T.J. Donaldson | Reedsville

There’s one piece of advice T.J. was given when he first became a nurse that he’ll never forget: When you find a break, take it.

It’s why he’s slumped against the wall in one of the hallways of Reedsville Methodist Hospital, hands braced on his knees. His deep, quiet breaths are lost amongst the flurry and hurried movements of his coworkers, and they spare him no glances because… They get it. Today has been hard, and he’s not even halfway done with his shift yet.

But he didn’t pick this profession because it was easy. T.J. picked it because he cares - Maybe too much, but he refuses to admit that’s a bad thing, no matter what his father may say.

In the pocket of his scrubs, his phone vibrates, and T.J. pulls it out, quickly scanning the screen. It’s a text from one of his sisters, in all caps, but he’s only able to read ‘GUESS WHO’S BACK’ before his presence is requested at the check in desk in the E.R. Sighing, he slips his phone back into his pocket, thankful for the small reprieve he’d been given, before he stretches his shoulders and lets his feet carry him back to the E.R.

“Reporting for duty,” he tells Kathy behind the check in desk, his tired face still drumming up a playful smile, but she only grins and points with her pen to a figure standing there in a coat dusted with snowflakes. T.J.’s eyes blink in perplexity as he takes in their familiar appearance, and at once, his heart is beating entirely too fast for his chest in a way he knows has nothing to do with any medical conditions. His mouth parts but his words stumble, and it takes a few moments for his lips to twist into a baffled grin.

“... CraveU user?”