4 Years Later 

"Alice, we've got a new nurse starting today. You're going to show her the ropes."

I nodded at the charge nurse on the unit, Julie.

"You've got it," I said to Julie, "What's her name?"

"Michelle. She seems really nice," Julie responded, and I felt a pang in my chest.

Michelle. That name just reminds me of the summer I spent in the mountains 4 years ago...

Snap out of it, Alice. Now.

I had only been at my job as an ICU nurse for a few months after graduating, so it made me feel good that I was being trusted to show around a new nurse.

I stood by the desk where the unit secretaries worked, talking to them as I waited for my trainee to walk in.

And when she finally did, I thought my eyes were betraying me.

My mouth went completely dry as she stopped in her tracks.

No.

This can't be happening.

"Alice?"

Michelle Coyne walked over to me, as if she couldn't believe I was real.

She looked relatively the same, except her hair was straight and to her shoulders rather than tight curls. She wore lavender scrubs and had a yellow scrunchie around her wrist.

For a moment, I seemingly forgot how to speak as Michelle approached.

"Alice, hi," she said in a hesitant tone, "You...you work here?"

I nodded, finally finding my voice, "I'm going to be training you."

Michelle nodded, "Okay. Well, it's really good to see you."

My heart raced as I nodded, "Good to see you too."

My tone, however, was not the most convincing.

"I'll show you where you can put down your bag," I said to Michelle, "Follow me."

This is going to be one long 12 hour shift.

I was grateful that we had work to focus on, because otherwise things with Michelle would have been extremely awkward.

As I showed Michelle the ropes, I came to learn what I knew would be the case, she was a great nurse. Wonderful and warm with patients, and she knew what she was doing without much direction.

The whole time I trained her, all I could think about was one thing.

Heather Rayne.

I often tried to push Heather out of my mind and was sometimes successful.

It had been 4 years. Yet I knew I wasn't completely over her.

Ridiculous, I know.

At around 2 AM, I was able to take my break and walk down to the hospital cafeteria for "lunch". Or whatever you want to call it during the night shift, there's not many rules.

"Did you bring your own food?" I asked Michelle, "If not, I can show you where the cafeteria is."

"I didn't," Michelle responded, "Thank you for offering to show me."

There was an elevator ride down to the cafeteria, and as the doors to it shut, silence filled the space.

We weren't with patients anymore, there was nothing to distract us.

I didn't say anything, and Michelle looked uncomfortable.

Finally, she asked, "How long have you been working here?"

"A few months, I got the job right after I graduated."

Michelle's eyebrows raised, "And you're already training? I mean, I can see why. You're a great nurse."

"So are you, I can tell already."

Michelle gave me a small smile, and we reached the first floor where the cafeteria was. I got a sandwich, and Michelle made herself a salad, and we both got drinks.

"Do you usually eat here?" she asked me.

"Sometimes. It depends on how busy the unit is. Tonight, it's pretty quiet, so I'll eat down here," I said, and then paused before asking, "Would you...like to join me?"

"Yes, thank you for asking," Michelle said sweetly, and we found a table and sat across from each other.

I took a bite of my sandwich, and Michelle took a bite of her salad.

I wondered if we were going to be quiet the whole time until Michelle said, "I meant it when I said it's good to see you, Alice. I know we lost touch. I've wondered how you were doing."

"I have wondered the same about you," I admitted, "Did you move to the area?"

Michelle nodded, "Right after graduation. I have an apartment with...well, with Heather actually. She's my roommate."

At the mere mention of Heather's name, a knot formed in my stomach.

I looked at Michelle, "Um...how is she?"

You've wanted to know the answer to this for the past 4 years, Alice. Now is your chance.

Michelle spoke, "She's good. She's working as a piercer and tattoo artist locally."

My heart skipped a beat as I said, "I'm glad to hear she wound up doing that. I know she wanted to."

"Yeah, she did. She actually left college after the first year to pursue it."

My eyebrows raised, "Did she really?"

Michelle nodded, "It caused some issues, but she did. She gave me my first tattoo not long ago."

"Can I see it?"

"Of course you can. It's by my ribcage so I'll show you a picture."

Michelle pulled out her phone, and she scrolled for a moment before showing me a picture of her tattoo. It was a gorgeous floral pattern right by her ribcage, under her breast.

"Oh my...that's stunning," I looked at Michelle, "One of the prettiest tattoos I've ever seen."

Michelle beamed, "Thank you. I love it. Heather is really talented."

I nodded, "I can see that."

Michelle then put down her phone, "So...you live around here too, I presume?"

"I do. I moved back in with my mom after graduating."

"Your mom?"

"Yeah...she is very accepting of me now. We've mended our relationship. Mostly."

