
She believed saving lives was the one thing she was meant to do. The moment she stepped into room three, Mr. Sanders was ready for her. “Elena, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I heard you had concerns,” she said. “What’s bothering you now? And how are you feeling overall?”
