Post-Pandemic (Sequel To Unseen Threats Among Us)

By L. W. Lawrence

It had been a long battle. The pandemic that scientists predicted had arrived leaving in its wake millions of deaths. A staggering number of cases had been reported worldwide. Efforts to contain the continuously mutating virus had stretched resources beyond recovery. An annual vaccination had been added to traditional flu shots to help contain the novel virus.
As the world struggled for basic resources, the world of medicine struggled with availability of human resources to meet demands of patient care. Educational institutions specializing in healthcare were recruiting and producing graduates as quickly as possible. The call to duty in healthcare was an altruistic career choice pursued by the most physically and mentally capable students.
Among these students were Ansley and Brent who were reunited at a midwestern hospital for their residencies. They had joined the ranks of medical school graduates at a critical point in time. They closely monitored the pandemic’s aftermath as they reaffirmed their commitment to improve patient outcomes. They often talked about the committee they served on in undergraduate school and how their undergraduate professor had predicted the pandemic months before it started. They were eager to reconnect with the outcomes research world as soon as they were established in their medical residencies. Much had changed in the post-pandemic world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. W. Lawrence
• Release date: Dec 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005687854

Book preview

It had been a long battle. The pandemic that scientists predicted had arrived leaving in its wake millions of deaths. A staggering number of cases, over five hundred million, had been reported worldwide. Efforts to contain the continuously mutating virus had stretched resources beyond recovery. An annual vaccination had been added to traditional flu shots to help contain the novel virus.

As the world struggled for basic resources, the world of medicine struggled with availability of human resources to meet demands of patient care. Educational institutions specializing in healthcare were recruiting and producing graduates as quickly as possible. The call to duty in healthcare was an altruistic career choice pursued by the most physically and mentally capable students.

Among these students were Ansley and Brent who were reunited at a midwestern hospital for their residencies. They had joined the ranks of medical school graduates at a critical point in time. They closely monitored the pandemic’s aftermath as they reaffirmed their commitment to improve patient outcomes. They often talked about the committee they served on in undergraduate school and how their undergraduate professor had predicted the pandemic months before it started. They were eager to reconnect with the outcomes research world as soon as they were established in their medical residencies. Much had changed in the post-pandemic world.

Chapter One

Ansley! Brent shouted her name again waiting for her to look up from her phone and realize that he was walking towards her.

Brent, I was texting you to let you know my flight was early. Ansley laughed shyly as she returned her phone to her pocket and reached up to hug Brent.

I’ve missed you. Brent leaned down and gave Ansley a quick kiss not wanting to draw attention to their temporary removal of masks that were still required in airports. It was amazing that precautions started during the pandemic were still in place, but it made sense to keep people safe from lingering infections.

How was your flight? Brent wanted to get small talk out the way so they could talk more openly in the car.

Ansley didn’t like communicating with Brent through a mask. She had adjusted to wearing a mask during medical school, but personal conversations were difficult. She never realized how much she depended on nonverbal communication until everyone started wearing masks. Patient assessment had proven challenging for her considering it was customary to wear masks in all healthcare settings. Brent was much more accustomed to personal protective equipment considering his time in the military and his experience as an emergency medical technician.

Are you hungry? Brent wanted to take Ansley for a nice quiet dinner where they could discuss their upcoming medical residencies. Significant decisions had to be made about housing and transportation. He hated to jump into business, but there was much to do in very little time. Rental housing had become scarce after so many companies went out of business due to eviction moratoriums that lasted too long during the pandemic. Many properties that were eventually recovered were left in shambles as angry renters took their revenge out on landlords’ properties. The pandemic had brought out the worst in many people.

Yes, I’m starved. Ansley was glad they were starting with dinner before jumping into apartment hunting. She was famished.

Great, I made reservations at a cozy little restaurant close to my apartment. We can walk there after dropping your things off. Brent was excited to show her his apartment and hoped she would be receptive to his long-term plan.

