I skim the chart, and walk into room 200. Lets see… little girl 5 years old… My head is still down when I walk in and when I look up. There she is, sitting with the brown hair brown eyed little girl. Ashley.

I just stand there, probably looking as terrified as she does. “Hi” hi?. Seriously? I graduated from medical school and all I can come up with his hi? Ok, ok come on Carlin think. Before I can say anything else I barely hear:

“Spencer?” she almost whispers. “wow” The little girl starts looking nervous, and I decide to move on, pretend like nothing is awkward. You know… for the girl’s sake.

“Ok, so who do we have here?” I say crouching down so I’m at the little girl’s height/

“My name is Samantha. Samantha Dennison.” says the pigtailed girl

My heart sinks, but I shake it off quickly, and keep up the act. I’m a professional not some awkward teenager.

“That’s a very pretty name” I turn to Ashley “Ashley, How are you?”

She’s still in shock but manages to answer “Fine.”

I expected more of a response but continue. “So what happened here?” I take the little girl’s arm in mine, and carefully feel for a brake. “Does this hurt, sweetheart?” she shakes her head no so I keep going. She flinches when I get a little further up, and I make a note.

“Is she okay?” Ashley asks worried. I soften when I hear her tone of voice, and I instantly recognize it as fear.

“She’ll be fine, I’m sure its not broken but I’ll check the x-rays in case”

Ashley lets out a sigh of relief and looks at Samantha. “Your mother would have killed me” she said.

….wait. This isn’t her daughter. Should I be happy about that? I look up from the x-rays and she’s looking at me. I know the look, she wants to say something I can feel it.

“Samantha isn’t your daughter?” I’m surprised the two are almost identical. Same hair, same eyes. They’re both beautiful… and Ashley looks better, more grown up. It finally hit me. I’m in the same room with Ashley Davies. My first love, someone who was so important to me.