This one is for Arctic Giantess, Toll_Orialcon, and everyone on the front lines. GentleApril20 entry. Author’s Notes at bottom.
The new resident, Brian, backed through the breakroom doors with his arms held out in front of him, bent up at the elbows like a surgeon. Like all of us, now. He didn’t notice me as he went straight to the sink, tapped the footplate for hot water, collected some soap, and began scrubbing.
I waited until he was done before speaking. “Take a load off, Brian.”
He put on fresh gloves, made some coffee in the Keurig, snagged a chair with his foot, then lowered his mask to sip the bitter brew.
“How long you been on?” I asked.
He squinted at the wall clock. “Comin’ up on forty hours. You?”
“Almost the same, but I just had a four-hour nap in my car, so it’s all good.”
Brian shook his head. “I didn’t sign up for this.”
