Page 70 of Under Fire

“I wasn’t scheduled.”

“Yes, you were—in the ER.”

Alisa cocked her head back, shocked.What?Putting the pieces together, she realized that she’d accepted a trade from another student. Smacking her palm to her forehead, she exhaled shakily.

“I’m so sorry. I got caught up—” Alisa started.

“It’s not like you to miss a shift, but you did. I’m hearing you’ve become more and more distracted lately.” Dr. Roske’s intensity was palpable.

Alisa chewed her lip, knowing there was more to the story. All the doctors talked.

“They were really short-staffed,” the doctor said. “Dr. Zucker isn’t pleased.”

“It’s not going to happen again,” Alisa promised.

“But, if it does?” Dr. Roske questioned. “I know the hospital demands a lot from doctors, but the truth of the matter is that lives are in our hands. We must prioritize our commitments.”

“I’m committed. I’ll be here.”

“I hope so.” The doctor flipped through a folder, raising her eyebrows.

Alisa realized her name was on it.

“Has the board considered my residency?” Alisa asked.

“Your name has come up, but the timing has not been good, not with you missing in action. Dr. Zucker carries a lot of clout in this hospital.”

Alisa started fidgeting nervously, unable to process what was happening. Everything she had worked so hard for had just got lit on fire.

The doctor leaned forward. “Alisa, you can do great work for a long time, but people only remember the most recent. Take my advice and make sure your most recent work is flawless, if you really want this.”

Alisa took a deep breath, praying to God. The doctor dismissed her to finish off her shift in the ER, knowing she had a lot to make up for.

* * * *

Hours and hours later, after a long day, Alisa sat in the setting sun on Maria’s tiny stone patio. Paranoia drove her to constantly scan the landscape, listening for any loud engine—motorcycle or V8 truck. Though it was damn hot out, she shivered in her borrowed clothes, anticipating the worst. She fidgeted, checking the time for no reason.

Maria lit a cigarette, leaning against the door. Her purple hair catching beams of light, and she furrowed her brows as she clearly assessed her young friend. Alisa drew the creamy sweater tighter around her, twisting the ring anxiously.

“I’ve never seen you wear that ring before,” Maria said.

“I just started last night.”

“Why?”

“It’s hard to explain,” Alisa said.

Alisa smoothed out her sweater’s fabric, looking for wrinkles that weren’t there. She was just anxious, fretting, feeling like everything had become so impossible.

“Are you going to call him?” Maria asked.

“Which one?”

“Warren, of course.”

Alisa arched her eyebrow at her. “Maria, why did you want me to clean his house? And why the hell did you send me…in those shorts?”

Maria’s eyes twinkled with that same conniving look that she’d once given Alisa. She leaned back, shooting Alisa a motherly expression, like she cared more than Alisa could ever understand.

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