whatever they needed me for could wait five minutes. I picked up the
pace and was almost out of breath by the time I arrived at the gift shop. A young
man I had never met before was working there.
“Hi,” I said. “I’m
Lana Luna. I’m helping out in the ICU family waiting room and someone has
requested a Coke.”
“Sure,” he said,
going into the side room where the supplies for the Cheer Cart were kept. I
followed him. He reached into a mini fridge and handed me a cold drink. “That’s
all?”
“Yes, and I won’t
be back for anything else. I’ve been instructed to work on floor three.”
“That’s too bad,”
he said, eyeing me up and down.
I pretended not to
notice. “Gotta go!”
After I had
dropped off the drink, I finally headed to the third floor. I’d never been
there before, so at least I might be doing something different. Anything was
better than the ICU waiting room.
“Sorry it took me
so long,” I told an older lady when I reached the nurses’ station.
She gave me a warm
smile. “No worries, dear.” Phew. Thank God she’s not a drill sergeant like
Nurse Barbara.
“My name is Lisa.
We’re short staffed today and need you to help watch over the newborns.”
Nurse Lisa started
walking and I followed her. “So how are you enjoying your volunteer work?” she
asked me.
“It’s wonderful,”
I said automatically. “Very fulfilling.”
She laughed. “That
sounded a bit rehearsed. But I understand. Being in a hospital can take a real
toll on you. But I like working in this area, and I think you will too.”
We stopped in
front of the room with all the newborns, which we were separated from by a
glass wall.
“I’m afraid it’s
against hospital policy for you to go in the room with them,” Lisa said. “But
we’re required to have eyes on the nursery at all times. It’s incredible, how
even in this age, there are still crazy people who come to the hospital to take
a child.”
“Really?” I asked
in surprise.
“Oh, yes,” she
replied. “Usually we take turns checking on the mothers and watching the
infants, but as I said, we’re short staffed today and there are quite a few new
mothers staying with us.”
I nodded. “I don’t
mind watching them,” I said honestly.
“Good. The other
nurses and I will be in and out. I’m going to introduce you to them; if you see
anyone other than us in the nursery, call security immediately.” She pointed to
the phone on the wall behind me.
“And, don’t worry,
these babies are healthy. There shouldn’t be any issues. But if you get concerned
about one of them, just grab a nurse and we’ll check on him or her.”
“Sounds good,” I
said. I sat down on the stool outside the viewing area.
At first it was
fun, watching the tiny hands and feet wriggling, marveling at just how small
the infants were, how incredible to think some of them had been born merely a
few hours ago.
But after awhile,
the novelty wore off. I found my mind drifting to Michael. He’d sounded so
tired when he called me last night. Happy to talk to me, but exhausted. He had
promised to call today, but I hadn’t heard from him yet.
What if a night
apart made him realize he doesn’t like me? I knew I was worrying without
reason, but love makes you irrational.
My phone vibrated
and I reached into my pocket to check it. It was a text from Michael! I
can’t go another minute without seeing you, Lana. Come straight to my apartment
after the hospital? I’ll be waiting xxx
I quickly texted
him back. I have to go home first! I look like a mess xxx
Michael replied
that I never looked like a mess, and he had a surprise for me.
Smiling, I
returned my attention to the babies.
After my shift
ended, I dropped Evie’s top back off and signed out. “Thanks for letting me
wear this,” I said, not meaning a word of it.
I barely listened
to her response as I zoomed out the door. On the way to Michael’s apartment, I
called Maryanne, but she didn’t answer,
pace and was almost out of breath by the time I arrived at the gift shop. A young
man I had never met before was working there.
“Hi,” I said. “I’m
Lana Luna. I’m helping out in the ICU family waiting room and someone has
requested a Coke.”
“Sure,” he said,
going into the side room where the supplies for the Cheer Cart were kept. I
followed him. He reached into a mini fridge and handed me a cold drink. “That’s
all?”
“Yes, and I won’t
be back for anything else. I’ve been instructed to work on floor three.”
“That’s too bad,”
he said, eyeing me up and down.
I pretended not to
notice. “Gotta go!”
After I had
dropped off the drink, I finally headed to the third floor. I’d never been
there before, so at least I might be doing something different. Anything was
better than the ICU waiting room.
“Sorry it took me
so long,” I told an older lady when I reached the nurses’ station.
She gave me a warm
smile. “No worries, dear.” Phew. Thank God she’s not a drill sergeant like
Nurse Barbara.
“My name is Lisa.
We’re short staffed today and need you to help watch over the newborns.”
Nurse Lisa started
walking and I followed her. “So how are you enjoying your volunteer work?” she
asked me.
“It’s wonderful,”
I said automatically. “Very fulfilling.”
She laughed. “That
sounded a bit rehearsed. But I understand. Being in a hospital can take a real
toll on you. But I like working in this area, and I think you will too.”
We stopped in
front of the room with all the newborns, which we were separated from by a
glass wall.
“I’m afraid it’s
against hospital policy for you to go in the room with them,” Lisa said. “But
we’re required to have eyes on the nursery at all times. It’s incredible, how
even in this age, there are still crazy people who come to the hospital to take
a child.”
“Really?” I asked
in surprise.
“Oh, yes,” she
replied. “Usually we take turns checking on the mothers and watching the
infants, but as I said, we’re short staffed today and there are quite a few new
mothers staying with us.”
I nodded. “I don’t
mind watching them,” I said honestly.
“Good. The other
nurses and I will be in and out. I’m going to introduce you to them; if you see
anyone other than us in the nursery, call security immediately.” She pointed to
the phone on the wall behind me.
“And, don’t worry,
these babies are healthy. There shouldn’t be any issues. But if you get concerned
about one of them, just grab a nurse and we’ll check on him or her.”
“Sounds good,” I
said. I sat down on the stool outside the viewing area.
At first it was
fun, watching the tiny hands and feet wriggling, marveling at just how small
the infants were, how incredible to think some of them had been born merely a
few hours ago.
But after awhile,
the novelty wore off. I found my mind drifting to Michael. He’d sounded so
tired when he called me last night. Happy to talk to me, but exhausted. He had
promised to call today, but I hadn’t heard from him yet.
What if a night
apart made him realize he doesn’t like me? I knew I was worrying without
reason, but love makes you irrational.
My phone vibrated
and I reached into my pocket to check it. It was a text from Michael! I
can’t go another minute without seeing you, Lana. Come straight to my apartment
after the hospital? I’ll be waiting xxx
I quickly texted
him back. I have to go home first! I look like a mess xxx
Michael replied
that I never looked like a mess, and he had a surprise for me.
Smiling, I
returned my attention to the babies.
After my shift
ended, I dropped Evie’s top back off and signed out. “Thanks for letting me
wear this,” I said, not meaning a word of it.
I barely listened
to her response as I zoomed out the door. On the way to Michael’s apartment, I
called Maryanne, but she didn’t answer,
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