Read Online How to Save a Life by Kristin Harmel - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristin Harmel
Ads: Link
too.”
Just before I go to bed that night, I call Atlanta General and ask to speak with the nurse on duty in the ICU. I explain that I’m the nurse who brought an older man named Merel Friedl in earlier that day, and I ask if he survived his heart attack. She shuffles through some papers and says yes, he’s in critical but stable condition. I thank her, and as I hang up and turn out the light, I wonder whether I’ve thrown off the balance of the universe somehow by saving a man who would have otherwise died.
W HEN I WAKE up the next morning, I realize that it’s once again Friday the seventh. The sun is shining, and my Cat in the Hat scrubs are laid out exactly where I put them on Thursday night.
I reach for the scrubs, but then I change my mind and head into my closet instead. Today, I’m going to tell Sheila that I’m skipping work because of the doctor’s appointment. She won’t mind, and since I’m there anyhow, I’ll have a chance to check on my kids.
I grab a sundress, a cardigan, and ankle boots and quickly brush my hair and apply makeup. I’m ashamed to admit to myself that I’m dressing with Jamie in mind.
The bench across the street where I’ve met Merel is empty as I hurry into Atlanta Children’s. I pass by the beautiful tree, get into the elevator alone, and push the button for the eighth floor. The doors are just sliding closed when I hear a male voice call, “Hold the elevator!” as a hand appears in the narrowing gap.
I quickly push the button to open the doors, and a second later, Jamie appears, surrounded by a huge cluster of Mylar balloons.
“Hey!” I say too brightly, and I’m suddenly flustered. I remind myself that he doesn’t know me yet.
“Thanks so much for holding the doors,” he says, shooting me a smile as he navigates the balloons onto the elevator and punches the button for floor nine, the cardiology floor. “I’m running late, and you just saved me from getting yelled at by a dozen kids.”
“A dozen kids?” I ask in confusion, glancing at the balloons. I’d thought he only came to the hospital to water the tree.
“I volunteer on the cardiology floor,” he says. “It’s the birthday of one of the kids today, and I’m throwing a little party on the non-ICU side of the floor.”
“Wow,” I say. And then something occurs to me. “Shoot! I was supposed to bring balloons today for one of my kids!”
He looks at me inquisitively.
“I’m a nurse on the pediatric oncology floor. One of my patients is having her last round of chemo today. I meant to bring balloons.”
“It’s your lucky day, then!” He separates three of the balloons he’s holding and hands them to me.
“I couldn’t possibly take your balloons!”
He smiles. “Like the kids will notice that there are three missing. Did you not notice that I’ve brought approximately half a million balloons with me today? I nearly floated away outside.”
I laugh. “Are you sure?”
“Are you kidding me? You just told me it’s for a kid’s last day of chemo.”
“Well, thank you,” I say as the elevator dings and the doors slide open on my floor.
“Hey,” Jamie says as I begin to step off. “Any chance you’d want to come up and help me hand out cake in a few minutes?”
I open my mouth to reply, but he holds up a hand.
“Sorry, that was dumb. You’re on your way to work. What am I thinking? Like you have time for a party.”
I smile. “I would love to. Honestly. But I have several kids I need to see before taking off today.”
“I totally understand,” Jamie says quickly. He holds my gaze for a second until some of the balloons float between us, obstructing our view. “Hey, I hope I see you around sometime, though.”
“Me too,” I say as the doors begin to slide closed.
“Wait!” Jamie sticks a hand into the gap between the doors again to open them.
We stand there for a second staring at each other as the elevator opens again with a ding.
“I’m Jamie, by the
Just before I go to bed that night, I call Atlanta General and ask to speak with the nurse on duty in the ICU. I explain that I’m the nurse who brought an older man named Merel Friedl in earlier that day, and I ask if he survived his heart attack. She shuffles through some papers and says yes, he’s in critical but stable condition. I thank her, and as I hang up and turn out the light, I wonder whether I’ve thrown off the balance of the universe somehow by saving a man who would have otherwise died.
W HEN I WAKE up the next morning, I realize that it’s once again Friday the seventh. The sun is shining, and my Cat in the Hat scrubs are laid out exactly where I put them on Thursday night.
I reach for the scrubs, but then I change my mind and head into my closet instead. Today, I’m going to tell Sheila that I’m skipping work because of the doctor’s appointment. She won’t mind, and since I’m there anyhow, I’ll have a chance to check on my kids.
I grab a sundress, a cardigan, and ankle boots and quickly brush my hair and apply makeup. I’m ashamed to admit to myself that I’m dressing with Jamie in mind.
The bench across the street where I’ve met Merel is empty as I hurry into Atlanta Children’s. I pass by the beautiful tree, get into the elevator alone, and push the button for the eighth floor. The doors are just sliding closed when I hear a male voice call, “Hold the elevator!” as a hand appears in the narrowing gap.
I quickly push the button to open the doors, and a second later, Jamie appears, surrounded by a huge cluster of Mylar balloons.
“Hey!” I say too brightly, and I’m suddenly flustered. I remind myself that he doesn’t know me yet.
“Thanks so much for holding the doors,” he says, shooting me a smile as he navigates the balloons onto the elevator and punches the button for floor nine, the cardiology floor. “I’m running late, and you just saved me from getting yelled at by a dozen kids.”
“A dozen kids?” I ask in confusion, glancing at the balloons. I’d thought he only came to the hospital to water the tree.
“I volunteer on the cardiology floor,” he says. “It’s the birthday of one of the kids today, and I’m throwing a little party on the non-ICU side of the floor.”
“Wow,” I say. And then something occurs to me. “Shoot! I was supposed to bring balloons today for one of my kids!”
He looks at me inquisitively.
“I’m a nurse on the pediatric oncology floor. One of my patients is having her last round of chemo today. I meant to bring balloons.”
“It’s your lucky day, then!” He separates three of the balloons he’s holding and hands them to me.
“I couldn’t possibly take your balloons!”
He smiles. “Like the kids will notice that there are three missing. Did you not notice that I’ve brought approximately half a million balloons with me today? I nearly floated away outside.”
I laugh. “Are you sure?”
“Are you kidding me? You just told me it’s for a kid’s last day of chemo.”
“Well, thank you,” I say as the elevator dings and the doors slide open on my floor.
“Hey,” Jamie says as I begin to step off. “Any chance you’d want to come up and help me hand out cake in a few minutes?”
I open my mouth to reply, but he holds up a hand.
“Sorry, that was dumb. You’re on your way to work. What am I thinking? Like you have time for a party.”
I smile. “I would love to. Honestly. But I have several kids I need to see before taking off today.”
“I totally understand,” Jamie says quickly. He holds my gaze for a second until some of the balloons float between us, obstructing our view. “Hey, I hope I see you around sometime, though.”
“Me too,” I say as the doors begin to slide closed.
“Wait!” Jamie sticks a hand into the gap between the doors again to open them.
We stand there for a second staring at each other as the elevator opens again with a ding.
“I’m Jamie, by the
Similar Books