Perfect. Ansley looked around at her new home city as Brent drove them from the airport to his apartment. As soon as he found an open spot in the multitiered parking garage, he ran around the car to open the door for Ansley and then retrieved her bags from the trunk of his car. He was anxious and acting nervous as he anticipated Ansley’s reaction to his plan. They had kept in touch during medical school spending holidays and breaks together, but he was about to propose they take their relationship to a new level. He suddenly felt as if it was their first date.

Ansley grabbed the lighter bags and followed Brent to the elevator. She too was anxious about spending more time with Brent. Their busy schedules and occasional reunions had not allowed much time for getting to know each other. Now, they would be living in the same city working at the same hospital. She wondered how it would affect their relationship.

When they arrived at Brent’s apartment, Ansley was pleased at the size and openness of the layout. It was an old, renovated warehouse that had been turned into apartments targeted mainly for medical residents of the hospital located a few blocks away. Ceilings were tall providing lots of open area.

I love your apartment. It has so much character. How many bedrooms?

Brent turned around and paused as he thought of how to best approach Ansley with his proposal.

Actually, there is only one bedroom, but the couch makes into a bed and there is a pulldown bed in the wall between the kitchen and living room.

Oh, that’s a shame. I was about to suggest that I be your roommate.

Ansley blushed as she said the words. She had been thinking about spending more time with Brent and wondered if it was possible that he wanted the same thing too. It had been almost seven years since they first met in undergraduate school. They had communicated like a couple during medical school, but like everything else in her world, it had been mostly remote. She knew that he was who she wanted to be with. Considering their work schedules, living together would be their best option.

Well, now that you mentioned it. I do have a proposal for you. Brent realized when he said the words that she might get the wrong idea.

A proposal. Well, that sounds serious. Ansley tilted her head and smiled with an innocence that made Brent realize he was misleading her.

Brent turned and found a place for Ansley’s luggage as he thought of how to better explain his intentions.

What I mean is it took me forever to find this place considering the post-pandemic rental housing situation. I talked to the lady at the hospital who is in charge of helping physicians get settled. One of the residents was moving so she held this apartment for me. I asked about other options, but she said this was the best deal. It’s close to the hospital and the rent is reasonable. Plus, its really an amazing place.

So, what’s your proposal? Ansley was following his train of thought but didn’t want to make any assumptions.

Brent decided it was best to be direct. Move in with me. That’s my proposal.

Oh. Ansley turned so that Brent couldn’t see her expression. She was relieved that it wasn’t something more serious. She knew she loved him, but they had not spent enough time together to be sure.

Okay. Ansley turned around and blurted out her answer. Brent looked surprised that she didn’t debate his forwardness.

You mean you will move in with me and give us a chance to really get to know each other?

I said yes, didn’t I? Ansley gave Brent a big smile to match his. He was so excited that he grabbed her and twirled her around the room in his arms. As he put her down, he kissed her.

Welcome to your new home. Brent was thrilled that the question he had practiced for days came so easily. Ansley was grateful that it wasn’t a more serious proposal. She had much to tell him before he offered a more serious proposal. Their relationship to this point had focused on undergraduate and medical school. Even though it had been years, they really didn’t know each other on a more intimate level. Living together would provide that opportunity.

Chapter Two

Later, as they enjoyed dinner, Brent gave Ansley an overview of Central Hospital. He had arrived weeks earlier to secure housing and get familiar with the city before their first official day of residency. Ansley listened intently realizing that she should have arrived earlier to do the same. Her decision to spend an extra week with her parents was due to her long absences while in medical school. She knew that when she started her residency, it would be difficult to go home.

I recommend contacting the residency director’s office tomorrow morning. I’ve already completed my paperwork. Brent was looking at his online schedule on his phone while Ansley was responding to texts from her parents.

