- >Repeated beeping awakens you.
- >Letting out a groan, you quickly shut off the alarm clock.
- >Taking a breath, you sit up and stretch slowly.
- >Just another long day in store.
- >You are Deep Rest, nurse extraordinaire!
- >Technically a doctor, but working as a nurse a little less stressful and you get to bond with patients more.
- >Rising out of your bed, you look around your apartment.
- >It’s a little cramped, but you have plenty of room for what little you what have.
- >Heading to the bathroom, you go through the usual routine of bathing and brushing.
- >Always a pain, but you try to look your best despite your colors of your coat and mane.
- >Won’t be long now till your shift starts, then the real day begins.
- >Stepping into the kitchen, you try to psych yourself up.
- >It’s always difficult though.
- >Especially with the effects of last nights drinking still lingering.
- >Thankfully, you didn’t overdo it.
- >Still doesn’t help the dull pain in your head.
- >You take out a box of cereal and a bowl.
- >You should really get around to making something a little better than glorified cardboard.
- >Reading the side of the box it says ‘Fills you with energy to get you through the day!’
- “What a crock of shit, gotta sell to the masses somehow.”
- >Sitting down at the table, you open up a book and read while you eat.
- >It’s nothing special, just an issue of this years medical journal.
- >In truth, you already know most of this stuff like the back of your hoof.
- >Doesn’t hurt to get a refresher.
- >Before long, you finish up and start to prep to head to work.
- >Grabbing your saddle bags, keys, and putting on your wristband, you stop to give yourself a pep talk.
- “Alright Rest, just gotta put on your best face. Remember! Do it for the patients, do it for them.”
- >If anypony were to hear you now, likely your neighbors, they’d probably think your crazy.
- >Then again, they already hear you talk to yourself.
- >Especially when you drink.
- >Taking one final breath, you leave your apartment to the early morning.
- >The sun is slowly rising, and the air is still crisp.
- >Despite how everything feels so bright and lively.
- >It always seems like a thin veil covers it all.
- >Pushing aside those thoughts, you trot down the road, waving to the few ponies up and about this morning.
- >Slowly you approach your work, Ponyville General.
- >The pale yellow walls and brown shingled roof give off a rustic feel.
- >It feels welcoming and makes the patients feel at ease.
- >As you reach the entrance, you stop and close your eyes, giving yourself one final push.
- >Do it for them, never forget, do it for them.
- >Opening your eyes again, you head inside.
- >Passing by both patients and staff alike, you greet them with a smile.
- >This place is like a maze at times, but you could navigate it blind folded.
- >Entering the locker room, you see the other nurses getting ready.
- >One in particular catches your attention
- >Your friend Bedside Manner, though she prefers that you call her Betty.
- >Her turquoise coat and red mane make her stand out a fair bit.
- >But at least that makes her easy to pick out.
- >Going through your locker, she grabs your attention.
- >”Morning Rest, how was your weekend?”
- >Short, tiring, and you drank too much.
- >She doesn’t need to know that.
- “Morning Betty. It went pretty good, did some reading. How about you?”
- >She smiles.
- >”Mine was boring, ready for another exciting day of saving ponies from a runny nose?”
- >You give her a smirk, and reply with your own sarcasm.
- “Of course, and I can’t wait to take the temperature of each stallion who asks if they have a fever.”
- >You share a giggle between the two of you.
- >While you don’t see each other much outside of work, it’s nice to have some pony to talk to.
- >She rolls her eyes.
- >”Yeah, that never gets old.”
- “At least it’s all worth it. Can never be too careful after all.”
- >While she doesn’t share your conviction, no pony does, she does nod.
- >”That’s true. Well, I’ll see you later then.”
- “See you later Betty.”
- >Waving her off, you finish getting ready.
- >As you reach the group, you can see the usual nurses gathered around.
- >Time to get your assignments and updates on what happened this weekend.
- >The head nurse goes through her usual motions of reminding every nurse of their duties.
- >Part of you wish she didn’t, but sometimes the others need a reminder.
- >You listen to the important bits and wait for her to give your patients.
- >”Alright Deep, here you are.”
- >You quickly scan the names, but two in particular catch your eye.
- >Cart Wheel and Sky Light.
- >You’ve known Cart, well Carl, since you were a filly.
- >As for Sky, you remember him being born here.
- >You feel a little joy and a bit of concern enter your heart.
- >Giving the paper one final look, you start to make your rounds.
- >Mostly talking with patients, replacing equipment, and checking vitals.
- >But you get through it.
