I yawned for the umpteenth time, this evening is tiring rather I was tired. I've been on my feet since morning. "Why on earth did I agree to cover Tessa's shift this evening?"  Tessa, my feisty ginger haired colleague, whose personality soothed that of a sexy bar attendant since she flirted with almost all good looking male patients and doctors. It's a wonder how she made it out of college and became an ER nurse. No harm there, not that I minded covering her either. I was already used to the chaos of the Emergency room and I had no social life. Sue me. People leave at the end and I hated getting attached. The scent of dried blood and antiseptic wafted through my nose,as I walked past the corridors to my cubicle. You'd think I should be used to it by now, but no that isn't the case. But I'm surviving and my job is fulfilling. It's a win-win situation for me. I was about to start my rounds for the night, and was grateful that there were only a few patients so I could take a quick nap. That Idea flew away as soon as the hospital doors burst open with a bunch of paramedics rolling in a patient on a stretcher, one on top performing CPR." "What's the Emergency?," I asked. "Multiple  Gunshot wounds and knife stabs." one of the paramedics responded.  I sprung into action immediately. I hated whenever we lost a patient. "We are not sure he will make it." one of the paramedics said.  "Not on my watch" I thought out loud leading one of the paramedics to chuckle while I tried to assess the situation. "Nurse Sophie, please put a call across to Doctor Jones the surgeon and Anderson the anesthetic quickly. I will be accessing his breathing and blood circulation. Hopefully it's normal. His pulse and blood pressure isn't." I said to her.  In a matter of seconds I was tearing off clothes and trying to control the bleeding  which  seemed too much of a task to do at the same time.  Doctor Jones came rushing into the ER with Sophia hot on his tail. Examining the patient, "are you and Sophie the only ones on duty tonight?"  I looked around me... "uhmm I'm not sure, they could be at the nurse's station.' I replied to him.  I didn't want to explain that they all left me with this patient because they were worried he'd die. Nobody likes to write a death report. He seemed furious, "let's prep this patient for surgery. We will assist as best as we can."  He stared at me for the longest time and shook his head, "you do too much Audrey."  "Get me Anderson and Wilson, tell them there is an emergency and I do not want any excuses." He barked orders. "Audrey, have you confirmed the man's identity so we can inform his relatives?" He asked. I was about to respond, but the patient beat me to it, shocking me to my toes.... "The man was conscious."  "You don't need to confirm anything, I'm Dante Rossi, I've got no relatives. Get the consent form, I'll sign it." He stuttered as blood spluttered out of his mouth. "Just make sure I'm alive so I can payback the fuckers who did this to me hmmm."  he said, this time he stared into my eyes like he was taking a peek into my mind.  "Mhmm mhm" doctor Jones cleared his throat, breaking off the intense stare. "We'll do our best Mr Rossi, and I think we need to call the police too."  "No need to call the Police doctor, just make sure I don't die." He said.  "We are here doc, why is the ER so bloody, what's the emergency?" Doctor Wilson asked as he came in. Seeing the patient's eyes open, he gasped in shock, "isn't he supposed to be unconscious for a man losing this much blood.  Dante's eyes flicked between the two doctors, and the back to me, making me shiver... "Nurse Sophie, get the consent form now! Audrey get ready to wheel him to the operating room in a minute. Anderson, go get ready to put him under anesthesia." Doctor Jones barked orders at everyone.  We were wheeling him to the operating room, when Sophie brought the form. With shaky hands , he took the pen from her and signed the form. Once we got him to the operating room, he lost consciousness, the sound of the machine beeped loudly, Doctor Jones started CPR, just to stabilize him.  For a stranger, I felt great concern for him. I was worried. "Doctor Jones", I called. He looked up as he got ready in his sterile overall. "What are his chances?" I asked. He looked at me like I had grown two-heads. "Do you by any chance know the patient?" He asked.  I scrunched up my face, "no Doctor, I don't.  I was just wondering." I replied. "Honestly, I don't know. He lost a lot of blood, and those injuries....it's going to be a tough one but I will do my best as usual."  