All of the frustrated aggression seemed to have been stuffed away, somewhere. They were in public, and even though the emergency room waiting area wasn’t packed, it still had a dozen people scattered around the seats.īut the expected explosion, shouting, other things…never happened. Silently, she sang herself an inane nursery rhyme to take her mind off the weight of the man’s intense glare. Instead, she fastened her gaze on the floor and tried to keep her body from tensing visibly. Better to hold very still, wait until the anger in front of her burned itself out, and pull herself together afterward. Now was not one of those times.Įlisa squashed the urge to bolt. Usually she envied nurses their ability to sympathize with so many patients and make such a difference in their lives. Wait, what? The man’s face, and his focus, turned toward her.

Please, wait right here and fill out these forms while I help this young lady.” “As soon as an examination room opens up, we’ll get you in to see the doctor. The nurse glanced quickly at Elisa then returned her attention to the man, her expression softening with sympathy.

Getting her injury examined wasn’t worth staying anywhere near this guy. Maybe she should just take more ibuprofen and forget about seeing a doctor for her swollen wrist after all. “Fighter” might as well have been printed across his very broad, muscular shoulders.Īctually, now that she was looking, his tee said Revolution Mixed Martial Arts Academy. His hands were wrapped in some cross between tape and fabric. He was dressed in loose fitness shorts and a close-fitting black tee. She was braver than Elisa would’ve been in the face of rage on a level with the man’s at the counter. “I’m sorry, sir, but ambulances take precedence over walk-ins,” the nurse repeated. He stood at an angle to Elisa, so he could see the reception desk to his right and the entirety of the waiting area in front of him.Įlisa retreated farther back toward the entrance, releasing her throbbing wrist and letting her hands fall to her sides. A tall man stood between her and the emergency room reception desk, glaring at the woman in scrubs behind it. Elisa Hall took a prudent step-or two-back as she observed the standoff brewing in front of her.

Ultimate Courage by Piper J. Drake