- >Carl and Sky are a bit high on your priority list.
- >Namely because Carl has been here for weeks, and Sky was brought in over the weekend.
- >Fortunately, first on the list is Sky.
- >Entering the room, you see Sky laying in bed under the covers with his mother sitting bedside.
- >High Light is her name, and she looks awful.
- >Not that you blame her, Sky is a regular here.
- >The poor colt was born premature and thus has had a whole host of problems.
- >Upon seeing you, he sits up a little fast before coughing.
- >His mother reaches him quickly.
- >>”Slow down Sky, not too fast, remember what the doctor said.”
- >He nods and lays back, but with a eager look on his face.
- “How’s my favorite colt?”
- >He gives you a big smile.
- >”Hi Rest, I’m happy to see you again.”
- >You nod and feel a swell of happiness.
- “I’m happy to see you as well. How about we chat while I do my work?”
- >Picking up the chart, you see why he is here.
- >Pneumonia.
- >A small bit of panic hits you, but you have learned to hide that from others.
- >Just continue smiling Rest, he is here now and will get through this.
- >He always pulls through, just like the last several times he was here.
- >As you perform your duties, you both start to talk.
- >”Mhm, mom reminds me that you have stuff to do.” He looks to her with a smile and continues on. “But your my favorite nurse.”
- >High Light looks a little happier seeing her son so lively.
- >You let out a small giggle.
- “Thank you light. How has school been?”
- >”It’s going great, I’ve just learned about the uni-uni-”
- >>”Unification.” Says Mrs. Light.
- >”Unification of the three tribes.” He says with a bright smile.
- >This colt is just melting your heart.
- >You write down a few more numbers, all good so far.
- “Sounds cool Sky, what’s your favorite part?”
- >He coughs again and his mother gently strokes his foreleg.
- >”When fire of friendship blasted away the windigos!”
- >He gestures and makes the noise of an explosion.
- >If you get diabetes from him, you don’t care.
- “That’s my favorite part as well.”
- >You make sure he doesn’t need anything else replaced.
- >”Mom got me a new train too!”
- >Taking a quick glance, you see she looking at him with tired eyes.
- >Still full of love, but so much pain.
- “Awesome, you’ve got to show me sometime, did you thank your mom?”
- >Turning back to him, you see he takes a moment, trying not to cough.
- >”Mhm, I was super happy and couldn’t stop thanking her.”
- >She lets out a small laugh.
- >>”You sure did, now don’t get too excited Sky.”
- >He looks to her and frowns.
- >”I won’t, you and the doctor keep reminding me.”
- “Well they are right to do that. You have to remember you’re a little sick right now.”
- >”I know, I can’t wait to get better.”
- >You share his enthusiasm.
- >Sadly, you have to go on with your rounds.
- “You will Sky, that will take time, but I got to go now. Be good for your mom, okay?”
- >He nods a little and his mother mouths a thank you.
- >You continue to make your way about the floor checking on the various patients.
- >The majority of them will make a full recovery and some are being released today.
- >That doesn’t stop the dread that creeps within.
- >Finishing up, you head to the cafeteria, and go grab lunch.
- >You’d pack your own, but you procrastinate.
- >Besides, what they serve here is better than what you make at home.
- >Grabbing a salad, you find your usual spot.
- >Slowly you start to eat, but eventually you just pick at it.
- >’What if Light dies?’
- >You know that you and the staff will do everything in your power to prevent it.
- >But that still doesn’t stop the thought.
- >’That doesn’t change things.’
- >He’s so young.
- >Suddenly, Betty joins you and snaps you out of it.
- ”Saved you a seat.”
- >She nods and starts to gossip.
- >”You didn’t hear it from me, but I heard that Doctor Monitor and Gentle Care are seeing one another.”
- >In truth, you really don’t care for gossip.
- “Really?”
- >You try to stay with the conversation, but you can’t stop worrying.
- >”-They work together though.”
- >Barely catching the end of it, you start to let your attention drift.
- “Uh-huh.”
- >She stops talking.
- >And you look back up, you can see her trying to read you.
- “What?”
- >”You’re thinking about the patients again, aren’t you?”
- >You’re trying to ignore that thought still, but you guess you can’t hide it that well.
- “Is it that obvious?”
- >She nods, and gives you look of understanding.
- >”It’s okay, I know you’re passionate about them.”
- “Yeah, hard to ignore it.”
- >She reaches out and touches your hoof.
- >”Just remember, you can’t let it get to you. Never forget what we learned in medical school.”
- >Never get too attached, something you always failed at.
