Page 1 of Hot Girls Date Demons

Prologue: Josie

The smell of antiseptic is always preferable to blood.

Blood means panic.

Blood means tragedy.

Blood means somebody's worst day has just become even worse.

Antiseptic means we've already started fighting back.

And after fifteen years as an ER nurse, I've learned to appreciate the small victories.

The small Midtown hospital where I work never lacks for patients.

Tonight is no different.

A teenager with a broken arm.

An elderly man convinced WebMD diagnosed him with seventeen rare diseases.

A toddler who swallowed a Lego.

Three stitches.

One concussion.

And one particularly dramatic gentleman who sneezed so hard he strained his back and is now loudly informing everyone within earshot that he's too young to die.

It's only Tuesday.

In other words, business as usual.

“Hey, Josie, Madame is asking for you,” Abigail calls from the nurses' station.

I glance up from my tablet where I'm finishing chart notes, and smile.

“Okay, just a sec.”

Abigail grins knowingly.

“Your favorite patient.”

“Don't tell the others.”

Madame isn't technically my patient.

She belongs to everyone.

And no one.

She's eighty-seven years old, widowed, mostly healthy, and has absolutely mastered the art of finding reasons to visit the emergency room once a month.

Sometimes it's indigestion.

Sometimes it's dizziness.

Sometimes she claims her aura feels itchy.