He is propped against the pillows, slightly elevated, breathing shallowly to minimize the pain. The rail of the bed digs into my thigh, but I stay, perched in place, to watch and wait.
We are clasped, loosely holding one another’s forearms instead of holding hands, so has not to disturb his I.V. I am wrapped in my favorite Eeyore sweatshirt to ward off the chills that come unbidden, despite the fact that it’s not cold. My breaths timing with his, I keep silent vigil, watching and waiting amidst the beeps and drips. The hrrrrsht-hrrrrsht flow of oxygen becomes the bass, the beat around which the cacophonous symphony of hospital sounds is woven. His eyes flutter behind twitching lids in counterpoint rhythm to the melody he is stroking against the inside of my arm. Rough fingertips caress the fabric of my sweatshirt for several minutes and then abruptly stop.
He opens his eyes and studies me with brief lucidity, a puzzled expression on his brow.
This is all I need, this brief moment of clarity. He will not remember it in the morning, but he needs to know – before he goes to sleep for the night – what has happened. It has been a long 18 hours and while (selfishly) I want to sleep, I want much more for him to be able to sleep. In peace.
I open my mouth to explain why he’s here, to explain what’s happened, to tell him that something simple became a bit complicated, to reassure him that everything is okay . . .
But before a single word can escape my mouth, he interrupts me.
With puzzled expression still in place and a goofy grin on his face, he starts stroking my arm again and asks the most pressing question on his mind.
“Hon…” he begins.
“Mmm?”
I am prepared with succinct answers to any question he may ask about the hows and whys, and I wait expectantly while he gathers his thoughts.
But his train of inquiry is on a different track.
“Hon,” he begins again with purpose, clearly needing needing an answer to A Very Important Question. “Hon, were you always this soft, or is it because I’m high?”
What a poignant moment of clarity…my heart melts for you both.
It was a very “Smotchy” thing for him to say. I knew then that he was okay. 🙂
Well Missy, I’m now in love with him, just so you know. : ) lol
Heh. He has that effect on women. 😉
and I’m only on caffeine… I’m glad you’re ok too. I know that’s not your favorite place but with him ok, you’re golden. Hope he gets stronger by the minute. xoxo, J
I’m glad he’s okay. I had to look up the title. It sounds really strong.
Modern morphine. Yes, it’s definitely strong. I suspect a very small dose would knock a horse on its ass.
He’s home now and not *quite* as drugged up. Sleeping in his own bed is working wonders.
Wow… Poor guy 🙁 Well, Glad to hear he is back home and is in good hands now 🙂
The patient is doing well enough to try my patience, so I think it’s safe to say he’s on the road to recovery. 😉
Wow. Such a sweet moment after such terror!!!! I’m glad he’s home and recovering – and yes – “getting on your nerves” is a **fantastic** sign!
Yes, fantastic.
Fantastically irritating. o_O
Yeah, yeah…. I know!!! LOL!!!
I am not particularly well suited to the role of nurse I’m afraid. But I try. 🙂
I know what you mean!
But. That post was a hoot 😉
Absolutely exquisite writing, may I convert to found poetry please? You will of course receive accreditation when it’s published in chapbook form.
What an intriguing notion.
[Thinking…]
Yes, you may convert as you please. Thank you for asking. 🙂
It is a scene I can picture completely. Sitting, threaded between the I.V. tubes, waiting, being present, unable to read or scroll the phone, looking at all the medical paraphernalia.
Glad that he is home and doing better – Donna complained bitterly about the hospital beds (she was in one that kept “rolling” around and was very thin) and I didn’t find the guest chairs very comfortable either.
I asked him at one point if he was comfortable – relatively speaking, of course – and his reply was something along the lines of “This bed sucks.” He is much more comfortable now that he is at home. Memory foam is a Good Thing. 🙂
A Calvin and Hobbes comic, Calvin is complaining about going camping and asks why they can’t go somewhere nice and fun. Calvin’s dad replies that if your vacations are torture then being home seems like a vacation.
Ha! So true.
It’s funny, after his last stint in the hospital, he was off work / in recovery for 7 weeks. When it was time to go back to work, he was reluctant to end his “vacation.”
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