Mornings in my house weren't gentle. More like a goddamn hurricane ripping through the calm. Not the soft, birds-chirping, coffee-grinding kind of mornings you see in those Instagram reels or on TV for that matter.
Nah, mine were full-on chaos… smoke alarms screeching 'cause someone burnt the toast, Jordan yelling at his Xbox like the damn thing owed him money, and Erin sneaking off with my hair straighteners like a cat burglar in the night.
I pulled my damp uniform top over my head, the radiator's weak heat still clinging stubbornly to the fabric. Mam's voice floated up the stairs, sharp and tired as ever.
"Jordan! You left the milk out again!"
I jogged down the stairs into the hallway.
"No, I didn't!" came the defensive shout from the living room. Jordan's command post… complete with controller, headset, and feet kicked up on the sofa like he owned the place.
I strolled into the kitchen, eyebrows already arching. "Aye, ye did. Saw it this mornin'. Warm as piss."
"Alright, Nurse Ratched," he muttered without looking up. "Didn't realise gettin' a job meant slagging off the rest of us."
I grabbed my badge and stethoscope from the counter, voice sharp. "Didn't realise sittin' on yer arse all day counted as a full-time career. How's the Universal Credit Olympics goin' for ye today?"
Jordan finally stood, still decked out in Superman pyjamas, walking towards me looking like he might actually square up…
Jesus Christ…
Mam slid between us, a seasoned hostage negotiator. "Boys, it's seven in the bloody mornin'."
"He started it," Jordan grumbled, scowling like I'd personally insulted his Xbox. "Walks around like he's better than everyone now."
"No," I snapped back, "just better than you, ya leech."
"ALRIGHT!" Dad's voice cut through the kitchen like a cop's whistle, clipping his detective badge onto his belt. "If you two aren't gonna behave, maybe I should arrest ye both."
Erin popped her head in, a slice of toast in hand and zero sympathy in her eyes. "Don't bother, Dad. Alex wins, he actually leaves the house."
I caught her wink before she vanished down the hall.
Bless her, the only sane one.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the door, the familiar weight of my stethoscope around my neck reminding me this was more than just a way out of the madhouse. It was my ticket and my purpose.
I'd left my long-term girlfriend four weeks back. The late-night arguments that never really ended and the silence filling the spaces between were the final straw. Switching to a new hospital felt like hitting reset, like finally breathing in fresh air after being underwater too long.
I wasn't looking for a relationship. Not yet. This was just a chance to prove I could stand on my own two feet.
The journey to work felt longer than it should. The Underground was packed like a tin of sardines, stale breath and coughs hitting me like a wall. Some poor sod coughed right into my face like it was personal. I barely had time to react before my coffee slipped from my grip and crashed to the floor, which was a good start…
By the time I reached the surgical ward, I was five minutes early and sweating like I'd run a marathon. I wiped my hands on my scrub pants and stepped into the staff corridor, where a small group gathered, clutching clipboards and wearing that "please kill me now" look that only nurses know too well.
"Mornin'," I said, letting the Belfast lilt cut through the quiet like a knife. "Alex Riley. New here. Today's my first shift."
A sharp-eyed woman looked up. Navy blue tunic, hair pulled back in a tight bun, pen tucked behind her ear, she had that no-nonsense energy that said she ran the place and expected you to keep pace.
"Nina Patel," she said, shaking my hand firmly. "Senior nurse. Surgical unit manager. Welcome to chaos." She nodded toward a whirlwind of energy. "That's Ava, admin and chaos incarnate… and over there, Mr. Rao, one of the surgical consultants. You'll meet more faces as the day rolls on."
Ava flashed a dazzling smile, all perfect teeth and mischief. "Ooh, fresh blood. Cute too."
Nina didn't bat an eye. "Briefing starts in five."
Then I noticed him.
Leaning against the wall like he owned every inch of the place. Tall, scruffy dark hair, arms crossed tight. His eyes locked on me with a smirk that wasn't quite a smile, more like a challenge.
"Dorian Webb, Senior Nurse" Nina added, catching my glance. "You're paired up today whilst you're supernumerary."