As we went into the operating room, I wondered what could have led to such brutal injuries. I'm certain whomever is responsible wanted him dead.  The surgery lasted for four hours, it was one exhausting one. As we were about to round up, the front desk nurse came in, " a police officer came in asking if Dante Rossi was brought in here and I said yes." She said, "Well that's a good thing, isn't it. Because I wondered why he didn't want to report this case." Doctor Jones said. "He seemed suspicious, he asked series of questions, like if Dante said who had harmed him and if he was dead. He seemed panicky." She said, "I didn't divulge any other information because I wasn't even sure myself." She finished. "You did well, you can go and don't say anything to anyone." Said doctor Jones. "Beep!! Beep!! Beep!!" Was the next thing we heard. His blood pressure is dropping. "Damn it, he needs blood transfusion." someone should go to haematology, ask if they've got AB negative in the blood bank.... I should have asked for it a long time ago, stat." He said to no one in particular. I walked towards the phone in the operating room and dialed blood bank, "we don't have that, but we will make arrangements for it. The person on the other end of the line said.  "Shit!!" I exclaimed,"how long will this take?," I asked. "I'm not sure, but we have to make calls. Give or take two hours" they replied, then I hung up. I turned to doctor Jones who was closing up the patient, looking dejected and he got the message. "But they said to give them two hours." I told him. "The man is resilient, I think he will make it." Wilson said   Something about this man on the table had me worried.  "Doc, I need a breather, can I get three minutes, no more." I asked.  He stared at me for the longest time then asked, are you sure you don't know this man? This is unlike you."  "No, I don't know him." I responded exasperated. "Fine, you can take five. Sophie will fill in while you're out." He said.  "Thank you." With that I left. As I left the operating room, I spotted the police officer lingering by the hallway. He really did seem suspicious because he looked disheveled and was panicking. Immediately he saw me, he walked straight to me,  police officer Daniels, he said, showing his badge. I'm here because of Dante Rossi. "How is he?," he asked, trying to look somber.  Keyword: trying  "Officer, Mr Rossi's condition is critical, we are doing everything we can to save him but...." He nodded, his expression seemed somewhat relieved. Then he composed himself, "I understand nurse, please keep me updated on his condition." I nodded and left him. "Yeah, he definitely is suspicious."  I went up to the roof to take a breather. "What was it about Dante Rossi that kept gnawing at me?" I questioned myself.  I am certain I've never met the man in my life. I just wanted him alive and well. The night's cold air had me shivering in my scrubs, my five minutes was already over.  On getting close to the operating room, everyone was running around in a frenzy,  the machine beeping loud. I knew that sound. He was flat lining....  "Clear!!" I heard doctor Jones' voice as I ran in. I cleaned up and went into the operating room. "We are losing him." Sophie said. "He really needs that blood transfusion now." Doctor Wilson pointed out. I closed my eyes for a while, when I opened them again, what I said next had everyone shocked. "Are you certain?", Doctor Wilson asked. There is no going back after this. "I'm certain, but nobody else outside this room can know." I said pleading with all of them with my eyes. "Not even the patient." I finished. "I don't support this. I won't allow it "doctor Jones screamed.  "But it's not against practice and I'm old enough to make that kind of decision." I yelled back,matching his angry energy. "You know she's right, we have to do everything we can to save a patient. Even this crazy idea of hers has to work. We can't have a death in our conscience knowing we could have done something." Doctor Wilson tried to reason with him. I am AB negative too. I'll donate my blood to him and that's final." I said, determined.

