CHAPTER FOUR –COMPLICATED PROCEDURES

"We've got a rhythm," Dr. Carter announced, his voice filled with relief. Laura stepped back, her breath coming in short gasps. She looked up to see the rest of the ER staff watching in awe. "Nice work, Nurse Jay," Dr. Carter said, genuine respect in his voice. "You didn't miss a beat." Laura nodded, too exhausted to speak. As the adrenaline faded, she became aware of a commotion in the hallway. The main lights flickered back to life, and a cheer went up from the staff and patients. As the hospital slowly returned to normal, Laura found herself in the break room, sipping a much-needed cup of coffee. Mia joined her, looking both exhausted and exhilarated. "That was... intense," Mia said, slumping into a chair. "Is it always like this?" Laura chuckled. "Not always. But it's never dull." They sat in companionable silence for a moment before Mia spoke again. "You were amazing out there, Laura. The way you handled everything... I hope I can be half the nurse you are someday." Laura felt a warmth in her chest at Mia's words. "You're well on your way, Mia. You kept your cool during a crisis. That's half the battle." As they chatted, Laura's phone buzzed. It was a text from Mark. Mark: Can we talk? I miss you. Laura stared at the message, conflicting emotions swirling within her. She missed Mark too, but their argument still weighed heavily on her mind. "Everything okay?" Mia asked, noticing Laura's distraction. Laura sighed. "Just... relationship stuff. It's complicated." Mia nodded sympathetically. "Want to talk about it?" Laura hesitated, then found herself pouring out the whole story – her argument with Mark, his frustrations with her job, her own torn feelings. "I love what I do," Laura concluded. "But I love Mark too. I don't know how to balance it all." Mia was quiet for a moment, then said, "You know, my grandmother – the one who inspired me to become a nurse? She always said that nursing wasn't just a job, it was a calling. But she also said that having a life outside of nursing made her a better nurse." Laura pondered Mia's words. "Your grandmother sounds like a wise woman." Mia smiled. "She was. I think... I think if you love both your job and Mark, there has to be a way to make it work. It might not be easy, but nothing worth having ever is, right?" Laura felt a glimmer of hope at Mia's words. "You're right. I need to talk to Mark, really talk to him. We need to find a way to make this work." As her shift finally came to an end, Laura felt a mix of exhaustion and determination. The events of the day – the power outage, saving Mrs. Hernandez, her conversation with Mia – had all put things in perspective. She texted Mark back: On my way home. Let's talk. As she drove, Laura rehearsed what she wanted to say in her head. She knew it wouldn't be an easy conversation, but she was committed to making it work. Entering her apartment, she found Mark waiting for her on the couch, just as he had been the night before. But this time, his expression was softer, more open. "Hey," he said quietly. "Hey," Laura replied, sitting down next to him. "I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have walked out like that." Mark shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have accused you of not caring. I know how important your work is to you." Laura took a deep breath. "It is important to me. But so are you, Mark. I love you, and I want to make this work. I just... I need you to understand that my job isn't just a job. It's a part of who I am." Mark nodded slowly. "I get that. And I love that part of you, I do. I guess I just feel... left out sometimes." Laura reached out and took his hand. "I never want you to feel that way. Maybe... maybe we need to set some boundaries. Like, unless it's a real emergency, I'll always let you know if I'm going to be late. And we can set aside specific times that are just for us, no work talk allowed." A small smile played on Mark's lips. "That sounds good. And maybe... maybe I could try to be more involved? Like, you could tell me more about your day, the patients you help. Help me understand your world a bit better." Laura felt a surge of affection for him. "I'd like that. And Mark? I want you to know that even when I'm at work, even when I'm dealing with emergencies... you're always in my heart. Always." Mark pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you, Laura. We'll figure this out." As they held each other, Laura felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew there would still be challenges ahead, but for now, in this moment, everything felt right. The next morning, Laura walked into the hospital with a renewed sense of purpose. She spotted Dr. Carter and Dr. Lopez deep in conversation by the nurses' station, their voices low but intense. As she approached, she caught snippets of their discussion. "...can't keep ignoring protocol," Dr. Lopez was saying, her tone frustrated. Dr. Carter's response was sharp. "Sometimes protocol needs to be flexible. You saw what happened with Mrs. Hernandez yesterday." Laura cleared her throat as she reached them. "Everything okay here?" The doctors broke apart, Dr. Lopez looking annoyed and Dr. Carter wearing his usual smug expression. "Just a difference of opinion," Dr. Carter said smoothly. "Nothing to worry about, Nurse Jay." But as he walked away, Laura couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. She made a mental note to keep an eye on the situation. For now, though, she had patients to care for and a new day to face. Laura stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her dress nervously. She and Mark had planned a special date night, hoping to reconnect after their recent rough patch. As she applied a final touch of lipstick, her phone buzzed with a text from Mark. Mark: On my way. See you soon. Laura took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. This evening felt crucial, like it could make or break their relationship. When Mark arrived, his smile seemed a bit forced. "You look beautiful," he said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks," Laura replied, noticing the distance in his touch. "Ready to go?" They headed to a new Italian restaurant downtown, the car ride filled with awkward small talk about the weather and traffic. As they were seated at their table, Laura decided to address the elephant in the room. "Mark," she began, reaching across the table for his hand. "I'm really glad we're doing this. I've missed you." Mark's expression softened slightly. "I've missed you too, Laura. It's just..." "Just what?" Laura prompted gently. He sighed. "I can't help feeling like we're just going through the motions. Like nothing's really changed." Laura felt a pang in her chest. "I'm trying, Mark. I really am. I've been making a conscious effort to text you during my breaks, to not bring work home with me as much." "I know," Mark said, his voice tinged with frustration. "And I appreciate that. But it still feels like your job is your whole life sometimes." Their conversation was interrupted by the waiter arriving to take their order. As they perused the menu, Laura felt the weight of unsaid words hanging between them.