Jeff's head started to throb, the numbness wearing off, as he sat in the chair and waited for his brother to return. His attention was drawn to the other side of the room when he saw Sky sitting down with a couple, holding the woman's hand as she spoke to her. "Ma'am, we did everything we could to save him. It just wasn't enough. I'm sorry.", Sky spoke softly to the woman. Sky could feel her own tears welling up as she instructed the nurse to take the couple to see their son for the last time. She didn't notice Jeff watching her as she walked past him to the locker room. She gathered her things as she briefed the relieving doctor on the cases that were still pending. Again, she didn't notice Jeff as she walked past him and out the door of the emergency room. Her emotions got the better of her, causing her to stop and sit down on the curb. She was never able to handle the burden of telling someone that she couldn't save their loved one. "Couldn't" just wasn't part of her vocabulary.
'That must be an awful thing to have to do', Jeff thought to himself. "You ready?", Matt said, retrieving Jeff from his thoughts. "Yeah", he answered as he rose from the chair. They headed out the door. Jeff's heart skipped a beat when he saw Sky sitting on the curb in tears. "You go ahead, Matt. I'll catch a cab.", Jeff said. "Why?!?", Matt asked confused. Jeff tilted his head in Sky's direction. Matt shook his head and laughed, "Good luck, bro. She's tough." And with that he headed to his car. Jeff walked over and took a seat next to Sky on the curb. "You okay?", he asked in a soft voice. "Yeah, I'm fine.", she replied as she wiped the tears from her face, "it's all part of the job." "It must be tough though.", he continued. "And it never get's easier.", she said, "Could we just not talk about it anymore?" "Sure", he said with a smile. They sat in silence for a moment, then Jeff said, "I've got to ask you something. I'm sure you get this question all of the time, but...." Sky interrupted, "Yes, that's really my name. Sky Black." They both laughed. "The funny part is it was worse before I changed it.", she said. "What did it use to be?", Jeff asked. "I'd tell you, but you'd just laugh.", she said. "No, I won't. I promise.", he said. "I'd have to tell you the whole story for you to understand. And believe me, it's a long one.", she said wishing that she had never said anything. "Well, I've got all night. How about you tell me over a cup of coffee.", he said as he stood up and held out his hand to help her up. She couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth as she answered him, "I'd like that. But, the coffee here, for a lack of better words, sucks. There's a coffee shop right around the corner." "Great. Lead the way.", he said with a smile. |
