Gather the Sentient by Amalie Jahn Read Free Book Online Page A

right in the room where we’re headed.  And look at me now,” he added, holding up his left arm.  “Good as new.”
    The boy smiled and returned his attention to his father who shot Jose an appreciative glance.  “If I need a cast, can we get some metallic Sharpies so everyone can sign it?”
    His father raised an eyebrow at Jose as the doors slid open on the fourth floor.  “Breaking your leg seems like a pretty extreme way to get those markers you’ve been asking for, don’t you think?” he teased.
    “Dad!  I didn’t fall off my bike on purpose,” he said, rolling his eyes, and then added without missing a beat, “but can we?”
    Jose laughed along with the boy’s father as the radiology technician met them in the hallway.
    “Good luck,” he called to them as they rounded the corner out of sight.
    Although they were expecting him back in the ER, instead of going back to the ground floor right away, he decided to take a short detour via the ICU. As the car descended to the second floor, he couldn’t keep himself from smiling about the boy.  Helping patients feel safe and comfortable was an unexpected perk of his job.  In addition to giving him unprecedented access to the ICU, being an orderly also provided daily interaction with average patients each day.  He’d learned over the years how to quickly build a rapport with them, not only to gain their trust, but also to ease their anxiety over being hospitalized.  Now, however, it was time to get down to business.
    He usually didn’t venture to the ICU during the day, but he wasn’t scheduled for a night shift until much later in the week, and he was afraid if he waited until then, he wouldn’t get a chance to see Chloe before her release.
    After healing her the weekend before, he’d kept tabs on her improving condition and had only recently discovered her attending physician was preparing for her discharge.  He considered visiting the patients he cured a narcissistic indulgence, but try as he might, he couldn’t keep himself away.  He felt drawn to them and couldn’t bear not knowing how his decisions played out.  Had he chosen the right person?  Did they realize the value of the gift they’d been given?  This desire to follow up had all started with Baxter, who, after many nights of not knowing where he was or what he was doing, was finally adopted by Jose’s family, after he convinced his parents the dog deserved more than a life on the streets.  Since then, Jose had always felt the need to see things through to the end.
    He strode confidently off the elevator into the ICU, a clipboard tucked under his arm.  He found carrying a clipboard made him look official, and other staff generally left him alone when he had it.  The hallway was deserted and no one stopped him as he ducked into Chloe’s room.
    She was lying in her bed, under a tray covered with magazines and empty snack wrappers.  She was watching something on the television, but cut her eyes to the door as Jose crossed the threshold.
    “Hi,” she said warmly.  “Are you here to take vitals because Selma was just here about 10 minutes ago and said everything looked good.”
    A bandage still covered her temple, concealing what Jose assumed was the remains of the gash to her head from the fall.  The ventilation machine was no longer in the room, and Chloe’s cheeks were flushed with life.  He approached, settling into the chair beside the bed with the hope of confirming his assumptions.
    “Oh, yes.  Everything’s fine,” he said, preparing to recount the same liturgy he always used on his chosen patients.  “I’m just here to ask a few questions about your medical care here at the hospital before your release.  Is that something you feel like you could do?”
    “Of course,” she replied, straightening herself up against the headboard and turning off the TV.  “What is it you’d like to know?”
    He pulled his clipboard out from under his arm and plucked his