17
Melissa woke, curled up on a small cot in the Principal's office, still fully clothed with the blankets tangled at her feet. The warm sunlight of early morning came through the rectangular window in the white cinder-block wall.
She sat up.
Closing her eyes, Melissa pressed a hand to her forehead. I need to get more than four hours sleep, she thought, ignoring her throbbing headache. How do doctors survive those thirty-six hour shifts?
The small room was devoid of furniture of any kind except for three other cots that all supported other volunteers, though Teresa – a willowy girl with long auburn hair that fell in curls – was already rising and getting dressed. They said nothing; Brett and Joshua were still asleep. They'd be up and about in less than ten minutes when the doctors star
