Bully by Lori M . Myers
The lights flickered and snapped in the cool corridor as Callie wheeled another cadaver to the basement , a heavy one this time , a man whose family gave their last respects to before they rushed off because of weather warnings . She cursed under her breath as she thrust her shoulder against the heavy gurney to get it and him into the cramped elevator which would take her down , down , down to where rows of bodies awaited . Her job was to get them ready for the doctor and coroner the next day by recording those which required an autopsy due to criminal investigation or family request , were organ donors , or had some special religious requirement for burial preparation . Her paperwork was essential to avoid bereaved families barging in and threatening lawsuits when a mistake was made . The far section of the basement was reserved for the dead who went unclaimed and without loved ones to mourn them . Callie felt sympathy for those people .
She ’ d had dreams of something bigger for herself , better than the drudgery and dread she felt every night as she began each shift . Her dreams were never about this . Never about carting death across uneven floors , through narrow doorways and into a groaning elevator as it descended to the basement .
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