The Intern (Flash Fiction #2)

“He’s going into v-fib!” Some one yells close by.

“Get up you fools!” I hear the chief of the E.R. yell. “We need all the interns we can get!”

I shoved the rest of my sand-which in my mouth, annoyed. I was finally on break!

“Jessica! Are you coming?” Another intern asks already running to the code blue room.

I groan inwardly and race to the patient who was fighting for his life. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a cold stare from the chief.  “Jessica, begin CPR.”

I gulp. “Me?”

“Yes, you! Hurry up you idiot! Your patient is dying!”

I scampered towards the patient and placed my hands upon his chest. I pushed hard and began CPR.  Sweat dribbled down my face. I began to tire quickly. I looked at the cardiac monitor and stopped CPR long enough to check if there was any progress. There was a flat line.

“Grab the defibrillator!” The chief bellows in panic.

The defibrillator is passed to me and I place the paddles on the man’s chest.

“Charge to 200!” I yell. “Clear!” I shout at the staff in order to warn them of the incoming shock.

“Charge to 300!” The patient’s body convulsed. “Clear!” I continued to do this for quite a while. 

            Soon, the chief told everyone but me to step back. How am I supposed to do this by myself?!? I began to panic. My eyes search for the chief. “Chief! Help me!”

            “You will do this alone.”

             I kept trying to save the man but despite how hard I tried, he ended up losing his life.

            “Call it.”

            “Time of death 8:31 p.m.” I said quietly.

            The chief motioned me close. “You just killed your first patient,” he murmured to me. Then he walked out of the room.