Love's The Best Medicine

Chapter 1: Charlie

CHARLIE

Being a nurse is not easy. The endless shifts and all the all-nighters you'll have to pull of, us just too much, but I love my job here at the local Hospital for Children.

The children were so sweet and I hated that they're victims of cancer. No innocent child deserved to be burdened with this sickness, that's why I decided to become a nurse. I wanted to help them.

"C'mon Charlie, let's play!" Cried Cindy, a 6 year old who had a tumor growing in her stomach. We had managed to take some of the tumor before it caused too much damage, she was recovering here now. She was sweet and kind.

"Alright, alright." I groaned playfully as she dragged me along, towards the play area made for the kids. As we rushed through the halls, fellow doctors and nurses greeted us. "Cindy slow down!" I scolded playfully. She turned around and stuck her tongue out. "No," she said before she ran, pulling me along with her.

We arrived at the colorful play area. It was a big room that was filled with toys and such for the children to occupy themselves with. Some of these were donated, others were bought with the hospitals money. The room was filled with murmurs and conversations about who was the mother and father. The children were running around, being children. Cindy ran and sat on the mat playing with the kitchen set. She muttered to herself as she poured "tea" into the cups.

"C'mon Charlie, have some tea." She held the cup out to me. I smiled and nodded. "Don't mind if I do." I replied in a posh accent. She giggled, "You're so silly, Charlie."

I spent my hour lunch break playing with the kids. I was in the middle of pouring tea for everyone when my phone rang. I pulled it out of my scrubs' pocket. It was a message from Sandy, at the front desk. I was needed.

I looked up at the kids as their big, curious eyes shone. "Sorry, guys," Before I had finished the sentence, the kids were groaning. "Don't go!" I smiled sadly at them.

My face lit up as I had come up with an idea. "How about this?" I started. "I am going to come tomorrow and spend the day with you guys since I won't be working." They all cheered and seemed to agree with the idea.

"Bye, Charlie." They all waved as I walked out of the play area. I sighed, they are such sweethearts. I, then, made my way to the front desk.

I sat with Sandy waiting for the time to pass, so I can go tuck in the kids. "They really like you, you know?" Sandy stated. I smiled genuinely. "I like those little boogers too." She chuckled along with me.

Sandy was of African American descent, she was beautiful, I'd date her, if I wasn't gay. Anyways, she had beautiful brown skin and her hair was always well kept. She had curves in the right places and she was a short woman, with a short temper.

"It's time." I squealed as I looked at the clock. Every time it's 10:00, the children must be put to bed. We tuck then in and stuff. I loved doing this because it reminded me of my sister, Briana, who had passed from cancer at such a young age.

She was my inspiration to becoming a doctor. I shook my head and got to work. By the time I was nearly done, I had told 6 bed time stories and tucked in all of the kids on my list. I was on my last kid, a little girl named Briana. My breath had caught in my throat as I looked at the name sadly. You can do this, I thought to myself.

I took a deep breath and walked through the door and laying on the bed was a little girl, she looked afraid and scared. My heart nearly broke at the sight. You would think I'd get used to seeing the tubes and wires connecting to the kids, but I never got used to it. The sight still made me sad.

"Hi, Briana." I greeted softly. Her skin was pale and devoid of colors. Her hair had fallen and she was bald. I tried to hold back the tears in my eyes that threatened to fall.

She stared back at me, fear was written on her face as she looked at me. Tears brimming in her eyes. "H-hi." She said, barely a whisper. "I'm Charlie." I introduced myself as I walked towards her bed. "I'm Briana." She whispered. I nodded.

"Do you want me to read you a story?" I asked her. She nodded frantically. I sat besides her and told her the story of a princess who had gotten ill, but she fought strong and hard, then she got better.

"Her name was Briana." I told her. She giggled. "That's my name." I looked at her and gasped dramatically.

"It is? Oh my, it is." I said feigning a look of realization. She giggled more.

I watched her gaze fall on a little toy plushie of a unicorn on my lanyard. I smiled as I took it off my lanyard. "You want it?" I offered it to her. She looked at me hesitantly as she nodded. I smiled gently and nodded as I gave it to her. She reached for it slowly and took it in her hands, awestruck as she examined the toy.

"What's his name?" She asked. "I forgot, what do you think his name was?" I asked her. She placed a finger on her chin and tapped lightly. "I think it was Pegasus." I chuckled and nodded. "How'd you know that?" I asked dramatically.

She giggled and she held it up, "Because mama always told me about Pegasus, a magical horse in Grease." I chuckled as she said Greece wrong. "Oh, that's cool."

She yawned as she held Pegasus to her chest. Her eyes were fluttering close. I smiled and pulled the Hello Kitty blanket up to her chest. "Goodnight, Princess Briana." I whispered.

"Goodnight, Daddy." She mumbled as light snores came from her. I stood there shocked before I smiled and shook my head. It's kids like Briana that I look up to and admire. They are so strong.