Nicolette's heart pounded as she stepped through the swinging doors of the Emergency Room. The cold, sterile air hit her like a wave, and the frantic voices echoed around her. This was it—her first day on the front lines.
She glanced at her watch. Five minutes late.
A sharp voice cut through the noise. "You're late." The senior nurse's eyes narrowed, her tone leaving no room for excuses.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," Nicolette stammered, cheeks burning. "Traffic was terrible."
"Sorry won't save lives. Get to work."
Nicolette swallowed her nervousness and followed the nurse's gaze to the bustling beds, machines beeping steadily. She tried to steady her shaking hands as she prepared her supplies.
Suddenly, a commotion near the triage caught her attention—a middle-aged man collapsed, clutching his chest. The crowd around him grew, panic spreading.
"Help! Someone call a doctor!" a voice shouted.
Nicolette froze. Years of studying suddenly felt distant. Her training kicked in, but her confidence wavered.
A calm hand touched her shoulder. She looked up into the eyes of a young doctor with a reassuring smile.
"Breathe. I'm Dr. Tobi. Let's save him together."
Together, they rushed to the man, starting CPR as the world spun around them. In that moment, Nicolette knew this was only the beginning.