It's been three days since the whole drama. Dante has been in and out of consciousness. The first time he regained consciousness, he asked specifically for me.  "It's good to see you alive Mr Rossi" I said smiling. He beamed at me. "Thank you." But I can't seem to remember anything except for your name. I can't even remember my name, he said in a cracked voice." I looked at him trying to understand whether he was pulling my legs or not.  That wasn't the case. He was serious.  I quickly ran out of his room to find doctor Jones."Wait!!" He whisper-yelled, looking confused. "This can't be happening." I muttered to myself, panicking. I held his hand in reassurance, "I will be right back, I promise."  Doctor Jones rushed in,"what do you mean he can't remember his name." he flashed his pen touch into his eyes, assessing visuals, he made Dante count figures backwards, which he did perfectly fine. Everything was fine, except he couldn't recall anything. Doctor Jones's expression changed from concern to being alert. He wrote some notes on the clipboard and handed it over to me.  "Take him to get a CT scan. I want the report on my desk in an hour."  I watched Dante's expression. He was confused. "Mr Rossi, we will do everything we can for you." Doctor Jones assured him.  "How did you know my name?" He asked "Am I some popular person and how come I have no one like a family member around me? He asked. Doctor Jones sighed. "Let's get the CT scan done, afterwards, I will explain everything." He said. Dante nodded reluctantly. ****** "During the surgery, while we were waiting for a response from the blood bank, you experienced blood loss to the brain which must have caused damage to your hippocampus." doctor Jones explained. "Could you be more elaborate, doctor?" Dante asked. He looked so confused and panicked, but he masked it well with nonchalance. Doctor Jones heaved a sigh. Looking at him pitifully, "it means you have retrograde amnesia. You can't recall past memories."  He said. I stood beside him, hoping to offer any kind of comfort. But I didn't know exactly where to start from.  "Then how did you know I was Dante Rossi?" He asked. "You told us yourself, you paid your hospital bills and asked us not to call the police, you also said you had no relatives." Doctor Jones informed him. "You're saying, when I was on the brink of death, I did all that?"  he questioned in disbelief. "Yeah, you did" I said to him, getting his attention... "want us to pull up the CCTV?" Doctor Jones asked, already on his guard.  "Pftt, that's fine." He waved it off. " Not like I don't believe you guys but It's just a lot to take in. Beep!! Beep!! Beep!! His heart rate was going up.  "Hey, it's okay and we will help as much as we can. I said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He nodded,then lit consciousness. ****** Today, I was off duty. It felt so refreshing because my apartment needed my attention. The sitting room was a mess, so was my room. So I took my phone, connected to the bluetooth and blasted Taylor Swift's album. "What's not to love about Taylor? It's like she gets me"  I shouldn't have thought about him, because as soon as my thoughts drifted to him, as I had finished cleaning, my phone rang. It was the hospital. "They know better than to call when I'm off duty." I let it ring through. The call was persistent. I finally picked up my phone, "it had better be important because I'm seconds away from blocking you Olga, I told the chief nurse in charge for the day." Yes, I could talk to her that way, she is my favorite person.  "I wish it wasn't an important call young lady." she said. "Hmmmph!! What happened?" I asked grumpily.  "Dante Rossi keeps asking for you. He has rejected all efforts to help him and keeps saying he wants you to attend to him." My grumpiness was quickly replaced with worry and confusion. "Why would he want me?Is everything alright? I'm off duty today." I asked all in one breath. "He offered to pay you extra, and Tessa has been making advances at him." She said, sighing. I could feel her eyes roll from the phone.  "Look, Aud, he has been agitated, I would appreciate it if you came in." She said, sounding defeated. Grumbling, "fine, I'll be there. Give me an hour."  "Thanks Aud, you're a lifesaver. I'll buy dinner." She said, making me chuckle. I got ready as quickly as I could, packing up my essentials. The weather in Phoenix today was 55 degrees and a bit windy so I had to be careful.  As I arrived at the hospital, I went straight to Olga's office.  "I'm here, I just hope it's only Dante I'm attending to. I've had a busy and stressful week and I need to unwind. Unfortunately duty has called." She looked at me smiling, her pleased face erasing the worry lines on her forehead. Olga was an elderly woman who lost her family to an accident. She'd always been kind to me and the oldest staff of Willow Creek hospital. I made my way to his room, and as soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up."you!" He said with a croaky voice, "I've been looking for you. I need to talk to you." He said. "Me?" I asked. "Yes, you Audrey." He said, taking me by surprise. "This better be important because I'm not supposed to be here today." I said, my face was void of any emotion I felt at that time. "I'll pay for the extra services." He said.  "What is it you wanted to talk to me about Mr Rossi?" I asked in a stern voice.  His eyes darted round the room, like he was searching for something. "For some reason, I feel like I can trust you." He said leaving me with a fluttery feeling around my chest. "Mmmph mmm!" I cleared my throat. "Why me?I'm just some other random nurse."  "Like I said, I feel like I can trust you. I remember something." He whispered. His voice was barely audible. Smiling genuinely at him since I stepped foot into his room. "That's great news. Why didn't you tell the doctors?"  "Do you want me to call doctor Jones for you?" I asked. Pleased that he was making progress. "No!" He yelled, Pausing my movement. "You can't tell anyone, not even the doctors." "What I remember is..is." he paused. Keeping quiet. He stared at me unsure.  "Nevermind, I'm sorry I called you in. How can I make up for that?" "No! This man can't just pull me out of my house on my day off, tell me some good news and stop halfway."  I thought to myself. Then it hit me. He doesn't trust anyone. He is just recovering  from multiple gunshot wounds and he has amnesia. Of course he would have trust issues. I sighed heavily. "Look I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot this morning. I hate being pulled out of my comfort schedule." I said. He stared at me intensely, probably wondering if I'm serious or just playing nice.  "I'll be here if you want to talk to someone, just send for me like you did before."I finished, trying not to push him to tell me what he remembered. As I was leaving, "wait!!" He sighed heavily. "Like I said, I feel it in my gut to trust you. I don't even know why myself."  "What I remember is dangerous." He said. Someone tried to kill me. He had a bunch of police officers surrounding him. I'm sure they killed other people too but it's in bits and flashes." He said. Now looking straight into my eyes like he could see my soul.  "Now that's outright scary."  I thought to myself. "I'm certain about one thing though, I was running from something or someone." he finished. I felt the hair at the back of my head stand. "What if he is a dangerous man, what if he's a criminal?" I asked myself. - I remember his wallet and wrist watch screamed wealthy. He had a black card for Christ sake.  I remembered I was still in his room, " Mr Rossi, I don't why you're telling me this, you should tell a higher authority. This is definitely not my jurisdiction." I responded, clearly trembling. He chuckled, "I shouldn't have said anything to you. My intuition is as messed up as my brain. You think I'm a criminal." He said, looking disappointed. "Cazzo!!Avrei dovuto tenere la bocca chiusa." I heard him mutter to himself. "Sorry I bothered you with this. Can you forget I ever mentioned this to you?" he asked, looking utterly distraught. Guilt gnawed at me immediately. "Mr Rossi, I didn't mean to make you..."  He waved his hand, not letting me finish. " I understand you're not supposed to be at work today. I'll plead with the management not to count today and give you an extra day. I'll pay for services today, and of course your transport back home." I'm sure that should make up for the unnecessary stress I caused you." He said with a stoic face. "How rude, the nerve of this man." I ignored him, composing myself. "Now that you've told me this, what do you expect me to do?. He looked straight to my eyes and said, "help me feign my death."

