Meeting him

I yawned for the umpteenth time. This evening is tiring. Rather, I was tired. I've been on my feet since morning. “Why on earth did I agree to cover Tessa’s shift this evening?”

Tessa, my feisty ginger haired colleague, whose personality soothed that of a sexy bar attendant since she flirted with almost all good-looking male patients and doctors. It's a wonder how she made it out of college and became an ER nurse. No harm there, not that I minded covering her either. I was already used to the chaos of the emergency room, and I had no social life. Sue me. People leave at the end, and I hate getting attached.

The scent of dried blood and antiseptic wafted through my nose as I walked past the corridors to my cubicle. You'd think I should be used to it by now, but no, that isn't the case. But I'm surviving, and my job is fulfilling. It's a win-win situation for me.

I was about to start my rounds for the night. Grateful that there were only a few patients, so I could take a quick nap. That idea flew away as soon as the hospital doors burst open with a bunch of paramedics rolling in a patient on a stretcher, one on top performing CPR.”

“What's the Emergency?,” I asked. “Multiple Gunshot wounds and knife stabs.” one of the paramedics responded. I sprung into action immediately. I hated it whenever we lost a patient.

“We are not sure he will make it.” one of the paramedics said.

“Not on my watch” I thought out loud, leading one of the paramedics to chuckle while I tried to assess the situation.

“Nurse Sophie, please put a call across to Doctor Jones, the surgeon, and Anderson, the anaesthetic quickly. I will be accessing his breathing and blood circulation. Hopefully, it's normal. His pulse and blood pressure aren't.” I said to her.

In a matter of seconds, I was tearing off clothes and trying to control the bleeding, which seemed too much of a task to do at the same time.

Doctor Jones came rushing into the ER with Sophia hot on his tail. Examining the patient, “are you and Sophie the only ones on duty tonight?”

I looked around me… “uhmm I'm not sure. They could be at the nurse's station.’ I replied to him.

I didn't want to explain that they all left me with this patient because they were worried he'd die. Nobody likes to write a death report.

He seemed furious, “let's prep this patient for surgery. We will assist as best as we can.”

He stared at me for the longest time and shook his head, “you do too much, Audrey.”

“Get me Anderson and Wilson, tell them there is an emergency, and I do not want any excuses.” He barked orders. “Audrey, have you confirmed the man's identity so we can inform his relatives?” He asked.

I was about to respond, but the patient beat me to it, shocking me to my toes…. “The man was conscious.”

“You don't need to confirm anything, I'm Dante Rossi, I've got no relatives. Get the consent form, I'll sign it.” He stuttered as blood spluttered out of his mouth.

“Just make sure I'm alive so I can payback the fuckers who did this to me hmmm.” he said, this time he stared into my eyes like he was taking a peek into my mind.

”Mhmm mhm” doctor Jones cleared his throat, breaking off the intense stare. “We'll do our best Mr Rossi, and I think we need to call the police too.”

“No need to call the Police doctor, just make sure I don’t die.” He said.

“We are here doc, why is the ER so bloody, what's the emergency?” Doctor Wilson asked as he came in. Seeing the patient's eyes open, he gasped in shock, “isn't he supposed to be unconscious for a man losing this much blood.

Dante’s eyes flicked between the two doctors, and the back to me, making me shiver…

“Nurse Sophie, get the consent form now! Audrey get ready to wheel him to the operating room in a minute. Anderson, go get ready to put him under anesthesia.” Doctor Jones barked orders at everyone.

We were wheeling him to the operating room, when Sophie brought the form. With shaky hands , he took the pen from her and signed the form.

Once we got him to the operating room, he lost consciousness, the sound of the machine beeped loudly, Doctor Jones started CPR, just to stabilize him.

For a stranger, I felt great concern for him. I was worried.

“Doctor Jones”, I called. He looked up as he got ready in his sterile overall. “What are his chances?” I asked.

