[15 years later]
Cassandra is standing outside her house, unbothered by the cold breeze of night. After her work, it became her hobby to stay outside her house until she feels tired.
She didn't care of she's still wearing her working clothes.
To her, it's just like the old days when she go home where she get greeted by her mother. She'd stay at the sofa for hours as she enjoys the snack that her mom had prepared for her.
How unfortunate that it can no longer happen.
It's been 15 years since Cassandra lost her mother. The time she also thought would be the end of her. As for Cassandra, she wished that that's the case.
But it seems like the universe has a different plan for her.
15 years had passed, many things have changed. She's alone now, her mother's gone and even the Cassandra Clair that people have known is already gone.
"Hi mom, just got home. How are you doing?" Cassandra sat on the ground so she could be close to the tombstone of her mom.
She wiped her mom's tombstone, running her fingers to the engraved name of her mom.
Merideth Clair
Funny how two words can make Cassandra's longing feels like an illness. It's been 15 years since she no longer could carry that name.
Just so she could hide from the vampires who tried to kill her, and also the vampires who killed her mom.
"My day was fine. It was a little busy compared yesterday. But like I always say, this is much better than how we used live before, don't you think? I miss you mom. I miss you and dad."
"Sandy! Sandy, please talk to me!"
Cassandra was interrupted when suddenly there's someone yelling out for her outside.
Without a choice, Cassandra went in front of her house and there she saw the person who's making the noise.
"Sandy! I know you're in there! Please!"
"What the hell are you doing here, Dave?" Cassandra had a quick scan of the guy. Deranged and drunk, Cassandra could tell that making the guy leave wouldn't be easy.
Cassandra walked to her gate but kept it close. Meanwhile Dave who was furious and desperate was calmed down after seeing the ex-doctor.
"Sandy, baby." Dave cooed as he tried to reach for Cassy's arm, only for Cassandra to pull back.
"Dave, you're drunk, order a cab and go home."
"Talk to me first, please."
"What else do you want to talk about? I already told you, I don't like you."
"No, no, I'll change. I swear, whatever to your liking, please! Just be my girlfriend!"
Cassandra shut her eyes and sigh. Dave can be really tough. He's Cassy's co-worker at the hospital Cassy's working on. Cassy's no longer working at the same hospital she's working at 15 years ago. She's also no longer a doctor.
"Dave, I told you, I'm not interested. So go home, you wouldn't want me to call a police." Cassandra said, exasperated walking inside her house.
"Sandy! Sandy, please!"
"Go home, Dave!"
________
"You want to resign? Is this because of Dave?" Cassandra's colleague / best friend asked while they're taking their lunch break.
"I told you to just report him. Moving away won't work, that boy loser has his way."
"I'm not leaving because of that." Cassandra replied to her best friend, Gale Del Rosario, a 2 month older nurse that Cassandra met 3 years ago when she started working at the hospital as a nurse aide.
"Then why do you wanna resign? You've got your best friend with you... And cutie right there keeps eye fucking you. Think Celine's into girls?" Gale asked but her attention was shifted when their brunette colleague walked in, looking at Cassandra as if she's naked.
"I think you're more curious to find out what's up on her head. Go talk to her, I'll be taking to the HR."
"Hey, you're seriously resigning?!"
Cassandra ignored Gale. She was about to go leave the canteen to go to HR when a colleague stopped her, Celine.
"Hey, uhm, Sandy. How are you?"
Cassandra glanced at her best friend on the other side. She's giving that look as if telling 'she told you so.'
"Why do you care?"
Celine must have not seen that response from Cassandra. Cassandra was know as sweet and funny. But she might have missed the part that Cassandra's only like that to her patients especially kids.
"I uh... Someone's looking for you outside. Actually they were looking for Dr. Cassandra Clair. Told them no one works here with that name but descriptions fit you most."
Cassandra froze hearing what Celine said. That can't be, she wasn't traced was she? 15 years and she kept running away from those people. They can't trace her now.
"Sandy?"
Cassandra snapped back and nodded.
