Larissa hated the incinerator. She had been one of the few people allowed down in the basement under the science wing. It had been specially made for the school as one of the few dump sites for the animals they used for the dissection part of some of the classes. It was the place that other schools also could use. Though this was rare that they would even start it this early in the school year.
Larissa didn’t know why the older woman wanted to use it, though. She was sometimes a little off on her timing. Though she did always have a reason why. Larissa didn’t care too much in the end. Gabe walked into the room behind her after a few minutes.
“I am sorry for that.” He said softly. “I have no idea why she is that way.”
“Probably because you accused her of cheating earlier,” Larissa said as she turned up the gas of it to light. Then she turned it back down to get it going a
She received a phone call about six hours later from the hospital. It seemed a bad accident had happened on the highway, and the casualties were too much for the staff they had. She rolled out of bed, knowing that she had to wake up enough to drive to the hospital herself. After a quick change, she was dressed in her favorite scrubs and had a cup of coffee ready for the trip.The hospital road was completely backed up. She saw it well before she was close to the hospital and then adjusted the way she drove in. She switched directions and went in the back way that most people didn’t know about. She had to park in the last row of the staff parking. There were more cars there than she had ever seen. That was her first clue that this was not going to be good.She went in and saw the overflow from the emergency department in the lobby and on the street in the front of the building. When she got up, and she pulled her hair u
Larissa didn’t want to start her shift this way. She knew it was going to be a super long night. An hour or so later, as she had five rooms going at the same time as she was supervising the students and the other pathologist in all they were doing to do this as fast as they could to clear the hallways. She went back to the conference room and was surprised to find them still in the room with George, who was going over the release to the funeral home and everything they would need to do.She smiled as she walked in and nodded to George. Gabe walked up in the back of her, “Thank you for giving her the time.”“You all need it.” She said as she looked up at him. “Do you need me to call someone?”“No. My brothers are on their way. I called them already. They are scattered all over the
The two sat mostly in silence as they drank their coffee, and every once in a while, Larissa would glance out of the window toward the school and saw the smoke rising above the trees. She felt the plummet in her chest as she didn’t want to think about it anymore. She looked at him, who was now looking at his cell phone waiting for something to arrive, and somehow Larissa knew it would never come in.“I guess I have my answer,” Gabe said as she looked up to Larissa from staring at his screen.“With? “Larissa asked.“She is definitely cheating on me,” Gabe said. “I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. I was just the latest victim in her long line.”“Maybe something else happened. Like someone she knew was also in the accident. Maybe she has to deal with that.” Larissa countered. Thoug
Larissa looked at him as she stopped the car. She really just wanted to drop him off and go home as she tried not to think of how this man affected her heart beating a little too fast. He was the only one that made her brain go blank for a moment when she first glanced at him. Her whole way of being was by herself though she never thought of anything different as well. She had her way of peeling the skin off people when she looked at them. This one made her forget how, though.She knew he was trouble for her. He looked at her with his piercing blue eyes. They were hypnotizing to her. She had to clear out her throat. He blinked his eyes. “Come inside?” his voice seemed to echo throughout the car.“I don’t think that is a good idea.” She said softly. “It has been a night.”“Please.” He asked as he touched
“Then why?” she asked as he got out of the car. She was now very confused and didn’t understand why he would want her there at all, let alone after saying that he didn’t want to sleep with her. This was unlike anything that she had ever heard of since things like this didn’t happen to her regardless.“Larissa, I think you need to understand a few things.” He said as he took her hand after opening the car door. “Sometimes, it is the smallest things that will lead to everything.”“Don’t talk in riddles.” She said as she shook her head, knowing that he was going to continue to confuse her if he did. She didn’t like them. Her brain had always had a problem with them as she would try and figure them out and lose out on time for other things.“Come on.” He said as he gently pulled on her arm. She hit the
The time flew by, and even though the two of them spent the night on the couch, they both woke up to the alarm going off, knowing that somewhere a few hours ago, they both nodded off. Larissa looked at him as he blinked his eyes open. She was leaned up against him. She was still in her scrubs.“Wonderful.” She said as she looked at herself and then the time.“Well, you are a doctor. Wearing scrubs is fine, I would assume.” He said softly as he tucked a lock behind her ear. “I guess I should get ready, though. Do you want to ride in together?”“I should probably go in on my own. Even though I am only there for a month, I really don’t want to give anyone any things to say.” Larissa said as she looked at him.“Meaning?” he asked as his eyes tried to read her.“My brother work
“I am not the one who needs to grieve.” She said as she looked up to him, “You are.”“I think you have to as well.” He said as he pulled her close. She shook her head. “I think today got a little more difficult.”“For who?” she asked.“Everyone.” He said as he sighed. “Don’t worry about me, though. It will hit me later.”“Gabe.” She said. “Don’t fight it.”“Sweetheart, don’t worry about me.” He said again. When the door opened, and they moved apart quickly.“Where is Judy?” Mr. Vincent asked though he looked like he hadn’t slept either though he was not in the room when they walked in.“John was involved in the car accident last night.” Larissa said, “She wen
The day pressed on. Gabe left after the first class, but she could still feel his presence around her. It was the weirdest feeling. She went back to the office and stood outside the door after three periods. Larissa was only there to get coffee when she heard the voices coming from inside the office. She stopped and looked up. No one else was around.“This is a huge problem.” Mr. Vincent said as he sighed. He had always been the most level-headed person in the department. So to hear him like this was a surprise.“None of us can do the rest. That was always Judy’s job.” Mr. Mig, one of the lower grade science teachers, stated.“What are we going to do?” Someone else asked.Larissa knew it had to do with the incinerator and the fact they all looked so tired. Maybe she should offer again to clean it because that was the thing they must be talking about. It wouldn’t b