MEERA

I woke up that morning to Pharaoh pawing at my leg for breakfast and a feeling of unease that would not let up until I turned off my alarm. I turned over to glance at the digital alarm clock which was a blurry mess of numbers. I sat up, gently pushing Pharaoh off my leg and swung my legs over the edge, feeling a jolt as the chill of the morning hit me faster than coffee.

Today was my first day. New job, new colleagues, new life. It was time to embrace the newness...and not fuck it up majorly while I'm at.

The sun was peeking out through the curtains, spilling into the hotel room. It felt so warm even though the outside was so cold. I checked my phone out of habit. No new messages. It was only six in the morning. I could go back to sleep and wake up in 15 more minutes but I was too excited to do that.

I threw off the covers and dragged myself to my sad-looking suitcase in the corner of the room, pulling our breakfast for Pharaoh and clothes for me.

Let's see. On the first day on the job, I should probably wear something flexible yet professional. My wardrobe was seriously limited and I didn't know when I would be going shopping for new ones. I picked out a crisp white button-down shirt, my comfiest pair of black slacks, and a pair of heavy-duty boots that had seen better days. I held my shirt up in front of the mirror, debating if I should wear a tie with it or not.

"What do you think, Pharaoh?" I turned around, holding the shirt in front of me. "Would the tie be overkill?" He blinked at me slowly, his tail twitching. "So no?" I turned back around. My face in the mirror was an anxious one. I tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. "You're right," I said picking up a red tie hanging over the edge of the hotel's chair. "First impressions are key."

Pharaoh meowed happily when I placed a can of Fancy feast down for him and gave him a scratch. I do love the little hellion but I think I might be spoiling him. "Don't worry, Pharaoh. When we find a nice apartment, I'll make sure you'll have lots of places to play and explore."

I've made him that promise several times, I just hope I wouldn't break his little feline heart with my optimism.

I take the quickest shower in the world and get dressed, putting myself together in front of the mirror till I no longer resemble a gremlin arising from a decade-old slumber. I picked up my small trusty tube of concealer and my nearly empty tube of eyeliner to carefully hide away my dark circles. If I blended it enough, I could hide my insecurities and low self-esteem away. I'm in the process of deciding which lipstick to wear when My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I was on a schedule.

The clock said it was almost 7:00. The breakfast buffet opened at 7:15.

Pharaoh starts rubbing his head against my calf, getting cat hair all over my slacks. "Poor thing," I cooed and picked up the grey cat, careful to avoid his sharp nails. "Aw, are you going to miss me when I'm gone?" I kissed his head and gave him a scratch behind his ears before putting down the purring ball of fluff. "Behave, don't rip up the pillows. I'll be back soon."

I put on some lipstick before chucking it into my doctor's bag. I packed all the essentials last night, including my trusty stethoscope. I braided my hair as the elevator descended, cursing as my fingers got tangled with the semi-wet strands. I made sure to pin back the looser strands of hair, I didn't want them falling onto my face like last time.

The buffet was hot and fresh when I reached the lobby. I quickly grabbed a plate and loaded up a bagel and fruit, ripping into my food as Pharaoh did. It took me only ten minutes to scarf everything down, Which gave me enough time to inform the front desk about my cat and finally head out.

I threw on my light blue coat, buttoning it up as I flew past the revolving doors and out onto the street. The cold hit me faster than my morning coffee. My gloves were half on when My phone buzzed in my pocket. With the corner of my glove still in my mouth, I pulled out my burner phone. There was a text from an unknown number. I tapped on the message.

I slowly raised my head, meeting eyes with Anya who was leaning on the side of her white Land Rover. I nearly dropped my bag in shock.

Anya waved at me. She wore a cream-coloured suit today with a black turtle neck and a dusty pink wool jacket thrown elegantly over her narrow shoulders. Her blonde hair was pulled into a tight bun leaving her forehead exposed. In her hand was a bagel and the other was a cup of coffee. I had to do a double-take. She looked like a model straight from the runway. I wish I could look that good in the morning, half the time I looked like I put on whatever was clean.