"Who the hell does he think he is?" I questioned no one in particular. I left his room in utter shock and confusion as soon as he blurted out those words. "How am I supposed to help feign his death?"  I can't be considering this.  "Argh", I screamed "goddammit! Screw you Dante." I cut my finger, instead of the veggies. I'm letting Dante take over my thoughts and that wasn't healthy. I didn't even know the man for God's sake.  ***** "Ensure you're attending the right patient assigned to you." Olga ordered as usual. ,"Audrey, you're strictly in charge of Mr Rossi." She said, pleading with me with her eyes.  "What!" I whisper-yelled, while she kept barking orders. When she was done, I followed her into her office. "Why am I strictly in charge of that man that seems to be on crack?"  "He specifically requested for you,paid in full for your services and the hospital management approved of it."  Shock was an understatement to describe my feelings. "He literally bought my services without my consent."  Olga looked at me from her glasses. "No one is expecting you to complain, you gave the man three pints of your blood." She said, with a little grin. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you know him from somewhere or you like him." She finished. I felt my blood pressure rise, I was angry and frustrated. "How did you know that? And I like him?" I scoffed. "You can't be serious. I don't even know the man. I only felt pity for him that's y donated my blood." I protested, trying so hard to taper my anger. Olga raised an eyebrow, mischief dancing around the corners. "Save it Aud. I've seen the way you stare at him. And don't worry, I think the feeling is mutual." She said in a sing-song voice. I shook my head, I just wasn't going to win this argument. "How did you know I donated three pints of blood to him? I asked curiously.  "When have you known Dr Anderson to keep a secret?" She fired back. "I think he told Tessa during their sexscapades and trust Tessa to let us know."  "You mean everyone knows?" I asked, feeling disappointed and betrayed. "Yep, everyone knows." She said, nodding her head. "....well except for him. I made sure no one told him."  I felt relieved and grateful to Olga. "Shuuu, leave my office, go do your job."  I gritted my teeth, "how did I even end up in this situation?" I grumbled to myself as I left her office. I'm a nurse,not some caregiver to a rich, arrogant, demanding patient. I got to his room. Reluctantly, I stepped in ignoring the brewing anger I felt. "It's time for your medication." I announced. He was more alert and awake than I expected. "Ah! If it isn't my favorite nurse, I've been waiting for you Audrey" he said with mischievous glint on his face. I kept a poker face, took a deep breath, "Mr Rossi, it's Nurse Audrey to you. It's time for your medication."   "Fine, nurse Audrey, I paid for your services and I will get it on full. Hand me my drugs."  I gently walked over to his bedside, poured in the medication in a small cup and gave it to him an avoiding every form of physical and eye contact. "Here is your medication, Mr Rossi" I said in a professional voice even I didn't recognize.  "Thank you", he took the cup gulped down the drugs without flinching. As I turned to leave, he stopped me. "You haven't given me an answer yet." He said. "What answer are you talking about?" I asked, pretending to be clueless.    He smiled. "It would be in your best interest to help me fake my death." he said in pure amusement. I felt like slapping the stupidity out of him. "It would be unprofessional of me to do such absurd things. Besides, it's not in my power to declare you dead. I'm a nurse not a doctor." I said in a firm voice which I was proud of. I mentally patted myself in the back.  "When we discuss the details, you'll see how much you can help me." He sighed heavily, his face serious. "Come faccio a far capire a questa donna che è in pericolo così come lo sono io?" "Look Audrey, you need to help me. So I ...so I can...." He paused. "Never mind," he said. I couldn't say anything, I was just speechless. Then I turned, walking towards his bedside again. "Mr Rossi, what are you talking about? How can you fake your death, at least there l must be someone out there looking for you?" I asked, demanding and curious as well. He smiled. "That's the Audrey my gut trusts."  I looked at the man bewildered. Is he bipolar, one minute he is serious and the next heia smiling. "You just have to cooperate with me..." I shook my head, "cooperate with you. It's like you're asking me to give up my job, my life,my career. Do you even know what would happen to me if I'm caught?"  He leaned forward, his eyes intense as it locked into mine. "what if I promise that nothing will happen to you?"  "I don't know you, I don't trust you Mr Rossi and I'm definitely not helping you achieve that stupid ploy of yours."  His jaw ticked, eyes intense. "From what I remember, the people after me are dangerous, and they won't stop untill I'm dead. Maybe you too."  "What do you mean? If this is your way of getting me to do your bidding, it's not working."  