FIRST LESSON , FIRST TROUBLE
594 Words
The next morning came too quickly.
Ella Morgan stared at herself in the mirror for a long moment.
Her reflection looked tired.
Not physically… but emotionally.
“This nursing thing is going to finish me early,” she muttered.
Still, she adjusted her outfit, grabbed her bag, and stepped out.
No matter how chaotic things were, she had come too far to turn back now.
The nursing skills lab was different from the lecture hall.
Sterile.
Quiet.
Intimidating.
Beds were neatly arranged. Mannequins lay still on them like patients frozen in time. Equipment was everywhere—thermometers, gloves, syringes.
Ella swallowed hard.
“This place feels like pressure,” she whispered.
Students gathered around, chatting quietly.
Then the room slowly went silent.
Ella already knew what that silence meant.
She turned slightly.
Daniel Scott walked in.
Same calm energy. Same controlled presence. Same unreadable expression.
But today… he was holding gloves.
Clinical mode.
“Good morning,” he said.
No wasted words.
“You will be practicing basic patient care today.”
Ella’s stomach tightened slightly.
He continued:
“Washing a patient. Temperature checking. Basic hygiene care. These are not simple tasks. They are dignity.”
Ella listened carefully.
For the first time, she actually focused properly.
Not on embarrassment.
Not on fear.
Just learning.
“Pair up,” Daniel instructed.
The room immediately moved.
Students started grouping.
Ella turned slightly.
And realized—
she had no partner yet.
“Great,” she whispered. “Even nursing has group rejection.”
“Miss Morgan.”
She froze.
Again.
Slowly turned.
Daniel stood nearby.
“You will pair with Mr. Collins.”
A boy waved awkwardly from across the room.
Ella nodded quickly.
“Yes sir.”
But before she moved—
Daniel added:
“Observe carefully. Accuracy matters more than speed.”
Their eyes met briefly.
Just a second too long.
Ella looked away first.
The exercise began.
Ella tried her best.
Key word: tried.
She was supposed to gently clean the mannequin patient.
Instead—
she pulled the towel too hard.
The mannequin almost tilted.
“Sorry!” she said quickly.
Her partner looked nervous.
“Maybe… softer?” he suggested.
“I am being soft,” Ella whispered. “This thing is just dramatic.”
Across the room—
Daniel was observing.
Silently.
Watching.
Noticing everything.
Ella reached for the thermometer.
Her hands slipped slightly.
The instrument almost fell.
Before she could react—
a hand reached in and steadied it.
Daniel Scott.
Right beside her.
Close.
Too close for her brain to process quickly.
“Careful,” he said calmly.
Ella froze.
“Yes sir.”
He didn’t move immediately.
Just held the thermometer steady for a moment longer than necessary.
Then released it.
“Focus,” he added.
And walked away.
Ella stood still for a second.
“…Why does my heart feel like I just ran again?” she whispered.
As the session ended, students started packing up.
Ella tried to wipe her gloves quickly.
But she pulled one too fast—
and it snapped loudly.
POP!
A few students turned.
Ella froze.
“I swear… everything I touch is fighting me.”
The room laughed softly.
Even her partner.
Then she heard it.
A faint sound.
Not laughter.
Not from students.
From the front.
Daniel Scott.
A small smirk.
Barely visible.
But real.
Ella saw it.
And quickly looked away.
“No. No. No. Don’t notice him noticing you,” she whispered.
But inside her chest—
something had started shifting.
Not love.
Not yet.
Something worse.
Awareness.
- Writer