"They're probably looking for different person. But thanks, uh. I'll check them. Thanks again."
"No problem. Are you free after work?"
And there it goes. Cassandra heard Gale scoffed and when she looked at her, the girl was smirking widely.
"No, sorry."
Cassandra left the room after that. She's thinking if she should meet the person who's looking for her. It can't be that bad, right? If the one who's looking for her is a vampire that her family worked for long years ago, she would have sensed them. That's her ability as a 'dog' not just human blood but also vampire.
"Sandy, you're done with your break? You think you can check the medical ward? We're short of staff, we need you there."
"Yeah, sure."
Cassandra headed at the medical ward, completely setting aside the person that's looking for her. But on her way, she's thinking who could it be. If it's not a vampire, it's probably a someone she knew before. An ordinary human or a blood tracker. But neither of the two were good choice. Because it's been 15 years since she changed her name. No one knows about Cassandra Clair anymore. She's long gone.
There are so many things she buried 15 years ago. Along with her mother who died from those unknown people, she buried herself that she grown to. Her profession, her name, even her job as a blood tracker.
She's just a nurse aide who goes with the name of Sandy Coleman.
As Sandy got to the ward, she continued her rounds. Checking and taking the patients vitals and other things that a nurse aide should do.
"Have you met the person who's looking for you?" Suddenly, Celine appeared out of nowhere that made Sandy startled.
"Oh sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay, I didn't. I got called here immediately..." Sandy just said.
"That's her."
Sandy looked at Celine and saw her nodding over a patient who's sitting at the medical bed.
Sandy had a good look at the girl. Down wavy hair, petite, a bit shorter than her, and most like younger than her.
"I don't know her."
"Well, she could have been wrong."
Sandy left Celine to go to the girl. The girl didn't even notice her. She was busy of checking her wristwatch as if she's checking every ticks of it's watch. But Sandy stood there for a moment. As if something had stopped her. Her gaze landed at the girl and as if hypnotized, she can't take her eyes away. That strong scent.
Why did she smell so good?
Finally the girl noticed her. She was about to asked something but she was stopped as she realized who's standing near her.
"How long would it take for Yel-" the girl paused as she looked at the ex-doctor. She didn't know what to say. Her mouth was slightly opened but no words slipped out, perhaps that's why?
"Uh, I'm here to check the..." Sandy finally snapped out. She pulled the clipboard attached from the bed and read it.
She frowned as she got to scan the record, when she looked at the girl, it only made her confused.
"I'm pretty sure you're not the 10 year old Yelana." Sandy said as she waited for the younger's response.
Yes Sandy knew the girl was undoubtedly younger than her but she can't be the one who's listed as the patient.
"No. No, no. There's a nurse a while ago and she said Yelana need to be tested out... I'm-"
"The relative, oh right." Sandy cut off as she noticed the girl started stuttering.
"No!" The girl exclaimed. "I mean, no. I just met her yesterday in a bakery shop. This morning I saw her again... And I brought her here because she said she wasn't feel good."
Sandy looked at the girl again curiously. There's no doubt that the scent is coming from her.
"How long has she been gone?" Sandy asked checking the records. There's something wrong.
"Like 5 minutes? Wait, uhm... Do you remember me?"
This time, Sandy's eyes were shifted to the younger.
"We uhm... We met before. I just didn't think you'd change your name... And you're not a doctor anymore."
"Sorry, I don't recall you." Sandy replied. But she knows she's curious how the girl knew she changed her name.
"Oh, I'm Luna. We met before... 15 years ago, there was an explosion and... You were the only doctor who came to me. I uhh... I left the hospital but when I came back to look for you, they said you were no longer working there."
Sandy tried to look hard to remember the girl. She doesn't have a very sharp memory but she the information about the explosion 15 years ago, Sandy won't forget that. It's the same day her mother died.
Sandy remembered now. A young girl was standing outside the hospital door, unbothered by the blood swimming down to her body.
"That was you?"
"Yes! You remember me now? It's me!"
