“Wow, that’s disgusting,” Cole says. “Your stomach sucks.”
“Tell me about it. My throat’s killing me,” I say.
A middle-aged woman with orange hair sits at a crooked table. She doesn’t look up while we stand there for what seems like forever, and I observe the violet brand on her slender neck. Pride.
Cole clears his throat. She glances up as she shows me an ID tag with my name and picture on the left side.
“Make sure it’s you,” she says in a squeaky voice. It’s labeled “8 West” on the right side with my photo and the name “Dr. Sutton” in the bottom left corner.
Cole reaches over and yanks my tag out of her hand. “She’ll need to wear it, not stare at it.” The woman snaps to attention and glares at him, but he doesn’t seem to care.
I don’t even have my tag on when he snaps, “You coming or you just going to stand there?”
I lean against the sheet metal wall in the elevator while he pushes the number eight. From this angle, he looks more intimidating. I can’t see around his broad shoulders, so I look at the back of his head and notice a small patch of hair he missed while buzzing it.
He taps his fingers on his thigh as we move upward but doesn’t speak. I wonder what he thinks about being my guard. I’m sure it’s not something he wanted or chose to do. And then there’s Zeus. It’s perplexing why Cole loves such a colossal doofus of a dog.
We stand in front of a door with the name “Dr. Sutton” carved into the wood.
“Who is it?” asks a deep voice. It’s low like a distant rumble.
“It’s Cole, sir.” A beep follows a click and then the door swings open, revealing a well-lit room with a desk at the opposite end. Two chairs sit in front of it. Pictures of the ocean hang on the walls, and a sign hangs opposite.
Treat everyone equal. We are all born the same and die the same.
Hmmm. I didn’t expect to see that.
“Lexi. Lexi Hamilton.” The way he says my name would make you think he knows me.
My eyes snap to his face, but I don’t recognize him. He walks around the desk and reaches out his hand, enveloping mine with roughness and strength.
“Yes, nice to meet you, sir.”
He smiles and sits down at his desk, gesturing me to sit as well. He looks up at Cole. “You’re free to go. I’ll take it from here. Hey, just remember to be back by seven when she’s done with her shift.”
“It’s just orientation. Page me when you’re done with her.” Cole whistles at Zeus, who pops his head out of the trash. Zeus looks up, and a piece of tape is stuck between his eyes.
“Oh, dear God. Let’s go. You know that scary face you made earlier? Totally down the drain.” He talks to Zeus as if he understands every word that comes out of his mouth.
“She’ll still be done at seven,” Sutton says.
“I’ll be here,” Cole says.
I shift my weight in the chair and glance up at Dr. Sutton. He looks about forty years old, salt-and-pepper hair, with some deep creases in his forehead and a crooked nose. The sea-green scrubs bring out his eyes. He reaches down into a drawer.
“Are you thirsty?”
“Um… sure.”
He tosses me a bottle of water. Catching it with trembling hands, I twist the cap off and force it down my throat. The thin layer of soot I accumulated from the journey made my tongue swell. He catches me staring at the sign as he leans back and crosses his arms.
“Obviously, I’m Dr. Sutton, but please, just call me Sutton.”
“All right.”
“I’m the only licensed doctor here, and what few supplies we have, I’ve paid for. So I expect you to treat them with respect, and if you try to steal anything, I’ll cut off your arms.”
“I would never…”
“Good, then you have nothing to worry about. I do things a little differently here. You work your way up and learn as you go. I’m willing to teach, if you’re willing to learn. There are nurse’s aides and nurses who will work with you and show you the ropes. Make sure you pay close attention to detail and ask them any questions you have. It might take years to get to a nursing level, but if you strive for it, you’ll get there.”
He has a serious look about him, a professionalism I imagine isn’t found here often. “I don’t care about your past. You have a new beginning with me. So as far as I’m concerned, you’re just a fellow employee. It’s up to you, though, what you make of yourself. Oh, and I don’t give second chances. If you go behind my back in any way or break the rules, you’ll be reported to the commander. If you try to escape, I will catch you. Understood?”
“I understand and I won’t let you down.” I don’t know why I said the last part. Maybe it’s because he seems compassionate, yet strong, and maybe he reminds me just a little of my own father by the way he looks at me. Either way, my muscles begin to relax, and I find myself meeting his eyes and enjoying the warmth in them.