"I'm really glad to hear that, Alice. She came around about your sexuality?"

"She did. Not long after, um...soon after I started college."

"That's really great."

I then found myself asking, "Do you still speak to Julian? I've wondered how he is."

Michelle smiled, "Often. He lives in the city, works as a server. You'll never guess this one...he and Edwin are dating."

My jaw went slack, "No way."

Michelle nodded, "For a little less than a year. Edwin lives in the city as well, he works in fashion marketing for a clothing company. They're super in love and very sweet together."

"I'm really happy to hear that."

I wanted to ask if Heather was dating anyone. I wanted to ask so badly.

But I didn't.

Either way, the answer was going to fuck me up.

So, instead I asked Michelle, "Are you dating anyone?"

She smiled, "I am. I have a boyfriend; his name is Mike. We've been together for 2 years now. He lives about an hour away."

"That's great. You met in college?"

Michelle nodded, "We did, through a study group, actually. He's a nurse as well."

She then looked hesitant before asking me, "How about you...are you in a relationship?"

"No, I'm single. I have been for a while."

Michelle opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but she then closed it and a moment later said, "Dating at this age is difficult. Some people want something serious; others just want to fuck around."

"You're right about that."

Michelle and I finished up our food, and I was just grateful that it wasn't super awkward anymore. There was a touch of weirdness between us, but nothing like it was in the elevator.

The last 4 hours of the shift flew by, and after giving the patient report to the day shift nurse, I said to Michelle, "Great job on your first shift."

"Well, I had a good trainer," she grinned at me.

"Thank you. When's your next shift?"

"Not tomorrow night, but the one after."

"I'll see you then," I said to her.

When I got in my car and started to drive home, everything started to settle in.

I was now working with Michelle. Who lived with Heather.

I was hearing about people that were part of my life, a big part of my life, before I cut off communication.

I just had a feeling now that I was going to see Heather again somehow. I wasn't exactly sure how, but I could feel it in my bones.

And to be honest, I wasn't entirely sure I minded it.

Heather's POV

I had fallen asleep only 3 hours before I could hear Michelle opening the door to our apartment.

Fuck being a light sleeper. I hear everything.

I knew that she was likely going to be exhausted, but I wanted to hear how her first shift went. She was extremely nervous before she had left for work, and I hoped all went well.

I got up from my bed, and walked to the entrance of the apartment, where Michelle was taking off her sneakers.

"Oh, you're awake!" she said, "Please tell me you didn't pull an all nighter?"

"No, I got a few hours of sleep. I heard you come in and wanted to know how your shift was."

Michelle had a funny look on her face as she said, "It was good."

"And? Give me more details than that! I know you're exhausted but I was worried about you and hoping the shift went well."

Michelle gave me a small smile, "I appreciate that. It did go really well. You're just never going to guess who works there and is training me."

Could it be...?

Right as Michelle said that, I had an odd feeling of the name that was going to come out of her mouth next.

And I was right.

"Alice," she said, "Alice is my co-worker."

Even though I had a feeling it was her, hearing her name come out of Michelle's mouth didn't make it any easier.

"Oh," I responded, my heart racing, "How...how is she?"

"I got some information out of her. I won't lie, it was pretty weird at first. She looked like she saw a ghost when I walked through the doors and to the unit."

"Well...it's been 4 years," I said, "What kind of information did you get from her?"

"I'll start off by saying, not surprisingly, she's a great nurse."

I swallowed nervously, "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Michelle nodded, "She lives around here. She moved back in with her mom after college."

"Her mom, really?"

"I had the same reaction. She said that her mom came around about her sexuality and they're close now."

"Oh...wow," I said, shocked, "What else did you find out?"

"She's single."

Oh.

Pins and needles. That's what it felt like was pricking my skin after I heard this.

All I could do was nod.

"Sorry," Michelle said, "I know this isn't easy."

I let out a deep breath, "It's okay."

I wanted to ask another question, but I was hesitant to. If the answer was "no", it was going to sting.

However, I decided to ask.

"Did she ask about me?"

"Well, I told her that we were roommates, and I could tell just by her eyes that a million thoughts were running through her mind. She did ask how you were doing."

Relief.

"What did you tell her?"

"That you're a piercer and tattoo artist. Also, that you left college after your first year, and it caused some issues. I didn't go into detail. She seemed happy for you."

"Did she really?"

Michelle nodded, "She did."

She then yawned, and I said, "Sorry. You should go to bed."

"I'm about to, I'm exhausted. I'll be seeing Alice on Wednesday. We're working together again."

As Michelle walked off to her room, I stood by the door for a moment, taking in the news.

Things are about to get interesting. I just know it.