Page 130 of Love Sick

On the first login screen, I type my name and password. I’m redirected to another login screen. Security aside, I hate multifactor authentication. Without my laptop and its keychain of saved passwords, I can’t remember which login this screen needs. I try a few. No luck.

A waking bear growls in my chest, hungry for blood.

I have to call IT.

My fingers drum on the desk. Not even my mental flashcards can mask my hatred for this situation. My blood acidifies and heats to boiling.

By the time the IT help desk person answers, I’m ready for a massacre.

The problem: there’s an invisible space after my username.

“The username is SGROSE space?”

“Yes. Space after theE.”

My fingers on my phone turn to claws. “How was I supposed to see it?”

“I’m not sure.”

I disconnect before I totally lose my cool. The records on the patient print without issue. I set them on John’s desk.

He feigns surprise. “I didn’t realize you still worked here. Haven’t seen you all day.”

“Here I am. Oh, but here’s my best part.” I point to my nose. “Don’t I have such a beautiful nasal bone?”

His bewilderment takes the form of a slack jaw and clouded eyes. “What?”

“I started my period and bled everywhere. I have to go.”

His face whitens. “Yes, of course.”

I don’t spare him another glance before flying out the door.

* * *

I’m halfway home when my phone rings, and Dr. Chen’s name takes over my car’s display. A ball of lead settles low in my stomach as I click the green button. Am I in trouble?

“Hello?”

“Hello, Dr. Rose?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

He coughs away from the phone. “I—um—we need to have a conversation.”

A pause follows while I try to make sense of that. “All right.”

“Can you come to my office now? Please tell your attending I’ve excused you from duties.”

Acid builds in my throat, but I swallow it away. “Yes. I’m on my way. What is this regarding?”

“It’s—ah—it’s better if we speak in person.”

Oh god. This can’t be good. Did I make some egregious mistake? Am I being sued?

The drive to the office is a blur, but the TCU Horned Frog smiles at me as I sit in the chair across from his desk. Dr. Chen hands me a Milky Way. It’s soon crushed in my sweaty fist.

“Dr. Rose, how are you?”

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