Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
Emilia
I’ve always believed that rules are more like guidelines , especially when people’s hearts are on the line. And right now, in the aftermath of the quake that just rocked L.A. to its core, there are a whole lot of broken hearts that need mending.
The ER is a warzone, and I’m navigating it like a soldier on a mission. Clipboard in hand, I weave through the maze of gurneys and harried medical staff, my eyes peeled for familiar faces among the wounded.
“Mama! Mama!” a little voice pipes up, and I spin around to see a young boy, maybe six or seven, his arm in a makeshift sling.
“Hey there, buddy,” I say, crouching down to his level. “What’s your name?”
“Tommy,” he sniffles. “I can’t find my mom.”
My heart clenches. I know I should send him to the designated area for unaccompanied minors, but one look at those tear-filled eyes and I’m a goner. I see myself in him—scared, alone, desperate for a familiar face. How many times did I feel that way, bouncing from one foster home to another?
“Well, Tommy, let’s go find her together, okay?”
As we set off hand-in-hand, I can practically feel Dr. Stick-up-his-ass Uriel’s disapproving glare burning into my back. His words from earlier echo in my head: “We need to focus on saving the lives in front of us, Ms. Thornton.”
Yeah, well, screw that noise. Saving lives isn’t just about patching up physical wounds. Sometimes it’s about healing the soul, too. It’s about being there, really there, for someone who feels lost and alone. Like Mrs. Chen, my last foster mom, was for me. The one who showed me what family could be, who inspired me to become a social worker in the first place.
I lead Tommy through the crowded hallways, asking nurses and orderlies if they’ve seen a frantic mother looking for her son. It’s against protocol, sure, but I’ll be damned if I let some arbitrary rules keep a scared kid from his mom. I know too well the ache of separation, the gnawing fear that you’ll never find your place again.
“Emilia!” a sharp voice cuts through the chaos. I turn to see Nurse López, her usually immaculate scrubs splattered with blood. “Honey, what are you doing? That child needs to be in pediatrics!”
I paste on my most winning smile. “Just taking a little detour, Linda. We’ll be there in a jiffy.”
She shakes her head, but I see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re going to get yourself fired one of these days.”
“Nah,” I wink. “You all love me too much.”
As if on cue, Tommy spots a woman across the room. “Mama!” he cries, breaking free from my hand and racing towards her.
The reunion that follows—all tears and fierce hugs and whispered reassurances—makes any potential reprimand worth it. I watch as they collide, the woman dropping to her knees to gather Tommy in her arms. Their sobs of relief cut through the noise of the ER, a moment of pure joy amidst the chaos. My throat tightens, and I blink back tears of my own.
This is why I do what I do, rules be damned. Because I remember what it felt like to be Tommy, and I remember what it felt like when someone finally cared enough to go the extra mile for me.
I’m so caught up in the moment, in the rush of joy and relief, that I don’t notice the looming presence behind me until it’s too late.
“Ms. Thornton.” Dr. Uriel’s voice is arctic. “A word.”
I turn slowly, squaring my shoulders. He towers over me, all chiseled jawline and steely blue eyes. If he wasn’t such a colossal jerk, he might actually be hot. But his cold, by-the-book approach reminds me too much of the social workers who saw me as just another case number, another problem to be filed away.
“Yes, Your Maj... Dr. Angelstone?” I quip, unable to help myself. “How may I be of service?”
His eyes narrow dangerously. “My office. Now.”
As I follow him, my mind races. I know I’ve pushed the boundaries, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Someone needs to remind this guy that we’re dealing with people, not just numbers on a chart. Real people with real fears and hopes and needs.
I steel myself for the lecture to come. Dr. Uriel might think he runs this place like his own personal kingdom, but he’s about to learn that not everyone bows to his precious rules. Especially not me. I’ve spent too much of my life feeling powerless, watching others make decisions about my fate. Not anymore.
The tremors might have stopped, but I’ve got a feeling the real earthquake is just beginning. And if Dr. Uriel thinks he can shake my resolve, he’s got another thing coming. I am Emilia Thornton, and I fight for the lost and the broken. No matter what.