How’s your mom and dad? Brent didn’t want to seem apathetic but had much more experience with being out of touch with his parents for long periods of time. His military experience had given him the ability to compartmentalize his life quite nicely. His parents were accustomed to long periods of time with little or no communication from their son. Ansley’s parents expected to hear from their daughter every day even if it was simply a quick text to say everything was okay.

They’re great. They were so pumped at my graduation from medical school.

Yeah, I bet. My mom and dad were the same. They were thankful to survive the pandemic considering their medical conditions. My mom had mixed emotions about me becoming a doctor when the pandemic seemed to continue without end. But, I think she’s happy now and knows the worst is behind us.

My parents too. They treated me like a soldier going off to war. As soon as Ansley said the words, she regretted them. Brent had actually been to war with guns, explosions, bloodshed, and death. Ansley had been in medical school during the worst days of the pandemic and had limited experience dealing with death. The virus was an unseen threat that had given new meaning to biowarfare.

Speaking of war, have you thought of all our conversations with Dr. Klein when we worked at the poison control center and her predictions about a global pandemic and bioterrorism?

Yeah, many times. I thought she had worked on too many research projects and written too many federal grants preparing for such a thing. Then there it was. Less than a year in medical school and we are doing remote learning, wearing masks, gloves, personal protective equipment. What a crazy time and I never figured out the whole hoarding of toilet paper. That was crazy.

Seems like a long time ago.

Yes, but we should give Dr. Klein a call and check on her. Let her know we are reunited and doing our residency together. She always knew we had something special.

Ansley reached across the table and took Brent’s hands in hers. It was a bold move, but she had learned to be assertive and not to hide her feelings. The pandemic gave new meaning to being able to reach out and touch.

Brent looked down and realized that he was still living in a shell. He had learned not to touch through many life experiences. The pandemic left him extremely guarded, and Ansley’s touch reminded him what he had lost.

It’s good to be together in person and not video chatting on our phones. I missed sitting with you and looking at you.

Brent sounded emotional and Ansley realized the satire in their situation. She was being bold, and Brent was bearing his soul. She wondered if he was about to shed tears.

Hey, let’s lighten the mood. We have so much to do before our residency officially starts. First, where I am going to live is settled. We do need to talk about the one-bedroom situation. My parents will be asking.

Glad you brought that up. There is the couch and the pulldown. You can tell them I’m sleeping there.

Tell them that’s where you’re sleeping. Ansley wasn’t ready to jump into bed with Brent, but the direction of the conversation was making her wonder what he was expecting. He was several years older than her and maybe he was expecting more."

Do you mean temporarily or permanently? Ansley took a deep breath as she weighed the situation. They had kept in contact during medical school and were ready to start an actual relationship. Would living together make that better or worse? What about her parents? What would they think?

Brent could tell by the look on Ansley’s face that she was weighing the circumstances. He had given it much thought and was ready to commit. He could tell that Ansley was not as prepared. It also explained why he was in a more serious mood than Ansley.

Sounds like you’ve thought this through. Ansley smiled a little less boldly than before.

Yes, I have. I didn’t want to hit you with it until we could sit down face to face and discuss it rationally. We will be working at the same hospital and our apartment is the only one available that’s within walking distance.

The words our apartment made Ansley blush as she listened to Brent’s rationale.

Plus, we are medical doctors and definitely old enough to make our own decisions.

Those words were a warning to Ansley not to hide behind her parent’s coattails. Brent was right. They both needed to know if their relationship was more than friendship. Ansley felt like it was but living together and maybe sleeping together would let it progress as it needed to. It was time to find out how committed they were to each other. Years of talking about their feelings would be put to a test.

Okay, I’m in. Ansley gave Brent a big smile that made him light up as well.

Great. After dinner we’ll go home and get you settled.

Chapter Three

After her long flight, dinner, and unpacking her most necessary items, Ansley sat down in the living room and smiled at Brent who was watching television and patiently giving her space to settle in. He was also avoiding the inevitable topic of who is sleeping where.

I’m exhausted. Ansley started their