Today was going to be another hard day.
The patient rush was overwhelming, and there wasn't even time for coffee. She was hungry, but when she thought about the workload waiting for her tomorrow, she lost the desire to eat. All she wanted was to go home and sleep.
It would be worth it in the end.
This was what a typical internship looked like, and she reminded herself that she should be grateful—grateful that she had received an education at all. Reaching this place had not been easy. But now, she could finally see the end.
Ashley thought this as she walked out of the emergency room, her scrubs soaked with sweat. She should wash them too, she knew, but even that felt like too much work. Only two months of internship remained, and she needed to think more seriously about which specialty she wanted to choose.
She was leaning toward Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Still, she wasn't sure if she could handle the relentless work pressure. Yet, during her internship, the Obstetrics and Gynaecology rotation was the one she looked forward to the most. Hearing a newborn's first cry, seeing the look in a mother's eyes—those moments felt more peaceful than anything else.
In those moments, everything felt worth it.
The hard work. The exhaustion.
It was the one thing that truly brought her joy
Just then, someone hugged her from behind.
"Hello, stranger."
She froze for a second, startled, then laughed—an easy, relieved laugh. "Where were you?" she asked
It was Jacob. Her best friend.
They had met during orientation. Ashley had arrived an hour early—overcautious, as always. Being a scholarship student, she preferred to be early rather than risk being late. The auditorium where the program was supposed to be held was still locked, so she waited outside.
Jacob had arrived early too, but for a different reason. He had misread the schedule. The program was set for nine, but he thought it was at seven. Being a perpetually late person he walked in at eight—convinced he was already late.
Both of them, unknowingly, had arrived an hour early.
Jacob's parents were overseas, and he was living with his aunt and uncle. While they waited, they introduced themselves awkwardly. Ashley immediately wrote him off as a spoiled rich kid—someone she wouldn't get along with. Jacob thought she was shy, overly serious, maybe even a little prudish. She was pretty, sure, but dressed in an oversized shirt and old jeans, and he didn't expect anything more than a batchmate-level connection.
Neither of them thought much of the other.
They were still waiting when a security guard approached and informed them that the auditorium had been changed. Neither of them had seen the notification. They were the only two standing outside the wrong hall.
They started running.
Ashley tripped and fell, scraping her hand. Blood pooled instantly. Jacob took one look—and fainted. And she accompanied him to the nurse's room. And rest was history.
To this day, Jacob insists it was because he had skipped breakfast. Not because of the blood.
Ashley lets him say it, even though she knows better. She has sat with him through countless surgeries since then, accompanied him to the nurse's office more times than she can remember. Now he has an iron stomach, capable of standing through procedures without flinching.
But she knows the truth.
So…" Jacob began, and Ashley knew she wasn't going to like what followed.
"Can we please exchange duties for today?"
Ashley groaned. "No way. I wasn't looking forward to my duty as it is, and it's a night shift in the admission ward. I am not going to trade that for casualty duty."
"Please…" he tried again. "I'll trade duties whenever you want in the future—however shitty it is." He smiled wickedly. "I can even help you score a date with Mike."
Mike was the campus heartthrob—and Jacob's roommate.
"Don't try to charm me," Ashley said. "And I already told you I'm not interested in Mike, so that's not even a good bribe."
Mike was handsome, rich, and—yes—a complete package. He wasn't spoiled like most rich kids and was sincere in his studies. But Ashley wasn't lying. She wasn't interested in him romantically.
Maybe that part of her—the part that longed for human connection—was dead.
Oh. She was getting trapped in her own thoughts again. She had a devil to deal with.
"So," she asked, "what is so urgent that you had to trade duties—that too at the last minute?"
Jacob started sheepishly. "Amy is also there. You know I like her. But she's always working."
Ashley couldn't argue with that. Amy was a famous workaholic.
"So I'm going to work alongside her for one full night," Jacob continued, "and score a date."
Of course. It had something to do with a girl.
"Oh, come on," Ashley said. "She's not going to fall for your schemes. And I'm not trading duties." She started to walk away.
"Please, Ashley," Jacob said. There was a rare seriousness in his voice. "I only have two more months to convince Amy to date me. Every day is precious."
Damn it.
Her resolve melted.
"Fine," Ashley said. "But when I ask to trade duties, you're going to say yes like a good boy—however shitty it is, and whatever time it is. I won't hear a word of complaint."
Jacob's smile spread wide. "That's my girl. I knew I could count on you."
Ashley was irritated, but Jacob was a good friend—and she knew he'd liked Amy for at least a year now. They would make a cute couple.
That was, if Amy stopped working herself to death for one second and noticed Jacob's feelings.
"See you later," Jacob said, already running toward the wards—no doubt plotting something wicked.
Ashley mentally prepared herself for one grueling night and changed direction toward casualty.