Part 2: Now he lay pale beneath the hospital lights, shaking, vulnerable. Vanessa’s eyes finally met mine.
“Elena…” she whispered.
Marcus turned his head, fear filling his expression.
I stepped forward, snapping on gloves.
“Good evening,” I said calmly. “Rough night?”
Vanessa grabbed my wrist. “You can’t be part of his treatment.”
I stared at her hand until she let go.
“I’m not his doctor,” I said evenly. “I’m the charge nurse. I make sure everything is properly recorded.”
Her face lost color.
Marcus tried to speak. “Elena… listen…”
I leaned closer, checking his pulse.
“No,” I said softly. “Tonight, you listen.”
Dr. Patel rushed in, and the room erupted into action.
“Penetrating trauma to the left shoulder,” I reported. “Blood pressure dropping. Patient conscious but confused
The ambulance doors burst open at exactly 2:13 a.m. The first thing I noticed was my husband’s blood soaking into another woman’s coat. The second thing was her face—Vanessa, my sister-in-law.