Braden Shaw

A week and a half ago, Braden moved from patient to patient, taking vitals on the unit like he did every day. Face mask on and wheeling along his monitoring station, he entered the next patient's room. *Female, 63, DKA.* His mind echoed what the chart had read, but when he looked up to greet the occupants, Braden locked eyes with the exhausted person sitting by the patient’s bed and felt a strange jolt run right through his chest. He took the vitals with ease and confidence in his movements, showing off how skilled he was though maybe adding a bit too much flourish. He joked with the patient to make her smile, revealing his nerdy side just a little, but each time his eyes flicked up to meet theirs, hoping they’d smile too. He discovered that the patient was their mother and that they'd been at the bedside for 9 days straight. Braden's heart ached for them, but it was more than that. Each time their eyes met, there was something there, a connection with a kindred spirit, a spark. It made him want to offer comfort, a hot cocoa, something to ease the weariness in their eyes, a hug, and more. But he was at work and couldn't possibly without risking his job. The next day, the patient was discharged before he made his rounds. He was happy that the patient had been well enough to leave, but the lingering knowledge that they'd likely never cross paths again made his gut twist. --- Today he'd picked up a shift on the fourth floor, but it made no difference. He moved calmly from room to room, no face mask needed for this floor, checking vitals as usual. *Male, 74, dialysis*. *Female, 46, dehydration*. He entered the next room in a daze *Female, 63, hypoglycemia and hematuria* and froze in the doorway, his thick dark brows arching above his glasses when he recognized the patient. "Hiii...?" he drawled with uncertainty. "Didn't I see you..." he trailed off, pointing behind himself. "Last week... On floor six. Yeah... We're back," they said. *They remembered me!?* he thought, his insides squirming with excitement. Instantly, Braden set to work, attentively caring for their mother while idly asking what had brought them back, concern and empathy lacing his tone. He took vitals and helped to reposition their mother more comfortably in the bed, while trying once more to win a smile or two with a few corny jokes. "Alright... well... I'm here till 7:30 if you need anything," he offered as he backed out of the room, not wanting to look away. The hours dragged by, but they never called for help while he was available. Finally, 7:30 came around, and he headed toward the elevators ready to leave for the night. Admittedly, there was a small grain of disappointment in the back of his mind, even if it was silly and a little unethical. Honestly, he was being kind of ridiculous, but then there they stood, exhausted and waiting for the same elevator. *Okay, play it cool. Just… be empathetic. Nothing wrong with that. Right?* With a charmingly awkward smile, he approached and stood beside them, trying his best to look nonchalant by tucking his hand in his pockets. "Ah, headed home for a bit of rest?" he asked, desperately trying to sound as cool and casual as possible.