Forever Chicago

“Nice shot.” I said on one end of the phone.

“Thanks.” Jonathan smiled through the other end, “I miss you.”

“I miss you too.” I forced a smile, my head was still clouded with reminders of what Paige had said.

“Are you okay Kode?” Jonathan asked concernedly.

“Yeah,” I sighed, “Just tired.”

“I gotta go, I’ll call you in the morning. Love you Kode.”he said.

“Love you.” I said before hanging up my phone and falling back on the bed.

I ran a hand over my head that raced with thoughts of the future. Jonathan and I had only been together about a year and a half. Were people expecting us to get married already? I knew I loved Jonathan, and he loved me, but were we really ready to make that big of a commitment?
…
I groaned at the sound of alarm clock ringing at seven o’clock the next morning. Miserably reaching over to turn it off, I realized how late the game had been. I forced myself out of bed and into the shower.

As I pulled my on a pair a floral top, and lavender bottom set of nursing scrubs, the exhaustion was already setting in.

I picked my purse up from the stool by the door and headed out into the real world.

The walk to work was short, but hot on this morning. My exhaustion wasn’t eased as I walked into work to see a waiting room full of ill patients.

“Kodie!” Riley yelled as soon as my foot crossed the threshold, “Thank God you’re here! We need stitches asap on a little girl in room 45A.”

“Alright.” I said, quickly walking to the staff room to hang up my bag, I walked into the room to see a little, redheadedgirl in floral overalls sitting on the table flooding tears, holding her arm out straight while clutching a pink dog.

“Hi.” I said cheerily placing her patient folder in the door.

“I gotta boo boo.” She cried.

“Let’s see here.” I smiled taking her arm, “It’s not too bad. I’m Kodie, What’s your name?”

“Rae.” She said through tears.

“I like your pink dog Rae.” I said patting him on the head.

“She’ll probably need about 12 stitches.” I said looking up at her parents who looked sick with worry.

“Okay,” I said laying her head back on the table, “Now on the count of three I want you to close your eyes, and make a wish? Ready, 1,2,3,”

I quickly stitched the wound while she distracted herself.

“Ready, open!” I said.

“That’s it? That didn’t even hurt!” She beamed.

I wrapped the arm in a pink cast, “Thank you Nurse Kodie!” She yelled as I placed a sticker on her chest.

“Thank you so much.” Her parents echoed behind her.

“No problem, she was brave.” I said high fiving Rae, “Have a good day.”

Rae reminded me how much I loved my job, and on I day I needed it most. I walked back into the waiting room with a fresher attitude, and more will to get through the day.

The rest of my day was filled with patients, from kids to adults it seemed like the entire city of Chicago, had been through the hospital.

Riley and I sighed as we fell back in our chairs at the front desk.

“Oh my God.” She said, “Its already 9 at night.”

“What?” I said looking at the clock, “I never even saw it get dark out.”

“When’s your shift over?” she asked.

“15 minutes ago.” I said.

“Kodie go home!” she laughed, “You’ve been here since 8 this morning.”

“I know, I know.” I laughed, “There were just so many patients today.”

“Kodie!” Jeannie said coming through the gateway to the front desk.

“Would you get out of here girl!” she yelled, playfully hitting me with a rolled up newspaper.

“Alright, alright, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I said, picking up my purse, and heading out the front door.

The truth was I didn’t want to go home. My apartment was quiet and lonely without Jonathan.

“Hey,” Paige said as she sat their painting her toe nails in the kitchen, “How was work?”

“Crazy busy,” I said, “How was your shoot?”

Paige had been modeling on and off since she met Patrick a few years ago.

“It was cool.” She said.

I walked into Jonathan and I’s bedroom and flopped across the bed, absolutely exhausted.

I peeled my scrubs off my body and pulled on a grey tank top and pair of shorts, exhausted I fell into a deep sleep.

…
I awoke the next morning, and monotonously turned on the TV. As I began moving around the room, making the bed, and picking up a few pieces of scattered clothing, a TMZ report caught my ear.

“Blackhawks superstars Patrick Kane, Andrew Shaw, Brandon Bollig, and Jonathan Toews were caught intimately interacting with local Pittsburgh residents after their game on Saturday night. I looked up at the television just in time to see a photo of Jonathan with a random girls tongue half way down his throat. “Looks like Tazer’s having fun here.” The reporter laughed.

A lump formed within my chest, I felt tears beginning to form in my eyes. Just as I felt myself about to burst, my cell phone rang. Jonathan’s name appeared across the name along with a red heart.

As the phone continued to ring, I questioned whether or not to answer it.

Clearing my throat I slid my finger across the screen, “Hello.”

“Hi,” he said sadly, “Kodie, I, I gotta tell you something, “

“How could you kiss that girl that way Jonathan?” Tears ran down my cheeks, “It’s all over TV.”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry Kodie, I was drunk and stupid.” He said.

“Do you love her?” I asked.

“No, of course not, I love you Kodie.” He said.

Tazer let’s go! I heard yelled in the background.

“Kodie I’m sorry, I gotta go, I promise I’ll call you later. I love you.” He said.

“Bye.” Was all I said before hanging up.

Confused and upset, I pulled on a new pair of scrubs and headed to work.

The day was long and grueling. I fought back tears the entire eight hour shift.

“Hey,” Riley said as I picked up purse, and began to head out the door, “He didn’t mean it, he
really loves you Kode.”

I just nodded and continued out the door.

As upset as I was, I couldn’t bring myself to not watch the game. As I settled on top of our bed, I flicked the TV to channel 8 and watched the puck drop against the Flyers.
I hardly watched the game, my mind was flooded with angry, and hurt thoughts. Every time Jon’s number flashed across the screen his words went through my mind, I’m sorry Kodie, I love you.

The game passed quickly with the Hawks overtaking the Flyers, 2-0. I didn’t ever care.

Without watching Jon’s post-game interview as routine, I quickly turned off the TV and sunk into bed. Being alone in the dark allowed my feelings of betrayal to sink deeply into my skin and overtake my mind. I tossed and turned until exhaustion overtook me.
…
My eyes peeled back early the next morning, I rolled out of bed and put my feet on the floor. Running my hands over my face, I reached for my phone.

Kodie I can explain everything when I get home, it’s not what it looks like I swear, I love you.- Jonathan

Jonathan’s late night text didn’t bring me any solace whatsoever.

Reluctantly I hopped in the shower, and began to prepare for the day. Jonathan would be home around eleven and whether or not I wanted to, I had to be ready to face him.
I brushed mascara over eyes, and smudged on a rose colored lipstick. I pulled on a Chicago blackhawks long sleeve t shirt, and a pair of yoga pants, and loosely French braided my hair.
Light snow was falling over Chicago. The scene was beautiful as I looked out the balcony window.

“Morning.” Paige said as she sat cuddled on the couch in a similar outfit, clutching a cup of coffee.

“Hi,” I said sitting next to her, “You’re up early.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t really sleep last night, it was weird.” She said.

I anxiously awaited Jonathan’s return, as Paige droned on with a story about her and Patrick.

“Hey you okay?” She asked snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I said, “Just thinking.”

A few quiet minutes passed before we heard the front door open.

Notes

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