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“I-I don’t want the hospital to bother me on our break,” I say
“Oh” My mom pauses “That makes sense, but it doesn’t sound like you, honey You’re noro in on your off weekends when they ask”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear “That’s exactly why I don’t want the, e, and I don’t ork problems in the back of my mind”
“That certainly is a wise attitude” Molad Alex has such a positive influence on you I’ve been nagging you for years to take a proper vacation”
“Enough aboutmy back on Alex, I face the“How are you?”
“Wonderful I’ weight”
“That’s great,” I say, ratitude All theup the charade If the treat, I can’t take this opportunity away from her “I’m so happy to hear that”
Alex lays a hand on htly In the reflection of the glass, I see hi for the phone
“Listen,” I say, holding back a fresh surge of tears, “I have to go Pro, or if you don’t feel well”
“Don’t worry aboutthe tienerous and a man of yours You deserve it”
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly “I love you”
“Love you too, honey Say hi to Alex for me”
I cling to the phone, unable to end the call
Turning ently and pushes on the red button His gaze isn’t entirely without sympathy when he asks, “Who’s next? Your supervisor?”
Unable to speak with the tears clogging up my throat, I nod
He swipes a thumb over the screen and selects a number It doesn’t surprise raives me the phone
“June Wallers,” my supervisor answers It’s clear from her brusque but not unfriendly tone that she’s busy and tired
My guilt doubles “Hi, June It’s Kate”
“Kate? Please tellyour shift at ten Rose is sick and Lettie is stuck in some mountain resort where the roads are snowed over It’s chaos here today”
Bitingbreath “I’ency I’m afraid I have to take a leave of absence I don’t have a choice”
“Wow” A beat of silence follows “I hope it’s nothing too serious?”
“I can’t—” Checking myself, I say, “I’d prefer not to discuss it All I can say is that it’s a private matter”
“If it were anyone else, I would have doubts, but you’re one of our best and most serious nurses For all the times you sacrificed your days off to stand in ere short-staffed, I can only say take as much time as you need”