"Good morning," I said once I got over my shock, grabbing onto my scarf that the wind tried to snatch away. "Windy today, isn't it?"

"Good morning. It's not too bad. You'll get used to it." Anya finished the last bite of her bagel, crushed the napkin into a ball and tossed it in the trash without looking. It hit the edge and fell in. "How did you sleep?" She asked me while still chewing. "Nothing like a three-star hotel mattress to work out the kinks in your back, right?"

"Better than most." I shrugged, silently agreeing with her. "I can't complain too much."

She nodded as if that answer satisfied her and smiled at me. "I hope that's enough. You'll need it today." If that didn't sound so ominous I'd be less excited. Anya opened the back door and slid inside. I picked up my work bag from the sidewalk and slid in after her, closing the door and keeping the cold away. The seats were warm. Thank god for inventing seat warmers. I nearly sighed when I leaned back in my seat, my back feeling a little bit better.

The cold was something I would have to get used to.

Anya nodded at her driver, without a word he started the car and pulled away with the curve. He looked a little young to be working as a driver but what did I know? I pulled my seatbelt on, clutching my bag to my chest and waited till Anya spoke.

I still didn't know what to make of her. She was clever and well put together but I didn't know if she wanted me to talk or just wait till she said something. My breakfast felt like it was going to come up. Maybe I should've just eaten nothing today. God, I hated the first days. Where did all my peppiness from this morning go?

After fifteen minutes of no talk and a very quiet driver, Anya pulled out a folder from her back and handed it to me. She didn't turn her head, she looked straightforward. Her sunglasses gave nothing away. I looked down at the folder, then up at her and finally at the folder again before I gingerly took it from her. It was heavy, thick with pages and notes and a lot of post-its.

"That's our medical history. Some of it is redacted for obvious reasons but the essentials are in there." Anya said in a no-nonsense tone. "When you're done, burn it."

"There's a lot of history," I noted, thumbing one of the posts it's that was sticking out. I read the name Natalia silently to myself. I counted seven names in total.

I wondered which one was the new leader of the Farewells. I knew of the Farewells and their reputation. I also knew that most people feared them due to their secrecy but I never really heard of their names. Other than Anya of course but I just met her so it didn't count.

"Yes, and I'm hoping you'll be careful with it." She took out a mirror from her designer purse and applied her lipstick carefully. Her thumb wiped away any unseen imperfections. "We're not very forgiving these days......... or trusting. I'm giving this to you with confidence."

Ah, a threat. There we go. I was wondering when this was going to happen. Nothing like a warning from your boss so early in the morning to get your heart racing.

"I don't like HIPPA violations as much as the next person," I chuckled. I looked up at her. "I'm not irresponsible enough to lose these. Don't worry. They're in safe hands."

"I'm counting on it." She smiled once more, albeit a very small smile. "I hope you won't disappoint me, Meera."

The driver took both of us towards the upper part of Manhattan. It took us almost two hours to get through traffic but I guess Anya didn't have anything to do today if she was helping a lowly doctor. The car finally stopped in front of Farewell-Love General Hospital, fully equipped with shiney new windows and a large sign in neon that could be seen across the city. I had seen this hospital in pamphlets but looking up at the building felt different. I felt as if I was David and this was my Goliath. Just standing in its shadow made me feel intimidated and yet Anya looked up at it as if it was the most fantastic thing she's ever seen. Couldn't blame her. As large as it was, it was an impressive hospital.

This part of the city was extra windy. I held onto my scarf as I got down. Anya was already ahead of me, tugging on her gloves and frowning at the weather as it tore at her blond hair "Stunning, isn't it?" She asked, nodding at the building as we walked in.

"Well...it's amazing. I don't think any other words can describe it."

"I've invested a lot into it." She said. "James!" Anya called out before we entered the sliding doors. The driver stood tall next to the car, his sunglasses and his eyes away from me. He grunted in response. "Keep the car warm for me, I'll be back soon."