Sandy just smiled and read the patient's board again. She can't even hear what else the girl is saying as all she wants to do is finish her work.
"So, why did you changed your name? And why you're no longer a doctor?"
"Did you say the patient was taken for a test?" Sandy asked, ignoring the younger's inquiry.
"Uh yeah?"
"They mentioned what kind of test?"
Sandy looked at the girl who's having a big question mark on her face.
"Weren't you supposed to know it with that?"
Before Sandy could reply, a nurse called her.
"Hey, Sandy. What are you still doing there? We need a hand here."
"Have you seen the patient on this bed? She wasn't supposed to be up for a test."
"Just move to the other patient, Sandy. We don't got all day." The nurse said as she took the board from Sandy and walked away.
"What's wrong with her? Didn't she know you're a doctor?" Luna asked clearly offended for Sandy.
But Sandy just rolled her eyes. She don't have time to chitchat,really. After all she don't think she needs to.
"Wait, where are you going?!" Luna asked when Sandy's about to walk away.
"I'm still at work. I'm sure the patient would be back later. I'll try to check her after the other patients. Have you called her parents yet?"
"I don't —"
"Then you should. I have to go now."
Later that time, Sandy finished her shift. She remembered to get back to that patient a while ago but when she got there, the bed was already cleaned up. Even Luna wasn't there anymore.
"Excuse me, where's the patient here this afternoon?"
"Which one?" Her colleague asked.
"The kid? She's with..." Sandy stopped as she recalls what Luna is to the patient. "The kid that came down with stomach bug."
"Oh she was discharged. Why, you know her?"
Sandy sighed in relief but shook her head.
"No." Sandy said.
"Oh. Okay, I'll go now."
Sandy also ended her shift that day. She was ready to leave the hospital and be back at her house when someone called her with the name that is already forgotten.
"Dr. Clair!"
Sandy turned and spotted the same girl a while ago. But that didn't end to just that. She looked around, checking if someone heard them. The panic in her eyes is clear and Luna didn't miss it. Only though she didn't really care.
"Dr. Clair." Luna repeated but not yelling anymore as she got closer.
"It's Coleman. And I'm not a doctor."
Luna frowned and about to ask the question in her head when someone called Sandy again.
"Hey, Sandy!"
The two turned around and saw the one who called Sandy. It's her best friend, Gale and the other nurse aide, Celine.
"Glad I caught you."
"Wait, you're the one who's looking for Sandy, right?" Celine butted in, pointing at Luna who's also looking at them now.
"Oh, you've got a friend...Who is she?" Gale asked, turning to her best friend and giving her a playful look.
"She's looking for Sandy a while ago. Oh... Are you? I remembered you asking for Dr. Cassandra Clair." Celine asked, looking at Luna and Sandy.
"Uh she's looking for another person. Description kinda just fits me." Sandy interrupted.
"Oh yeah, Sandy has a generic face. And... She's over thirty-five, miss. She's probably not who you looking for... No offense, Sandy."
Celine laughed and nudged Gale but Sandy wasn't having it. Meanwhile, the obviously youngest among the four was confused. At different levels to be exact.
"I'll go home now."
"Wait, why won't you come with us? It's weekend and since you're going home, why not just go with us? My treat." Celine said.
"Hey, hey. I thought this is a date? But if Sandy wants to third wheel, why not?"
"No, thank you. I have to rest early. You two have fun."
"Hayy! When I said you're over thirty-five, I didn't mean you should make it obvious. Fine. Go home safely. I'll see you tomorrow." Gale said.
Celine wanted to convince Sandy more but Gale already snatched her away leaving her no choice but to go with her.
As it's just Sandy and Luna, Sandy looked at the girl who's still confused at this time. Yes, Cassandra Clair is gone. And so the doctor that helped Luna 11 years ago. But for some reason, Sandy felt the need to explain to the girl. After all, she's curious why Luna is looking for her. She only hope Luna is not part of the people she's been running off to.
"Do you eat sushi?"
"Huh?" Luna utter confusedly.
"There's a sushi bar nearby. My treat."