A Surprise ⇢ Callum Ilott

EIGHTTEEN

It was Sunday, the day Catherine had a checkup at the hospital for her arm. She was living one week with the cast now, and she was done with it. Not being able to do the most normal things because Catherine couldn't use her dominant arm, was frustrating. It luckily didn't hurt anymore, but she wanted to cast to be removed forever.

Catherine sat in the plaster room, waiting for her doctor to arrive. She looked around and licked her lips. "I'm hoping that they will say I just have to rest, but I know they're replacing this with a fully covered cast."

"I know," mum said and gave her daughter a weak smile.

A second later, the doctor arrived. "Good morning, Miss Russell," the young woman said and smiled. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Catherine politely answered.

The woman nodded. "No headaches or other weird pains in your head?" She checked the pupils of Catherine; it was just to be sure nothing was wrong. Catherine's head was saved during the accident by the airbag, but her head made quite a bang. That was the reason why she passed out. "Nothing? That's good. And your ribs?"

Catherine was shaking her head. "Nothing. Of course, it has a bit pressure when I move, but it's more like a slight pressure."

"Of course," the doctor said. "Can you show it to me?"

Catherine lifted up her shirt and showed the bruised ribs. The doctor checked some more things like Catherine's heartbeat and blood pressure.

"Alright, everything looks fine," the doctor spoke. "I'm going to remove the cast from your arm. You can wash your arm while I am preparing the new plaster. How is your arm? Do you still have pain or other things I need to know of?"

"Apart from the fact I can't do anything, nope," Catherine emotionlessly said.

"I know, I'm sorry, but that, unfortunately, is part of it," the doctor said. "Right is your dominant side?" Catherine nodded. "I'm afraid it will take quite some time before it is back to normal. I'm gonna remove the cast now, don't try to move or bend it. The assistant will help you wash your arm, alright?"

Catherine nodded, and the cast got removed from her arm. It felt like a relieve, like her skin could breath again. She followed every assistant's instruction and washed her arm for the last time for a few weeks. Catherine acted like she didn't care about it, but she was freaking out on the inside. She made her way back to the plaster room and had a seat at the table.

"Red, white or blue?" The doctor showed three coloured what had to be wrapped around the plaster.

"Red," Catherine mumbled.

The doctor nodded and had a quick checkup on her arm, it looked quite normal, but it still was broken. She felt on the bone, making Catherine flinch. "I'm sorry," the doctor sorrily said. "How do you rate your pain?"

"Zero stars," Catherine mumbled uninterested. "I wouldn't recommend it."

"Ted," mum hissed disapproving.

The doctor looked at Catherine and then at her mother before continuing on talking, she ignored Catherine's comment. "We're gonna move your arm a bit and change the position, it can hurt. Tell us when we need to stop, alright?" The doctors did their job and started their procedure; Catherine didn't flinch, just showed she was in pain, but kept silent.

"How long will it take to get back to normal?" Catherine asked, she needed good news, she longed for good news.

"The cast has to be around your arm for at least another six weeks," the doctor explained. "And after your bone is healed, you need physiotherapy for a few weeks to learn how to use the muscles again and make them stronger. I would say March, February if the recovery goes well. I don't like to give you bad news, but the chances are small you will be using your wrist again like you used to."