Hospitalized
825 Words
Nora
My body hurt, my head hurt, everything hurt. I focused my bleary eyes on the bright ceiling. l recognised it as the hospital ceiling. Last night I went to bed with a slight fever and a bad headache. The rest was a blur.
“ Hello Mrs Ratliff, how are you feeling?.”
I swivelled my head in the voice's direction. Dr Ralph and Dr Selborne smiled down at me. I gave them a weak smile. At least the attending Drs were my acquaintances. Dr Ralph was Max's best friend since childhood. He, Max and The Falcon owner, Shad Rolan were as thick as thieves.
Dr Selborne was my secret crush from the moment I laid my orbs on him, not only me, most of the female medical students fancied him. The day Max and l clashed, l thought he looked familiar, now l realised he and Dr Selborne resembled each other in structure and weight. Viewed from behind, they were identical.
My new name from my future colleagues' mouth sounded strange. I grimaced.
"I feel terrible, l ache everywhere.”
My voice sounded like a rusty burst pipe. Dr Ralph checked my vital signs, “ you are good to go, don't let yourself get a cold again, your lungs are not in the best shape as you are aware. Max make sure she is well fed, hydrated and warm. She must take her medication religiously.”
My head whipped to the left to find my husband observing me, his face blank. He nodded his head twice. “ Ok. Max come and fetch your wife's medication.”
They trapsied out of the ward and Max came back and hefted a night bag over his shoulder. He extended his hand, “ wait, since l'm already here, l think we should do the procedure.”
Max dry washed his face with his hand, put the bag on the bed and let out a tired sigh. “ Nora, what kind of monster do you think l'm? You are a Dr, you know better. Can you carry a baby in your condition?.”
I tried to sit, fell back and gave up. He walked to the window and left me staring at his back. “ I had to make sure you won't blame me. I didn't want you to run to your family and say I failed to deliver after helping my granny.”
He did not answer me, instead he headed to the door, a minute later pushed a wheelchair in, a nurse on his tail.
"Mr Ratliff, that's my job, please let me.”
He shrugged off the nurse’s hand and scooped me up, deposited me not so gently on the wheelchair. His moody face shut my mouth. He wheeled me to the car, his men scrambled to take the wheelchair, his scowl sent them back to their cars. We got into the car and sped off.
In my room Max fussed, fluffed the pillows, boiled hot water, fed me and stood over me as l swallowed the pills. I stuck out my tongue, “ see, gone. You can go now.”
He sighed and planted his butt beside my pillow.
“ Please, you are suffocating me, go and rest.”
His presence irritated me, l craved solitude.
"Max, l'm grateful for your care but l feel irritable and moody, please understand.”
He got to his feet, his face thunderous, his shoulders hunched and headed to the door. l had zero idea what made me so abrasive, my mood just felt off. This man went out of his way to care for me, when it was clear he never taken care of anybody in his life. He deserved my gratitude instead he got an attitude.
“ Wait.”
He stopped but did not turn around.
"Please come back, l'm sorry. I feel heavy like the weight of the whole world is on my shoulders.”
He quickly retraced his steps and looked down on me. “ It's disheartening to be dismissed after trying to do something nice. You turned sour without giving me a reason. I understand you are sick, so l will overlook it.”
I shook my head, frantic. “ That's not it, l don't know how to explain it, but l feel despondent, like.. like.. l don't know.”
Max shrugged off his suit jacket, kicked off his shoes and mounted the bed. I eased into his arms, he pushed my hair out of my face and raked his eyes on my countenance. We studied each other’s features. He squinted and tossed.
"It's clear you are uncomfortable, go and change into your nightwear.”
He flew out of the room and rushed back. I snuggled up to him, my head on his chest. My mood improved. Our banter was light and engaging, he told me about his childhood, l did the same. We drifted off to sleep, our arms wrapped around each other.
- Writer
