victoria hadn’t expected this.

not today.

today she was supposed to be on her a-game. ogilvie was showing her up and she couldn’t have that. couldn’t let the guy who had been here one day overshadow the two years of effort she had been put in. she was going to be chosen for the residency, and she was going to make sure of it, no matter what her mom and dad thought.

but of course you had to come in and throw things off. well, it’s not like victoria knew it was you. robby had just said, ‘attempted OD, five minutes out’, and she had ran into the ambulance bay. but it was you. you, pale and sweaty on the gurney — victoria’s little sibling. your hair was stuck to your head and you were jerking.

and victoria froze.

you and her had always been close as children. your parents worked a lot, both surgeons, and victoria was the big sister that looked after you. but things had been rough, lately. victoria had found a roommate and moved in, and she rarely visited home. it was no secret she and their mom had a rocky relationship, and so it was easier to stay away. safer, to avoid confrontation.

but avoiding a fight also resulted in her ignoring you. her seventeen year old sibling. you called and text, tried to find time to see her without your parents there, but victoria always gave a weak excuse.

now, though? as she watches you roll through the halls of her workplace, into trauma room? she finds herself reeling at every time she told you she was ’too tired’ or ’maybe next week?’.

robby doesn’t let her into the room, which doesn’t surprise her, so she stands outside. watches as they poke you with needles and check your pupils. if this was anyone else, victoria would be the one calling out your vitals. but it’s not.

it’s her sibling.

she pages for both of her parents, who are both in surgery. they don’t come down, and victoria lets the resentment fester. resentment at them for not dropping everything and running to their teenage child. resentment at herself for not seeing the signs that you were clearly struggling enough to turn to drugs.

cassie sits with her in the break room. she’s an addict that’s been clean ten years, and a close friend of victoria. she’s done more for her than anyone else, and given her advice that she will cherish forever. there’s nobody here she wants right now more than her.

victoria sits with her head down in between her knees as cassie back and murmurs comforting words.

and then the door opens.