current state, she realized standing at the counter would be best.
Approaching triage again, Casey saw the nurse point in her direction while
speaking with another, much taller nurse, but was too far away to make anything
of the conversation. Casey handed the clipboard in and watched as the woman
keyed some information while the tall one watched over her shoulder.
Infuriated by the disrespect, Casey let loose with, “Not once have you looked
up from that screen to make eye contact with any of the people who are here.”
Suddenly, there was a spike of tension in the waiting room, and once again all
eyes were on Casey.
“We’re decent people,” Casey said as the second nurse snapped to attention.
“With real situations who need just a little compassion. Obviously, you’ve been
at this job so long that you’re desensitized to the human aspect of your position.”
She drew the comforter around her before it slipped down further. “After
everything I’ve been through this morning, having to deal with your callous
attitude has been far more degrading.” She leaned in and cried, “Look at me.”
Finally, the nurse gave Casey a thorough once-over and her blue eyes widened
with shock. “You should’ve said that you’ve been raped,” she replied, and had the
nerve to sound indignant.
“The fact that I’m here should’ve been important enough to warrant your
attention. No matter what happened to me.”
Grumbles of assent echoed behind Casey as the few waiting patients agreed;
some even applauded. The nurse flinched, then mumbled something Casey
couldn’t quite catch. A more matronly woman came nearby and said, “Why
don’t you take a break, Becky. We’ll talk later.”
The nurse walked a few steps, grimaced, then turned to put a glassy gaze on
Casey and said, “I’m sorry,” before trudging down a hallway that led to a double
set of wooden doors.
“My name’s Olivia,” the older nurse offered touching Casey’s elbow. “I’ll take
over from here.”. Chestnut eyes filled with warmth, flickered over Casey’s ill-clad
form as she added, “The police will catch the monster that did this.”
Casey’s vision blurred with unshed tears as she whispered, “They won’t have
to look far. It’s my husband …”
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