Sample of Nurse Doe, A Night portals Short Story

“They won’t be back for…” She stopped and looked at her wrist. A digital clock appeared on her skin, making Jeff intake a sharp breath. He’d never seen anything like it before. It pulsed the time just under her skin. “Exactly one hour and twelve minutes and nineteen seconds from now.” The nurse looked up at Jeff and smiled making him feel soft all over his body.

“Who are you? What did you do to Steven?”

The nurse put her hand up as if she were warding off bad spells. “I’m Madison.” She said. 

The woman had stopped Jeff in his tracks, and it made him fall even more madly in love with her. “My names…”

“Jeff Proctor. You are thirty-seven years old. You used to be a carpenter, but you got sick. You enjoy good books and your dog, and both of your parents passed away two years ago. Your mom two months after your dad. Your sister is your best friend, and if you don’t close your mouth right now your tongue is going to get really dry.” Madison laughed.

Jeff closed his mouth and smiled. “Wow. How do you know all of that?” Normally he would have been creeped out, but he liked that she knew all those things about him.

“I know many more things about you, Jeff. The other thing I know is that you have Pancreatic Cancer. And that it is basically uncurable in this time and place. That’s why the next thing I’m going to tell you is going to hurt so much.” Madison looked sad and she averted her eyes from Jeff’s. “I mean if you were on the list…” She patted the bed next to Jeff’s knee.