Chapter 37 Grave Sin
JESSICA
"How are you feeling, sir?" I asked the middle-aged patient lying on his bed. He had his appendix removed last night and hasn't been long he woke up.
"Tired and thirsty," he said.
I smiled, checking his drip.
"Don't worry, you will have a lot of water very soon," I said, withdrawing from the drip, and turned to him
I put my hands in the belly pockets of my scrubs and smiled at him.
He let out a sigh. He is a bald chubby man with a white beard.
He looks like in his sixties but his records say fifty-six.
"How long do I have before I take some water?" He asked.
"A little while, sir. Please be patient. It is for your own good." I said.
He kissed his teeth, muttering something under his breath.
"Hey, honey," a female voice took our attention.
It was his wife.
She is around his age, has some white tendrils on her short brunette hair, and is a little bit chubby.
She smiled at her husband and then at me.
"Hello, nurse,"
"Welcome, ma'am," I said, moving out of her way and she sat next to him.
"Why the long face, sweetie?" She asked him.
"The nurse said I can't have water yet."
"Oh," she said, looking at me momentarily and then at him.
"I am very thirsty, dear," he added.
"I understand. But she is right. She is just looking after you. It hasn't been long since you got out of surgery. You can't take water now, it is risky."
"What do you mean?"
"Um.... I will come back and check in again." I said, taking their attention.
"Alright, dear. Thank you so much, pretty nurse." She said.
I smiled a bit as I walked out of the ward.
I closed the door gently, letting out a sigh as I walked along the slightly busy hallway.
I looked at my watch. It is almost seven pm.
My shift will end soon.
I can't wait. I need to lie down.
Like right now.
If only the time would speed up.
I also want to.....
"Jessica!"
I let out another tired sigh at the familiar sound of Catherine's commanding voice.
She is approaching me with a file in her hand.
What now, please?
"Why do you always make me look for you all the freaking time?" She asked as she got closer.
"I went to check up on the patient who had an appendectomy last.... "
She huffed, muttering something under her breath as she looked away.
She looked at me.
"You do too much, Jessica. You are a nurse not a mother. That's what you are paid for. To be a freaking nurse."
I furrowed my brows.
"Stop checking up on patients too much. The world doesn't reward over kind people. Here," she placed the file in my hand instantly.
"Take the file to the front desk and get Ashley's signature. Sign them as well and stay with her already. She has been there alone. Geez." She huffed, walking past me.
Not without hitting my shoulder.
The file fell out of my hand.
I let out a sigh, moving a lock of my hair behind my ear as I leaned down and picked up the file.
I hate being a newbie.
I took my little journey to the first desk as one inevitable thought filled my head again as always.
The kiss from Uncle Xavier.
It has been two days and I haven't stopped thinking about it.
I think about it all the time.
When I work.
Or walk.
When I eat.
When I sleep.
God, the worst is when I sleep.
And when I am alone.
I had a dream about it. It replayed in my dream.
I don't know what to do.
I think about all the details.
The grab.
Waist squeeze.
Lips domination.
His lips were so needy.
They felt obsessed with mine the second time he crashed on mine.
I shouldn't be thinking about this.
Why can't I stop thinking about it?
I can't even look at my Bible anymore.
I feel like I am not worthy to do so.
It is awful.
This is a grave sin.
I don't even know how to confess it.
How will the priest look at me from that day on?
Oh God, he knows me. He knows my family. I can't confess!
Oh, sweet virgin.
I got to the front desk and I found Ashley smiling at something on her phone.
I walked towards my seat, watching as she giggled.
She noticed my presence.
"Oh, you are here." She said, getting on her feet.
"Um, Catherine said you have to sign this," I said, extending the file to her.
She picked up her pen and signed instantly without asking questions.
"Done. I have to use the restroom. Excuse me," she said, walking out of her seat area.
"Yeah? I am coming right now." I heard her say as I sat in my seat.
She is not going to the restroom.
So much for being alone on the desk.
I picked up my pen and signed as well. I placed the file aside and took out my phone when......
"I need to see a patient, nurse,"
"Okay. What is the name of the....." I trailed off the minute I saw Michael.
He is leaning on the desk, staring at me with a smile.
I managed to smile, finding it difficult because I am not having a very good day.
I feel like an unforgivable sinner.
"Hello," he said.
"Hello," I said, lowering my gaze momentarily. "Um...what is the name of the patient you want to see?"
"Jessica," he answered.
I looked at him.
"But I don't know her last name. Because she didn't tell me."
I smiled a bit.
"Especially when she refused to go to the canteen with me. That wasn't nice at all."
"I wasn't trying to be rude. I had to be at the front desk. It's my permanent spot." I said.
He nodded. "I see. Maybe when you are on your break time, you can accept to go with me."
I lowered my gaze and opened my mouth to speak but.....
"This time not the canteen but my favorite restaurant."
I looked at him.
He raised his brows. "Please?"
Oh gosh.
Is he asking me out?
"Please don't refuse this time." He said.
I was about to speak but the elevator doors right opposite us opened and the one person that has haunted my thoughts for barely seventy-two hours walked out of it.
Uncle Xavier.
My heart raced instantly.