He smiled, "you're a stubborn one and I admire that about you. Right now, your stubborness won't help you." "I'm only being being reasonable Mr Rossi." I won't be a part of this. If you're in danger, I suggest you report to the authorities and get yourself body guards. I'm certain you're rich enough to handle that."  "It's only a matter of time before they barge into this hospital. You too are involved in this. The moment you donated your blood to save my life, that's when you got involved." He said, his voice firm, and sadness clouded his features. "You are in danger, Nurse Audrey. His voice low and steady. I paled. "What...wait how....?" I couldn't speak. His face went blank. I didn't know what to say. "Come seat Audrey" he said in a commanding tone, patting the space on his bed."  When I sat, he chuckled, but still had that blank look. "I'll tell you." He said, "just listen to me." "The night after the operation, I was in between limbo and reality." He sighed but continued. "Someone badged into my room, he snickered and laughed like a maniac." He paused, then looked into my eyes. "I can't say if it was a male or female but whoever that was knew you gave me your blood and that's why I lived. They called you a 'Bitch' and promised to deal with you for meddling, then walked out."  I felt my body shiver, fear took over my body. "What..who could this person be?" I stammered.  "I don't know Aud,but whoever it is isn't far from you and I."  I needed air, I was going to have a panic attack. It's been so long this happened. I struggled to breath.  "It's alright, breath with me as I count." I followed the voice. When I regained myself, anger took over me. I knew I was being irrational, but I needed to blame him to feel better. "It's all your fault. If you didn't come in here looking like ....like.." I hoffed angrily.  "Like what?" He asked calmly. I had no answer to his question. "If only I knew that donating my blood to you would come back to haunt me this way, I wouldn't have." I said, biting my lip. Something I do when I'm nervous. He ground his jaw, his eyes flickered with pain and disappointment. But he managed to plaster a smile on his face. "Well that's why I need you to help me fake my death. You should be free once the hear I'm dead."  I nodded in agreement, trying to push away my fears and doubts. I still didn't trust him. I hope this doesn't come back to bite me too. I thought to myself. "Before we get to the details you're talking about, who are these people after you?" I asked. "Do you by any chance remember them or who they are to you?" He shook his head. "I don't know, I can't recall if I knew them, the face I see in my memory is blur." He said as his express hardened. Something about the desperation in his voice and face made decide to help him. "Now, we come up with a plan. And we need to do it fast."  He nodded and give me a boyish grin that had my heart racing. "Now isn't the time for this, and definitely not this man." I scolded myself.  "Mr Rossi," I called. "Hmmm," he turned looking straight into my eyes. "I'm helping because I think you're being honest, and I better not regret this." He smiled again, I promise, you will be safe."  "We need to make it look like you had a heart attack and died." I said. "I'll inject you with nitroglycerine. When it triggers the attack, make sure to put the aspirin I'll give you under your tongue. That way, you won't actually die. When you're declared dead in the ICU, and taken to the mougue, I have thirty minutes to wheel you out of here through the emergency exit."  He nodded, "I hope I don't actually die." he said. I hope so too, I responded, scrunching up my face and my fingers crossed. "Okay, I'll go get the medication. But we need to be careful. If anyone finds out what we're doing..." Dante nodded. "I know. That's why we need to be fast and make it look like it actually happened. I quickly grabbed the medication, while avoiding  the CCTV. I got back to his room and administered it to Dante. I could see the tension in his body. "Okay, now, relax and let the heart attack take over. On our way to the ICU, sneakily put the aspirin under your tongue" I said, trying to sound as calm as possible. He nodded, and I could see the fear and gratitude he felt. When we arrived at the ICU, I quickly briefed the doctor Jones on Dante's "condition." looked concerned but skeptical. "Let's get him hooked up to the monitors and see what's going on," he said. I nodded. Before I could fix up the monitor, Dante's body went limp. ******** "Dante Rossi, aged twenty -nine. Died at 3:30pm Cause of death, sudden heart attack.