He looked at me like I had grown two-heads. “Do you by any chance know the patient?” He asked.

I scrunched up my face, “no Doctor, I don't. I was just wondering.” I replied.

“Honestly, I don't know. He lost a lot of blood, and those injuries….it's going to be a tough one but I will do my best as usual.”

As we went into the operating room, I wondered what could have led to such brutal injuries. I'm certain whomever is responsible wanted him dead.

The surgery lasted for four hours, it was one exhausting one. As we were about to round up, the front desk nurse came in, “ a police officer came in asking if Dante Rossi was brought in here and I said yes.” She said, “Well that's a good thing, isn't it. Because I wondered why he didn't want to report this case.” Doctor Jones said.

“He seemed suspicious, he asked series of questions, like if Dante said who had harmed him and if he was dead. He seemed panicky.” She said, “I didn't divulge any other information because I wasn't even sure myself.” She finished.

“You did well, you can go and don't say anything to anyone.” Said doctor Jones.

“Beep!! Beep!! Beep!!” Was the next thing we heard. His blood pressure is dropping.

“Damn it, he needs blood transfusion.” someone should go to haematology, ask if they've got AB negative in the blood bank…. I should have asked for it a long time ago, stat.” He said to no one in particular.

I walked towards the phone in the operating room and dialed blood bank, “we don't have that, but we will make arrangements for it. The person on the other end of the line said.

“Shit!!” I exclaimed,”how long will this take?,” I asked. “I'm not sure, but we have to make calls. Give or take two hours” they replied, then I hung up.

I turned to doctor Jones who was closing up the patient, looking dejected and he got the message. “But they said to give them two hours.” I told him.

“The man is resilient, I think he will make it.” Wilson said

Something about this man on the table had me worried. “Doc, I need a breather, can I get three minutes, no more.” I asked.

He stared at me for the longest time then asked, are you sure you don't know this man? This is unlike you.”

“No, I don't know him.” I responded exasperated. “Fine, you can take five. Sophie will fill in while you're out.” He said.

“Thank you.” With that I left.

As I left the operating room, I spotted the police officer lingering by the hallway. He really did seem suspicious because he looked disheveled and was panicking.

Immediately he saw me, he walked straight to me, police officer Daniels, he said, showing his badge. I'm here because of Dante Rossi. “How is he?,” he asked, trying to look somber.

Keyword: trying

“Officer, Mr Rossi’s condition is critical, we are doing everything we can to save him but….”

He nodded, his expression seemed somewhat relieved. Then he composed himself, “I understand nurse, please keep me updated on his condition.”

I nodded and left him. “Yeah, he definitely is suspicious.”

I went up to the roof to take a breather. “What was it about Dante Rossi that kept gnawing at me?” I questioned myself. I am certain I've never met the man in my life. I just wanted him alive and well.

The night's cold air had me shivering in my scrubs, my five minutes was already over.

On getting close to the operating room, everyone was running around in a frenzy, the machine beeping loud. I knew that sound. He was flat lining….

“Clear!!” I heard doctor Jones' voice as I ran in. I cleaned up and went into the operating room. “We are losing him.” Sophie said.

“He really needs that blood transfusion now.” Doctor Wilson pointed out. I closed my eyes for a while, when I opened them again, what I said next had everyone shocked.

“Are you certain?”, Doctor Wilson asked. There is no going back after this.

“I'm certain, but nobody else outside this room can know.” I said pleading with all of them with my eyes. “Not even the patient.” I finished.

“I don't support this. I won't allow it “doctor Jones screamed.

“But it's not against practice and I'm old enough to make that kind of decision.” I yelled back,matching his angry energy.

“You know she's right, we have to do everything we can to save a patient. Even this crazy idea of hers has to work. We can't have a death in our conscience knowing we could have done something.” Doctor Wilson tried to reason with him.

I am AB negative too. I'll donate my blood to him and that's final.” I said, determined.