Sparks Under the Bright Lights
2025 Write Now Winner - Adult, University of Iowa Alumni
Cassie sighed as the fluorescent light above her head flickered again, its rhythmic hum fading in and out. The already dimly lit storage room of Ioway County Hospital was not her ideal break spot, but it was the closest refuge from the chaos of the ER. Between a ruptured spleen and two patients with cardiac emergencies, she had been on her feet for 14 hours straight.
“Of course,” she muttered, closing her tired eyes against the annoying flicker. “Just what I need.”
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a utility worker stepped in – a toolbox in one hand and a flashlight in the other. He was tall, broad shouldered, wearing a navy-blue utility uniform with “Cole” embroidered over the chest pocket.
He looked apologetic, noticing her surprise. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” he said his tone softening. “Lights on the fritz in here, huh?”
“Yeah,” Cassie replied, crossing her arms over her chest. “And, lucky me, I got trapped in it. Are you the cavalry?”
Cole smiled, a slow, lopsided grin that made her stomach twist unexpectedly. “Yeah, that’s me. Mind if I squeeze past you?”
She stepped aside as he set his toolbox down and aimed the flashlight at the ceiling. “Not exactly the place I thought I’d end up tonight,” he said conversationally, glancing at her.
“Same here,” Cassie admitted, leaning against a shelf stacked with gauze and saline bags. “Long shift?”
“You could say that” Cole replied, pulling out a screwdriver. “Three ghosts, an exorcism, and a liquid volcano.”
“Was that English?” She asked, wide-eyed.
He grinned. “Three elevators stuck, overflowing toilet, and a pipe burst. Now, this.” He gestured toward the flickering light. “What about you? Doctor or nurse?”
She chuckled. “Doctor. ER Resident, actually” she said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
Cole paused, his hazel eyes studying her for a moment. “That explains the exhaustion. You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
“Thanks for pointing that out,” she said dryly, though her lips quirked in a smile.
He chuckled as he began unscrewing the light fixture. “So, do they make you guys sleep in utility closets, or was this just a coincidence?”
“This storage closet,” she corrected, “is my five-minute sanctuary. It’s the only place in the hospital where no one asks me about chest compressions or discharge paperwork.”
“Sounds peaceful.” He said as he reached up to remove the flickering bulb.
“Until the lights go out,” Cassie added, folding her arms again.
Cassie and Cole fell into a comfortable silence as he worked, the sound of his tools filling the room. Cassie studied him - his strong build, the intense focus in his features, and the way his hands moved with practiced efficiency. There was something solid and steady about him, a stark contrast to the frantic energy of the ER. As he turned away, she noticed a faded Chicago Cubs baseball cap tucked into the back pocket of his uniform.
“You’re a Cubs fan?” Cassie asked.
Cole looked back at her, his smile returning. “Born and raised in Chicago. My dad took me to Wrigley every summer as a kid. You into baseball?”
“Big time,” Cassie said, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “I’ve been a Cubs fan since Sammy Sosa played.” She paused, her expression shifting to one of playful seriousness as she mimicked Sosa’s iconic heart-kiss home run gesture. It was a small move, but one only a devoted fan would recognize.
Cole’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as he held his hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, now I know you’re legit,” he said, his voice warm with approval. Relaxing, he added, “Man, those Sosa years? Absolute chaos for the baseball world, right?”
“Agreed,” Cassie chuckled. “I used to watch games with my grandparents when I was little,” she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “It’s kind of a family tradition – eating my grandmother’s cooking while watching the game on mute, while my grandfather yelled at the announcers on AM radio.”
Cole blinked with obvious confusion. “Wait, what?”
“I know, I know,” she shook with laughter. “It makes no sense, but that’s what he did! Something to do with hating the TV announcers’ voices and their commentary – but having angry words for the players through the radio, especially if we were losing.”
Cole’s laugh was warm and full, filling the small room. “They sound like a good time,” he said with a grin. “And you’ve got great taste – in baseball teams, at least.”
“And storage rooms apparently,” she shot back with a teasing smile.
After a few more minutes of work, Cole stepped back and flipped the switch. The fluorescent light came to life, steady and bright.
”Done.” he said, wiping his dirty hands on a towel.
“Impressive,” Cassie said, shielding her eyes briefly from the glare.
He shrugged as he packed up his tools. “All in a day’s work.”
Glancing at the clock on the wall, she realized her break was over. “Guess I should get back to saving lives.”
“And I’ll get back to fixing things,” Cole replied, picking up his toolbox.
Cassie hesitated at the door. “Cole, right?”
“That’s me,” he confirmed, gesturing to his embroidered name.
“Do you always work nights?” she asked, trying to sound casual, though her heart thudded a little faster in her chest.
“Most of the time,” he said, watching her with quiet curiosity. “Why?”
“Maybe I’ll see you around again sometime.”
“Maybe…” Cole replied, his smile genuine, a spark of something unspoken passing between them.
As she opened the door, Cole pulled the faded baseball cap from his back pocket and placed it snugly on his head. “Doctor,” he acknowledged with a tip of his hat as he passed her and entered the hallway.
Following him, Cassie stepped back into the chaos of the ER, yet still found herself smiling, secretly hoping for something else to break near her. After all, who knew what might come from a broken light and a shared love of baseball?