- >It helps alleviate the worry a little.
- “Yeah, I know.”
- >She nods before looking over to the clock.
- >”Alright, I’m going to finish up my shift. Good luck with yours.”
- >If only it was that easy.
- “Yeah, good luck to you as well.”
- >After lunch, you go about your duties.
- >Just like before, you find that the patients are doing just fine.
- >That’s when you come to your last stop.
- >Carl’s room.
- >Entering, you see the elderly stallion.
- >A faded brown coat, white mane, and icy blue eyes that look back at you.
- >You give him a smile.
- “Hello Carl, how are you feeling today?”
- >He slowly smiles and clears his throat.
- >”Hello Ms. Rest, I’m feeling fine, same as usual.”
- >You pick up his chart, everything reads stable, but you can’t ignore the fear inside of you.
- >He has been here a while after his granddaughter brought him in.
- >Sadly, he has been having shortness of breath and it culminated in him fainting.
- >Thankfully, she visits daily.
- “That’s good to hear, I’m certain you’ll be out of here in no time.”
- >Nodding he continues.
- >”So did I ever tell you about when I first moved here to Ponyville?”
- >You’ve heard him tell you this story many times, but you don’t mind.
- “No I haven’t Carl, I’m happy to listen.”
- >As you check the usual, he starts.
- >”So I had just moved out of my family’s farm, and had all my stuff in a cart.” He chuckles. “I had wanted to experience the life outside of the farm, and had heard of a new town.”
- >He takes a moment and licks his lips.
- >”It was a nightmare to travel those roads back then, I pushed on. When I finally got here, I had no bits in my pouch or a place to stay. I wasn’t the brightest, but I was determined.”
- >You nod along, changing his IV.
- >”Coincidentally I met my wife then, her family let me stay at their home. Her father was worried I was there to take his daughter.” He gets a twinkle in his eyes. “Of course I wasn’t, but that stop me later.”
- >Finishing up, you turn to hear the rest of his story.
- >He shakes his head slightly.
- >”Sorry, let myself get caught up, anyways. When he saw that I could repair carts and wagons, he let me live with them. It was thanks to his kindness that I was able to set up my shop, and that’s how I moved to Ponyville.”
- >He looks at you and smiles.
- >”Thank you for listening to a old stallion talk your ear off.”
- >You laugh, but shake your head.
- “I don’t mind Carl, you’re my favorite stallion after all.”
- >He gives a small chuckle and coughs.
- “Easy there, don’t over do it.”
- >Carl catches his breath, and looks back to you with a smile.
- >”You flatter me too much Ms. Rest, I’ll let you go, you have your work to do.”
- >You wouldn’t mind listening to him more, but he is right.
- “Of course, take it easy Carl.”
- >As you leave his room, you can feel that nagging thought in the back of your mind.
- >It never stops, not while you work, not while at home.
- >’They all die eventually.’
- >You stop and close your eyes tightly in an attempt to shove those thoughts out of your head.
- >Taking a breath, you continue forth.
- >After you finish writing up your reports, you head to the locker room to finish off the day.
- >You put away your uniform and grab your bags, but the feeling is still there, distracting you.
- >Betty tries to get your attention.
- >”Are you alright Rest?”
- >Shaking your head, you smile.
- “Yeah, just a long day.”
- >”Tell me about it, I’m going to head home, take care.”
- “You too.”
- >You head outside and the evening greets you
- >The land is bathed in a cool light, though to you it feels gray.
- >It always feels like the trot home is faster than to work.
- >Entering your apartment, you call out.
- “I’m home.”
- >Silence.
- >Of course no pony else is here.
- >You are alone after all, not that you wouldn’t mind having a special somepony.
- >Just need to find a balance of social life and work life.
- >Sighing, that’s probably never going to happen.
- >Setting your bags aside, you head to the kitchen.
- >You grab some leftovers from the fridge.
- >After sitting down , you try to eat and read to distract yourself.
- >But the thoughts remain, tormenting you.
- >’You can’t save everypony.’
- >No.
- >You don’t finish eating, and throw out what little is left.
- “Just splash some water on my face, come on Rest.”
- >You head to the bathroom, you try just that.
- >But like earlier, the single thought plagues you.
- >’They all die eventually.’
- >You just need to sleep, that will help.
- >Heading to the bedroom, you turn off the lights and climb under the covers.
- >Minutes turn into an hour.
- >Fortunately, sleep finally takes you, but doesn’t stop you from being restless.
by
NHanon
by
NHanon
by
NHanon
by
NHanon
by
NHanon