I followed Anya past the reception area and towards the emergency department. Nurses and staff stepped out of her way as she walked past, her heels clicked loudly as she brushed past them with her head held up high. Even if I was a little bit scared of her, she was someone I could respect. There was more to Anya Farewell other than just manicured nails and designer shoes, I could see the absolute command over people she had and I wondered how much she had struggled to achieve it. A small part of me was envious, I wondered how I could become like that one day.

The emergency department had a separate building that was connected to the main hospital by a ramp. At the end of the narrow hallway was a steel door that looked like it had come from a bomb shelter. It was wide open leading to a set of sliding doors.

Walking into the ER was like slipping into a pair of comfortable clothes for me. There was a buzz in the air that you didn't feel in other departments, the combination of adrenaline and drive that made your whole body tingle with anticipation. I had chosen this field of medicine because I wanted to be useful, I didn't want a cushy office job filling out paperwork for the rest of my life. I wanted to be on the ground, helping people who needed it the most.

The department was laid out in an easy and open layout. Reception at the front with the waiting room next to it, we walked past the examination rooms and entered the main wards where several patients were. Anya walked up to the prep room door. She stopped and raised her hand. I expected her to knock daintily but instead, she slammed her fist down three times. The sound of her fist against the steel nearly made me drop my bag.

Not even a second later, the door flew open to reveal a bearded man with a bloodstained coat and a frantic look in his eyes. I squeaked and took a step back.
Anya was unmoved.

"What?!" He yelled. Upon noticing Anya, his anger melted away. He looked sheepish, flashing a nervous smile at Anya's straight face. "Mrs Farewell, hello! I didn't know you were visiting us!"

"Busy, Andre?" She asked, taking off her gloves.

"We have a young male who's just OD. Other than that, nothing much!" Andre swung the door open wider. "Can we do this later, Mrs Farewell? Dr Franz is up in infectious diseases so I'm short a doctor today."

"Don't I have impeccable timing?" Anya stepped aside, revealing me. "You asked for a new doctor. Well, here you go."

"And you are...?" He asked me, looking me up and down quizzically.

"Dr Saravana." I held my hand out. " I believe I'm your new colleague."

"Dr Carlson." He introduced himself. His eyes shifted down at my clean hand and his gloved ones. "We can make intros later. Follow me, please! You need to get scrubbed and prepped as quickly as you can."

He turned sharply on his heel and closed the door. I looked up at Anya who had an amused smile on her face. She tilted her chin towards the direction Dr Carlson went. "Well? You wanted a chance? Here you go."

"I'll see you later then!" I said with a bright smile and took off. I followed after Dr Carlson, quickly scrubbing my hands down and doning on the familiar sea-green scrubs. I mentally made a map of the place before slipping in behind him into one of the rooms. I was hot on his heels when I heard the familiar monotonous beep of the ECG.

The room was chaos. Two nurses were in the room with Dr Carlson, running around to stabilise the patient. A normal emergency room OT had at least two doctors, one of them being a respiratory specialist, several nurses, and an anesthesiologist. This whole OT looked as if nobody managed it in months. I knew that Farewell-Love was a really good hospital but then there were a lot of rumours saying how it was losing staff by the week. I didn't know how bad it was until I saw it.

"He's crashing!" A red-haired nurse cried out, holding onto the monitor. "Dr Carlson!"

"How's the patient? How can help?" I ask. I quickly grab a mask and some gloves. "Any prior history I should know about?"

"Heroin addict, twenty years, Male. Came in complaining of palpitations and fever. He has a pulse but he's not breathing!" She glanced up at the heart rate monitor. "He overdosed a half-hour ago. The amount is unknown."

The man on the table was in his late 20's, with sallow cheeks, limp hair, and sweaty skin. He looked close to death.

"On it!" He gruffed, taking off his gloves and putting new ones on. "Dr Saravana, start the chest compressions. I'll get the naxalone."

