Anchor

"Good morning Mrs Jennings!" Kayla waves cheerily at her widowed old neighbor. The old woman is bent over with age as she tries to do her garbage. She waves enthusiastically to her as Kayla walks past, quickly. Kayla is quick to plug in her earpiece to block out the noisiness of her street. The streets of New York City can be a harsh and unforgiving place, especially for those living in the poorer neighborhoods. Here, the hustle and bustle of the city is replaced with a constant struggle for survival. The people here are tough, resilient, and always looking for ways to make ends meet. Kayla is one of those people and she doesn't just struggle for herself, but her father as well. The buildings are old and run-down, with peeling paint and broken windows. The sound of sirens and car horns can be heard in the distance, a constant reminder of the chaos that surrounds her. The living condition of the environment is poor and unconducive but that's what lifes of many immigrants looked like, in this part of New York. Kayla walks down the streets lined up with small businesses, each one fighting for a share of the market. There are bodegas, laundromats, and small restaurants, all catering to the needs of the local community. The challenges of this neighborhood are evident. The equipment is old and sometimes dangerous, and the parks are often littered with trash. Despite all of these challenges, the people of this neighborhood remain strong and resilient. They are a community, bound together by their struggles and their determination to overcome them. They know that life here is hard, but they refuse to give up. There are often reoccurrence of theft and murder but even in this wicked and untamed environment, Kayla has found herself unable to break away from the 'shackles of her own kindness'. As her acholic father would often say. Kayla's bundled up in a thick winter coat, scarf, and gloves to ward off the cold. Her chestnut curly hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and her emerald eyes sparkle with determination. She adjusts the hand of her winter coat as she awaits the crossing sign. Her emerald eyes wonder around the street facing her when she notices an old man hunched over in pain. Her heart reaches out to him and she wishes to help him, but she has to wait for the crossing sign. Once the sign comes up, she rushes over to him, her heart pounding with worry. The old man is wearing a grey coat and a hat that's pulled low over his forehead, making it difficult to see his face. "Mr are you okay?" She's by his side in an instance. She links her arm with his in a bid to support his weight as much as she can. "Not very much dear." His reply is short but she can hear the pain evident in his voice. "How do you feel?" Her suspicions are that his having an heart attack as his right hand squeezes at the material separating his palm and his heart. "I'll ask you questions and if am right you are to nod your head. Okay?" He awards her a nod of agreement which is more than enough. "Does your chest hurt? Like a squeezing pain?" He nods, still bent over. "Your neck, shoulders, jaw or back? Do they also hurt?" The man nods again in affirmation. She sighs heavily as she looks around for a place for him to sit. Finding a bench on a platform, she leads him there while she dials 911. When he's well seated, she informs the older man who has had his eyes tightly shut for a while that an ambulance is on its way. She unbutton his jacket and shirt and every tight clothing. She advises him to relax and take in breaths, which he obeys. The ambulance arrives in a matter of minutes, and Kayla sighs in relief. She helps the paramedics get the old man onto the stretcher. As they roll him into the ambulance, she's conflicted on whether or not to go with the older man to make sure he's safe and okay. Or if she should go to Mrs May's house where she walks as a cleaner, which was where she was headed. The old man makes the choice for her, however when he suddenly grabs a hold of her hand and holds tightly to it. She can't let go, for the kindness of her heart and settles for returning a reassuring hold on his. The ambulance is warm and well-lit, with medical equipment neatly stored in cabinets lining the wall. Soon enough, the man's hold loosens on hers but she still doesn't let go. The ride to the hospital suddenly seemed farther than ever before. Kayla had been to the hospital countless times as she had mostly had to go take care of hospital bills for her father every time he got beaten up at a bar. And when she had to take Mrs Jennings to the hospital for her Tuesday check-ups, she had also been there. But still,this had to be the longest journey there. Her heart was frantic as she whispered reassuring words to the old man. She was in her first year in nursing school and she knew very well the dangers of a heart attack. It was hardly any shock for Kayla when no one had tried to help the old man when they witnessed the situation he was in. Little wonder people died all the time in her neighborhood. Especially old people. Kayla's heart reached out for the old man. He, unlike many of the old folks in her neighborhood looked pretty good and well taken care of. Now that she was able to see his face, although it was a bit hidden under the nasal cannula placed over his face, she took in his skin texture and pained expression making her feel very sorry for his family. They'd be so worried. Her attention was soon shifted from the old man to one of the nurses who wouldn't stop staring at her. He quickly averted his gaze when she locked gazes with him. Kayla had never been one for attention. As a matter of fact,she disliked it because of her many insecurities. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and returned her gaze back on the old man. She couldn't be anymore grateful when they finally reached the hospital. The medics rushed him into the ward and she waited in the waiting room for their report. "He's fine now. We prescribed a nitroglycerin_ thrombolysis. He's currently resting but you could go be with him." The doctor said as he scribbled down the prescription on a paper board. He tore the sheet out and handed it over to me. "Since you were the one who brought him in, I'm guessing you're his relative?" Since the first minute she had met the chubby doctor,he finally locked gazes with her. Kayla nodded and he readjusted his glasses, his brows creasing in concentration before he shrugged careless, handing over to her, the paper board. " Sign here and here." When Kayla had done just that, " take a turn to the left this way, you'd be directed to room 108." With that, he quickly walked off. She looked after him for a short while before turning to follow the doctor's instructions. She follows the doctor's lead and the smell of antiseptic and disinfectant immediately fills her nose, she can hear the sound of medical equipment beeping in the distance. She's nervous, determined to see the old man. She is well aware of how hard it is for her to see someone hurt, and just the thought of death scares the s**t out of her. As she makes her way to the ICU, she passes by busy nurses and doctors rushing to attend to their patients. The hospital is a hive of activity, with people coming and going at all hours. Kayla feels her determination to become a nurse just like them, heightened. When she enters the room, she sees the old man lying in bed, hooked up to a number of machines. He looks so small and unhealthy, but his eyes light up when he sees Kayla, undoubtedly happy to see her. She walks over to his bedside, taking his hand in hers. "Hey there," she says softly. "How do you feel?" The old man smiles weakly. "Better now that you're here," he says, his voice raspy. Kayla feels a rush of warmth in her chest. The man has a very kind aura around him and she can't help but smile. She squeezes his hand gently, in a bid to let him know that she wasn't going anywhere. She had always had an issue with talking but she managed well enough in expressing her feelings through gestures. As she sits by his bedside, Kayla takes in her surroundings. The room is small and sterile, with white walls and a single window that looks out onto the busy city below. The old man's bed is in the center of the room, surrounded by medical equipment and monitors that beep and hum. "What's your name love?" The old man asks as he looks intensely at her. A friendly and warm look plastered on her face. "Kayla." He gives a short nod and stares up at the ceiling for a long while. Kayla is beginning to get worried as he had refused to shut his eyes. Just as she's about to tell him to close his eyes, his eyes fall shut.