Chapter Text
“Don’t stick around after I’m gone, baby. You need to go where you’re needed.”
“But momma-“
“No buts. Go somewhere and rebuild. You deserve it. I’ll always look out for you, I promise, but you need to live for yourself.”
~*~
Man, it felt weird to be back in Pittsburgh. Even after a week and settling into my apartment in Hill District, it felt odd.
How long has it been since I last came home? Was it after undergrad? Getting my masters? I couldn’t even remember, it’d been that long…
No time to wonder, though! Time to get ready for my final interview! The chance to work at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center was one I couldn’t pass up. I hummed quietly to myself as I limped over to my closet, pulling out my favorite black and white blouse and skirt. I prided myself on my more whimsy-goth taste in fashion, especially with the knee-problem friendly footwear. It was easier to get away with wearing boots when you had on maxiskirts and more goth fashion.
“Okay, Ashira Bracha, you can do this,” I told myself, looking into the mirror as I finished putting my curly hair half-up “the job is basically yours. This interview is mostly a formality and to meet the head of Social Work and your main coworker in person. Your anxiety is lying to you. You’ve got this.”
I laced up my purple embroidered boots, grabbed my moon and star purse and my purple cane, and headed out the door. I locked the door behind me and checked it, before heading out into the fourth of July heat. I pulled a face at the humidity, but the cool breeze from the river helped to make things a bit better.
I’d wanted to come back to the city I’d been raised in, but for the longest time I thought I never would. Too many bad memories from my father and his family. Now that everyone was gone, though, and I had my degrees? Time to build a new life for myself. No time to think about how alone I felt. I needed to focus on going forward.
A drive that would normally take ten minutes took about twenty, thanks to the holiday traffic. Yet I pulled into the parking lot of the hospital with plenty of time to spare. Thank the gods for that. I was nervous enough as it was!
I sat and listened to one or two songs, regulating my breathing and taking a dose of my pain medication, before finally getting out of my car. I’d gotten a text before leaving my building, Kiara telling me to come in through the emergency department thanks to the admin wing being understaffed for the holiday and ‘unforeseen circumstances’ changing things up at the hospital. Good Gods, what was I walking into?
I headed up to the emergency room entrance, and thankfully I recognized Kiara right at the door.
“Appreciate you meeting me right out here,” I told her, shaking her hand “wasn’t sure if they’d let me through, otherwise.”
“Especially considering today,” Kiara replied, gesturing for me to follow her inside “there’s been a lot going on. I’ll catch you up once we get to the elevator.”
I followed Kiara in and, after seeing just how crowded and busy the ER was, I was even more thankful she met me outside. I followed close behind as we went back into the actual ER, and when I saw the screens behind the nurse’s station, I understood the issue. The system seemed to be down. All that happening on the Fourth of July?
Gods above, no wonder they were so willing to have my final interview today. Hopefully this wasn’t typical in terms of ‘shit hitting the fan’ problems for the hospital!
As I did my best to follow Kiara, going as fast as my bad legs would let me, I got accidentally shoulder-checked by one of the doctors as he rushed into one of the rooms. I only saw a glimpse of him in the chaos, but…
Was that Michael Robinavitch? It couldn’t be…
~*~
“Gramma, who’s that guy with Grammie Robby?”
“Oh, sweetheart, that’s her grandson Michael. She raised him, and he’s in college now. Says he wants to be a doctor.”
“Wow…he seems sad. Is goin’ to school to be a doctor hard?”
“Yes, dear, but anything worth doing is worth it being hard to do.”
~*~
I shook myself out of my daze and rushed to catch up with Kiara, wanting to get out of everyone’s way quickly. No way was I going to stick around and get in the way of people doing the important work.
~*~
A few hours later I walked out with a light step, an offer letter in my purse, and an ear-splitting grin. I got the job! I was officially a social worker for the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center!
As I was walking out, I passed a few other people coming in, including a few doctors and nurses. One, who seemed to be older with light brown hair shot with silver, gave me an amused and curious look as we passed each other. Something about his stride…
Nope. Stop it, Ash. You’ll have time to figure out your new coworkers later. I gave the doctor a quick, two finger salute and nodded as I headed out to the parking lot.
‘If their shift doesn’t go smoothly, may it at least go quickly!’ I shot a quick prayer to the goddess Eir as I looked back at the hospital, my new workplace, before climbing into my car. It was time to celebrate!
I took myself out to dinner that night, before enjoying the fireworks from my apartment after. It was lonely, sitting by myself, but I was all I had for company. I’d left what few friends I had made back in Chicago after getting my masters degree and moving back to Pittsburgh. No friends or family here, not anymore.
For the first time in a long time, I was well and truly alone.
Hopefully now, things would be different.