"You got it!" I moved past one of the nurses who was delivering oxygen.

My hands didn't tremble when I placed them down, the end of my fingers touching the tip of the breast bone and my palm at the centre of the chest. I started pressing down, not too hard and not too soft. I've done this a hundred times. Bees Gees staying alive started to play in my head as I counted thirty beats and two breaths. The nurse close to the head of the patient nodded in approval. The ribs started to crack during the first round of chest compressions. It was an audible sickening pop that would make weaker people gag at the sound. I didn't let it phase me and kept going.

"How are his vitals?" I asked the nurse breathlessly.

"BP is 75/60. Heart rate is still low." She glared in the direction of Dr Carlson. "Damnit! Where's the Naxalosone, Andre!"

"I'm looking, woman!" He growled back. I could hear someone scrambling through the cabinets frantically. "Who rearranged my things?"

"Top shelf!" The red hair nurse pointed out.

I continued my chest compressions. If there wasn't any change in his vitals soon, the patient wouldn't make it.

"There are three top shelves!"

"The one on the right, Doctor!"

"He's coding!" The monotone beep sounded in my ears. I looked up with horror but quickly pulled myself together.

I've trained for this. Just another day at the job. Still couldn't stop me from swearing. "Shit! I'll get the AED ready." I grabbed the defibrillators on the crash cart, making sure to set them to the right charge and fully charged. "Clear!" I exclaimed. The two nurses backed away.

The patient jerked like he was pulled by a string before flopping back down. I charged it again, carefully watching the heart rate monitor. The redhead nursed and nodded at me. "Clear!" She exclaimed. I tried it again. Still no response. His vitals barely changed.

Damnit! "Dr Carlson! Should I continue chest compressions or try again?"

He popped up behind me, ripping open a catheter from a plastic casing. "Once more. Three is the maximum. If he doesn't respond, continue compressions." I nodded my head. I placed the defilbulator down on either side of his chest once more, making sure that the charge was correct. The patient jerked once more, his head lolling to the side a little. I waited for a second, eagerly watching the monitor for some sort of sign. The line was a steady and straight green.

The nurse pointed at the clock. "Should I call the time of—"

Beep. It was a single sound. A person's heart that restarted so suddenly. To others, it was an ugly sound but to me, it was the sound of success.

The red-haired nurse patted me on the back in relief. "It's not over yet, we need to stabilise him."

"I got it." Dr Carlson administered the Naxolosone intravenously.

I let out a sigh of relief as his heart rate picked up steadily. Soon he started to breathe, he still struggled and his chest movements were slow and haggard but it was progressing. But for now. Our patient would live to see another day. Dr Carlson left the room and I followed him. I glanced back to see the two nurses taking care of the patient. the red-haired one looked up and smiled at me, flashing a thumbs up. I smiled back.

Anya stood outside the hall. Her sunglasses were tucked into the front of her blouse. Her eyes danced in excitement. "Good work in there, Doctor."

"Where did you find this one, Ms Farewell?" Dr Carlson asked, pulling his mask off. "She kept her head on in there, most of the morons you bought me just lose it."

"She was recommended but she's deserving of it." She slid her shades down the bridge of her nose and winked at me. "Is she up to your standards, Dr Carlson?"

He didn't answer her right away. Dr Carlson turned to me sharply with an observing gaze. He looked like he was thinking critically of me, and I stared back. I didn't back down when it came to situations like these. "I think you're pretty good but I'll need to see how you perform in other situations." He said finally. "It's gonna be real tough here, think you can handle it?"

"I'm no daisy." I held my hand out properly. "I can handle anything."

"Good." Dr Carlson took my hand and shook my hand firmly. "This is just a taste of what it's like here." He nodded to the room. "I hope for your sake, you make it past the two-week marks."

"If I make it past the two-week mark, I'll buy you around?" I suggested. "How about it, Doctor?"

He grinned. "That's a deal, Doctor."