Amber
The night shift had always been my favorite.
Fewer people. Less noise. More space to think.
But tonight wasn’t like the others.
Today had already been long—I was working a double shift, which included the current night rotation. I’d been on my feet for most of the day, moving from ward to ward, checking in on post-ops, reviewing charts, helping consults.
Dr. McQuoid, our Head Surgeon, was away in London for a medical conference, and many of the others had already gone home after their shifts. Ian included. He’d passed me in the hallway a few hours ago, yawning into the crook of his elbow, and tossed a lazy “Good luck surviving the night shift alone,” with that usual boyish grin before heading out.
The only other doctor who was supposed to be on call had to rush out last-minute—
