Page 6 of C is for Comfort

“Tell me about it?”

He starts to shake his head.

“I’m serious. I want to know.”

He huffs out a breath. “Okay.” He doesn’t sound sure. “I’m a teacher in my qualifying year.”

“What subject?”

“Art.”

“Secondary school?”

He nods.

“And you’re finding it tough?”

“Yeah. I went into it all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but I already feel like I’m wading through quicksand, and I’m only halfway through my first year.” He groans and leans his head back. “I guess I’m not cut out for it.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

He gives me the side-eye. “Why?”

“I’m an A&E doctor.”

Corey winces. “Wow. That sounds like hard work.”

“It is. Long hours, lots of emergencies. It’s never dull, but it’s exhausting. I almost quit medical school in my first year and then almost quit again when I was a junior doctor.” I crack a smile. “In fact, I think I decide to quit at least once a year.”

“What stops you?”

“I dig deep and remember why I wanted to be a doctor in the first place.”

“And it helps?”

“Every time. It might take a few days or even a month, but I get there eventually. I’d never quit on a whim. Every time I think about it, I tell myself to wait a month and see how I feel then.”

Corey stares at the ceiling. “Teachers can only quit three times a year, and we have to give a term’s notice.”

“What made you want to be a teacher?” I ask.

“I wanted to inspire pupils.” Corey rolls his eyes. “It sounds dumb, doesn’t it?”

“Not at all. I wanted to be a doctor to help other people. The sad truth is, I can’t help or save everyone. I will lose patients. There will be others who walk out before they’ve had the treatment they need.”

“How do you cope with that?”

I shrug. “If I have a bad shift, I talk it through with someone. Often, my sister. If I lose a patient, I take the counselling that’s on offer.” I smile. “You can’t inspire every pupil you teach, Corey, but the ones youdoinspire will remember you for the rest of their lives. And if you have a bad day, talk to someone. You said you have two brothers. Are you close?”

“We’re triplets, so yes.”

“There you go. It’s better to get things off your chest than to hold it inside until it breaks you.”

“That’s good advice. Thank you.” He looks down at my wrist. “You’re here for sex. Why are you wasting your time with me?”

“Would it help if I took that loop off?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. You should go and have fun.”