‘I want to try,’ he heard himself say.
Tammy held out her arm.
Together, they slowly trod up and down the hallway. His body felt liberated. He could feel his intestines unfurling. Not too long after, he finally had that bowel movement.
The second day passed without much fanfare. He tried oatmeal for the first time. It reminded him of the rice soup he’d had as a child. ‘I’ll eat anything else but this,’ he said, as he pushed away the bowl.
People came in to check on him. All his vitals looked good.
In the afternoon, Kim helped him walk around the floor. She seemed almost offended when she heard that he had taken his first steps with Tammy instead of her.
By the third day, Dr O’Leary announced that one more night of observation should do it. Tony was elated. He couldn’t wait to return
