She pounced on the bowl of chipotle like a lion would on its prey, dipping the chips in the bowl of rice, shredded chicken, baked beans, lettuce and cabbage with a drench of sour cream.
Source
“Easy, Jayla. Easy!” Jayden said to her as she rushed the food, helping her open the can of sprite.
“I…” she coughed, almost choking on her food but Jayden hurriedly handed a bottle of water to her. She down the bottle of water to half, coughing.
“You need to take it easy, Jay!” Jayden said, almost upset.
Jayla swallowed hard with her eyes shut and the next thing was an outburst of tears from her. She cried as though she had been holding it back for days which in fact was true.
Jayden pulled her to his chest and hugged her tightly but soon pulled out of the hug, gagging.
“Damn, Jay. You smell like shit!”
“I know. I know damn well,” Jayla replied him, still crying. “I haven’t had anything to eat for two days nor have I had the chance to have a proper bath and wash my hair,” she explained with tears rolling down her cheeks and Jayden felt pity for her so he leaned back for the hug, managing the reek of dirt and sweat that was invading his nostrils.
“You should quit this job!” Jayden said as he pulled out of the hug again. “Mum has been dead worried,” he added.
Jayla wiped the tears off her face and stared at her bowl of chipotle before taking a huge gulp of her sprite.
“I can’t, Jayden. I love being a nurse and I know it’s so draining and time consuming. We have lots of sick people these days and they solely depend on our care to be well. I can’t just quit and leave their hopes to the ground.”
Jayla had dreamt of being a nurse since she was 3 years. Panning from role-playing as a nurse with her twin brother, Jayden to caring exceptionally for her pet dog. That dream was delayed by financial constraints but finally she got a hold of it even though it all happened in her early thirties.
Now that she had achieved her dream, her second goal was slugging. Her second goal of being a mother with two kids and a great husband. Since her last break-up which was in her senior year in high school, she hasn’t ever fell in love with anyone and now, her job wouldn’t give a chance for that anymore.
“Can you at least have a bath?” Jayden asked and Jayla shook her head.
“I have just a few minutes left till the end of my break and I’m so glad I even have this much time today. I do not even have a clean scrub with me,”Jayla said while still filling her mouth with her food.
“I brought a clean scrub, socks and crocs. New underwear too, perfumes and deodorants with your shampoo and hairdryer,” Jayden replied.
Jayla paused from eating and stared admiringly at her brother before jumping on him and hugging him. “You are the best brother ever!” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Arggh. Get of him, Jay. You smell like shit!” he said, pushing her away. “Now, hurry up and have a clean bath! How many more minutes do you have left?”
Jayla checked her watch and saw that she still has twenty more minutes left. “Enough time to get clean. Hopefully, there wouldn't be an emergency!”
“Hurry up then!” Jayden said and Jayla got up, downing her sprite and hurriedly flushing it all down with her bottle of water before burping. “That felt so good!”
“Ewww!” Jayden exclaimed and Jayla laughed before grabbing the bag that contained the things she needed and hurrying up to the bathroom.
She took ten minutes to wash up thoroughly and get dressed, feeling clean and brand new while drenching herself in her perfumes. She finally got the chance to wash her hair with her favorite shampoo as well which only brought tears to her eyes. Changing to a clean underwear after wearing one for two days without changing it made her so emotional.
After she felt clean, she parked her hair up in a high ponytail, she checked herself in the mirror before checking her watch. She had seven minutes left.
Jayla hurried out of the bathroom to her brother who was busy with his phone.
“Hey, Jayden,” she said as she got out.
“Yeah, you smell like human again!” Jayden teased and Jayla slapped his shoulder jokingly.
Just as she was about to sit and continue eating her food, the emergency alarm buzzed and a voice followed through the speaker.
“Patient in room 402 needs emergency attention. All nurses assigned to this room are needed!” This went on repeatedly with the emergency alarm blaring nosily.
“I gotta go now!”
“You not gonna finish your food?”
“I can’t. I’m one of the nurses assigned to that room.”
She hurried away without saying goodbye to Jayden.
“Not even a hug?” he said at her retreating back but she was far gone to give that.
Story inspired by Worldbuilding Prompt #811 - Sick Days
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