A Change of Heart

It was a cold and gloomy day, the kind that made Emily want to crawl back into bed and stay there until the sun came out. But she had responsibilities, and so she trudged through the rain and the mud to get to work. Emily worked as a nurse at the local hospital, and she loved her job. She loved helping people and making a difference in their lives. But on days like today, when the weather was so terrible and everyone seemed to be sick or injured, it was hard to keep up her spirits.

As she walked into the hospital, Emily was greeted by the sound of beeping machines and the sight of sick people lying in beds. She sighed and made her way to the nurses' station to check in with her supervisor.

"Good morning, Emily," said Mrs. Thompson, the head nurse. "We've got a full house today. I've assigned you to room 214. Mr. Johnson was in a car accident last night and is in critical condition. He's been in surgery for the past few hours and the doctors are still working on him. His wife is in the waiting room, and she's understandably very worried. Do your best to keep her calm and updated on his condition."

Emily nodded and grabbed her clipboard. "I'll do my best, Mrs. Thompson. Thank you."

She made her way to room 214 and knocked softly on the door. "Mrs. Johnson? It's Emily, the nurse. May I come in?"

A faint voice answered, "Yes, please."

Emily opened the door and stepped into the room. Mrs. Johnson was a small, timid woman who looked to be in her mid-40s. She was sitting in a chair by the window, staring out at the rain with tears in her eyes. Emily approached her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Mrs. Johnson, I'm here to check on you and give you an update on your husband's condition. How are you feeling?"

Mrs. Johnson sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I'm just so worried about him. The doctors haven't told me anything yet. Is he going to be okay?"

Emily gave her a reassuring smile. "I can't say for sure, but the doctors are doing everything they can to help him. He's still in surgery, but I'll do my best to find out more information and keep you updated. In the meantime, is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable? Do you need anything to eat or drink?"

Mrs. Johnson shook her head. "No, thank you. I just want to be here when he comes out of surgery."

"Of course," said Emily. "I'll check back with you in a little while. In the meantime, try to relax and take care of yourself. It's important for you to stay strong for your husband."

Emily left the room and went to check on her other patients. As the day wore on, she did her best to keep Mrs. Johnson updated on her husband's condition. Mr. Johnson was still in surgery, but the doctors were hopeful that he would make a full recovery.

As the evening shift began, Emily was getting ready to go home when Mrs. Thompson called her over to the nurses' station.

"Emily, I just received a call from Mr. Johnson's surgeon. Mr. Johnson's surgery was a success and he's expected to make a full recovery. His wife is overjoyed, and she's asking if you can come and talk to her. She says she has something important to tell you."

Emily's