Page 60 of Love Sick

Dr. Narayan makes it to the bedside when I’m a few stitches in and guides every throw. At the computer desk afterward, I’m flying through my notes and orders when she appears beside me.

“Dr. Rose, can you follow me?”

Startled, I save my work and trail after her, suppressing the sensation that I’m being called to the principal’s office. Short black ponytail swinging, she opens the door to her office and ushers me inside. She doesn’t offer a seat, so I don’t take one. Instead, we stand beside the door.

She crosses her arms. “You need to stop butting into deliveries.”

Taken aback, I gape while the familiar acidic corrosion of anxiety filters through my insides. “I was trying to help.”

“It’s my job to take care of patients. Your job is to help me. It’s inappropriate for you to be delivering patients without an attending physician present.”

“She would have delivered in the bed—”

“All of you residents do the same thing. You need to learn your place.” Her sharp gaze bores into me. “Where is your senior?”

“Oh, I—”

“It doesn’t matter. How about your attending? Isn’t he supposed to be here when you have patients actively laboring on the floor?”

“She went from four centimeters to crowning. The nurse called him—”

“I’m tired of taking on liability for you all to work reckless and unchaperoned, and you need to be trained. It’s their job to train you, don’t you agree?”

I curl my lips inward, biting hard. It’s my understanding thatsheis meant to be my chaperone while I’m working in this hospital, but I don’t know all the closed-door arguments that’ve led to this level of bitterness.

It’s like I’m a kid whose parents are divorcing, and each parent wants me to take their side when both of them are wrong. Meanwhile, I’m crying in the corner for someone to please buy me some cotton candy. After her tirade, which I’m sure was cathartic for her, but ruined my entire day, I whip out my phone and open the Pit It or Quit It message stream.

Me:Narayan’s in full Narayan mode today if you know what I mean

Alesha:So average day then?

Raven:I’m sorry! Your day will get better.

Julian:Or it will get worse, and you’ll have to drown your sorrows in textbooks.

Kai:

Kai:$100 says studying is her stress relief

Me:At least I knew the answer when they asked us about pap smears earlier, Julian.

Julian sends a picture of him in surgery with Dr. Ryan, followed by a jewel emoji.

Julian:Your hostility can’t touch me, Sapphire. I took out a uterus today.

Me:That’s a diamond, not a sapphire.

Everyone else congratulates him, but I growl. Of course the attendings let him assist in a hysterectomy when he’s supposed to be covering L&D. He’s the golden child, so let’s all shower him in gifts.

I open another message.

Me:Thanks for taking the time to teach me repairs in December. I’m finally starting to feel good about them.

Asher:You’re a vagician!

Me:Ha. Don’t know about that. It could’ve been better.

Asher:Practice makes perfect, sweetie-kins.

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