It’s been two weeks since I dropped Ashley off at the airport, and even I’m surprised at how much I miss her. I’ve been taking extra shifts at work to pass the time. That’s where I am now actually. At the hospital.

I was sitting in the break room and Dr. Carmen Ramos came in and took the seat opposite me. She’s the only doctor that’s around my age in the hospital. Her long dark wavy hair was pulled back, and she looked

“You wouldn’t believe the patient I just saw” she said

“What happened?” I asked

“An elderly woman came in to my office and asked me to prescribe her birth control pills. I was
taken aback, I thought for a minute and then said, "Excuse me, Mrs. Smith, but you’re 75 years old. What possible use could you have for birth control pills?" the woman responded, "They help me sleep better." Again I thought some more and asked, "How in the world do birth control pills help you to sleep?" The woman said, "I put them in my granddaughter’s orange juice and I sleep better at night."

I laughed, it was the first time in two weeks.

“I can top that” I said. “

“At the beginning of my shift I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf woman’s chest. "Big breaths," I told her. "Yes, they used to be," she said.

Now we were both laughing.

“When does your shift end?” Carmen asked.

“In about an hour” I sighed

“Yeah me too. You wouldn’t want to grab a drink afterwards would you?” she asked “Its been one of those days and I could really use one.”

Lets see. I did bring a change of clothes, and I really need to stay out of my apartment for a bit. “Yeah a drink sounds great.

The hour went fast and before I knew it Carmen and I were walking into the local bar. It was nearly empty, and small, and usually where the doctors from the hospital came to hang out. We grabbed a couple of stools and ordered.

“I’ll have a Bud Light” I told the bartender.

“Same for me” Carmen quickly added.

“I didn’t take you for a beer kind of girl” I said as the drinks were placed in front of us.

“what kind of girl did you take me for?” she raised her eyebrow in amusement.

“I’m not sure, maybe a Martini or Manhattan. Something classy” I told her.

“I guess it’s my inner butch coming out.” she laughed.

Then it hit me. She’s gay. Does she think this is a date?

“So you’re…”

“Gay” she finished “Aren’t you?”

“Yeah I am. How could you tell?”

“I have impeccable gaydar” she said. “it’s a gift”

The night went on and we ordered drinks and talked. I’m not sure how it happened, but we got on the subject of Ashley.

“Wait so let me get this straight. You dated this girl in high school. You leave for college after ending the relationship. Your first night back and she is your first patient, and now she is your neighbor”

We’re both laughing.

“Yep, that’s the story.”

“Are you two back together?”

“No, no we’re just friends” I tell her

“So you’re single?”

“Yep” I take another swig of my sixth beer. “You?”

“Yeah.” she smiles.

By the time Carmen pulls up to my apartment, I am smashed. She walks me up to my door and helps me open it.

“Thanks for the ride Car” I tell her giggling

“You’re very welcome. Thank you for joining me tonight”

I’m not sure what happened after that but the next morning I woke up to Carmen in my kitchen, making coffee.