Of course, I was…
Dorian stepped forward, that smirk widening like he knew a secret. "Hope you don't mind strong personalities."
I blinked. "Worked A&E for two years. Nothin' shocks me anymore."
"Challenge accepted," he murmured, before Nina clapped her hands sharply, snapping everyone to attention. Time for the briefing.
The briefing was all business... Nina rattling off patient updates, protocols, and whatever fresh hell the ward was about to throw at us. But my eyes kept flicking back to Dorian. He had that quiet confidence, like he was used to being the king of this jungle and damn, if his smirk didn't get under my skin.
Ava, standing close by, caught my accent straight away. Her smile softened, eyes sparkling with interest like I'd just spoken some secret language only she knew.
"Where you from?" she asked, voice low and teasing.
"Belfast," I said, giving her a quick grin. "Been just over four years since I moved down."
She nodded like that explained everything. "There's something about the accent… makes you sound mysterious."
I chuckled, feeling the warmth of something lighter amid the chaos.
Briefing ended. We scattered to take over from the day nurses. After a swift handover, the chaos truly began.
The surgical ward pulsed with urgency. Nina barked quick orders, her voice slicing through the hum of monitors and the shuffle of footsteps. Mr. Rao was already deep in a patient's chart, nodding as he coordinated treatment with calm precision.
Dorian stuck close beside me, sharp-eyed but still carrying that smirk like it was stitched to his face.
"You keep up this pace, you'll fit right in," he said low enough for just me to hear.
I met his gaze. "I'm no stranger to chaos."
He chuckled low, warm. "Good. You'll need that here. This place chews people up."
Ava breezed past, clipboard in hand, flashing a grin. "Hey, Irish charm… don't let Dorian intimidate you. He's full of hot air… mostly."
I smiled back. "I'll keep that in mind."
Nina caught our exchange and gave me a sharp nod. "Focus, Alex. We don't get much downtime here."
Just then, a new urgent patient arrived, a middle-aged man, pale and gasping, oxygen saturation plummeting.
"Alex, start IV fluids," Nina ordered. "Dorian, prep for intubation if he crashes."
My hands moved on instinct. Veins found. Cannula in. Heart racing and adrenaline pumping.
Keep it together, Alex. Just another shift.
Dorian moved like he'd done this a thousand times, calm and efficient. His presence grounded me but, every glance between us felt… charged.
The crisis passed. The man stabilised. Nina gave a quiet nod. "You've got potential. Keep your head down and learn fast. Don't let the personalities get to you."
Too late for that, maybe…
Three hours in, I was scribbling blood pressure notes when a coffee cup landed beside me.
"Mid-shift morale boost," Ava said sweetly. "Figured you needed it. You've got that 'first-day panic' face."
"I'm grand," I said, not looking up. "But cheers."
She leaned closer. "You're really not seeing anyone?"
Before I could answer, Dorian appeared out of nowhere. Hands in his pockets, voice like velvet.
"Don't scare him off, Ava. Let him warm up."
"Jealous?" she teased.
"Always," he replied dryly.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose with my ID badge, eyes closed. "Jesus. Do ye two do this with everyone?"
"Just you," they both said.
I stood. "Right. Since we're all so curious… no, I'm not seein' anyone. Broke up with me girlfriend four weeks ago. We were together four years. So forgive me if I'm not in the mood to be yer flirty little chew toy."
Silence.
Ava took a sip of her coffee. "She must've been daft, letting you go."
Dorian stepped closer. Voice lower, more serious. "Her loss… honestly."
I grabbed the chart, throat tight. "Appreciate the sympathy tour. I'm headin' to check on bed eleven."
I didn't wait for a reply. I just walked off.
Pretend you don't feel their eyes on your back. Pretend your heart isn't hammerin' like it wants to leap out and throw hands.
Later, in the locker room, I slumped onto the bench.
Ava popped her head in. "Lunch break… if you want to survive, find me and I'll introduce you to the real social scene."
I chuckled softly.
Maybe this place isn't too bad after all…
"Sure," I said as my gaze met hers.