I Love My Job
Wednesday 10th July, Story #192/366
The bond we share is like brothers. Closer, really. Stuff you see in this job... it can fuck you up. If you're not careful. When you see that shit... when you experience it together. Do it... together... it does something. Trauma bonding or some shit, I don't know.
The shocking thing is just how much blood there is in the human body. Shocking to some, I mean. It can get all over, if something happens to the skinsack holding it in.
Sometimes, there's no blood. No screaming. That can be unnerving in its own way.
What normally happens is this: we arrive at the scene first, assess the situation, and work to stabilise the victim. Or victims. We save a life. Or lives.
What sometimes happens is this: we arrive first, assess, just like always. But this time the planets align. Everything is just right. A youngish person, badly injured, that's the ideal. That way, all the, you know, innards, usually work fine, and nobody really questions it when the person doesn't make it.
Yesterday a 14 year old boy got hit by a car while he was riding his bike. He was a bit bashed up, had some cracked ribs. But it definitely wasn't life-threatening. It would've looked fishy as hell if he'd upped and died.
We've got it down to a fine art now, Hugh and me. Sometimes our eyes lock over the victim, and something passes between us. Like telepathy. This one.
We are good at what we do. What we are officially paid to do, and also this other thing, where we ensure a steady supply of Product for Dr Healey.
Hugh kids himself he's doing it to help people, that for every life we... not exactly "take", but "let go"... At least one is saved. Probably more. He's not just doing it for the money. He isn't greedy, no, nothing so tawdry as that. He needs the money to pay for Addison's treatment. But here, I can be honest, really honest.
Deciding who lives, or not... You can get used to that. You can get to like it.
I take my cut from Dr Healey, but I'd do this for free.
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Word count excluding note: 366
Submitted on Wednesday 10th July at 23:23
*Quick Author's Note*
First, and most importantly: thank you so much for reading my story! The ha'penny that Vocal will toss in my hat for your eyeballs landing on this humble piece will be well-spent.
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A Year of Stories
I'm writing a story every day this year. This one continues my 190 day streak since 1st January.
Please do consider lending your support to the other creators who are also on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They are putting out excellent content every day!
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The story behind the story: I hate this one. I have been working on it ALL DAY, and I just can't get it how I want it. I've restarted several times and I have lots of drafts that all look very different. I may re-work it at some point.
PS. My new laptop came, and the keyboard on it is absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you!
Thank you again, most sincerely. Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed!
Edited to fix the formatting and add links.
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Comments (6)
Well that was an unexpected twist!! Love the innocence and noble feeling of the beginning before you ascended into this eery serial killer's assistant vibe!!
I'd do it for free too. I love putting people out of their misery. But if I get paid for it, even better. I can make a living out of doing what I love heheheheh
Hmm. Kinda disturbing! Made me wonder if you’re a paramedic. You might have had several rewrites but I thought this was brill.
I love the way you worked through this concept on the page. I've seen something similar done before (hello, X Files!), but I love how you skirt around the reveal just enough to allow fearful imagination while the implicit reveal is clear enough not to be too vague to be scary. Awesome writing!
So well written it made me wonder if it might be true. What if there are “rescuers” like this?
You'll never get this one perfect, 'cause it's THAT kind of story. Which is a testament to your talent. Great disturbing story.