I awoke the next time to an exquisite smell, which distracted from the pain that was, while still there, slightly less. The nurse was just wheeling the cantilevered table into position over the bed. When he saw I was awake, he nodded without smiling, and indicating the food tray on the table, said, “Hungry?”
I smiled. “I am now!”
His stern features broke into a slight smile at this, and I felt a thrill, deciding that I liked being able to make this man smile. I had the distinct sense that he didn’t do it very often.
I shifted to better see what was on the tray, and then groaned as the pain increased.
“Pain?” he said. I nodded.
When he had given me the injection and rubbed the spot, I sighed in anticipation of relief. He reached down beside the bed, and holding up a small control unit,
