Change of Mind (5sos)

one

"So, I'm allowed to check out today, right?" I ask the nurse as she takes my blood pressure.

"Well, considering what happened, I'm surprised they are letting you go this soon. I still can't believe it. A wreck of that severity, with injuries such as yours, should keep someone in the hospital for at least a month. Do you have someone to care for you when you get home?" She asks me then begins writing on a paper that was on a clipboard.

"I really hate hospitals, so the sooner I'm out of here, the better. No offence, of course, I just can't stand the smell. And no...I have no family to help me. I can take care of myself though."

"Oh honey, I'm sorry." She pauses and looks up from writing. She is looking me in the eyes, then breaks contact to look down once more. "You know, I've always hated the smell too. Smells like overly fresh everything. My husband hates that I come home smelling like it too. You're not alone." She smiles and stands up to gather her things.

I know what she was saying when she said 'you're not alone' I'm glad she was trying to cheer me up from the fact that I don't have family. The sad truth is that I do actually have family, but they don't talk to me anymore.

I moved out when I was eighteen to go to school in California. My parents didn't support the fact that I was 'wasting my life' with music, even though they are the ones that paid for my lessons growing up. They always said that it was for me to have something extra to do, but not to take on as a profession. They wanted me to go to Harvard Law, I have no desire to argue with strangers for the rest of my life.

"Thanks. I'm just glad I got out of the wreck with my hands unharmed. I'm a pianist so I wouldn't be able to play. I'm in my senior year at UCLA and I've got my recital next semester. Everything will heal and I'll get on with my life, I'm sure. Right?" I ask her.

"Of course, everything will heal, be glad that you had your seatbelt on and didn't damage your spine. And to answer your earlier question, yes you can check out in a few days but not today." She smiles again and leaves the room.

I could not wait to get out of here. I may not be leaving today, but at least there is always the prospect of 'a few days'. I don't have any clothes, however, they cut all of mine up when I was in the wreck and I've been in hospital gowns since then. I adjust myself in my wheelchair and hear some talking just outside the room.

"This is the room."

Then I see a hospital bed being pushed into the room. "Hello again." I say to my nurse that was wheeling the bed in.

"Hello again. You'll be out of here in a few days, but we needed to bring someone into the room in a moment, so sorry." The nurse says while putting the bed into place and beginning work on hooking up the machines.

I decide to take a walk around the hospital, or at least a wheel around, and maybe stop by the gift shop to find something to wear home other than just my shoes. As I'm leaving the room the nurse stops me. "His name is Michael, just in case he is in here when you get back. He has just gotten out of surgery and may be asleep for a while, but just in case. Again, sorry about having to share a room on your last few nights, hopefully he doesn't snore." She laughs after making her snoring joke.

"It's really fine. I don't care to share the room. I have a housemate back in college, so I'm used to someone else being there."

"Why didn't they come to visit you, if you don't mind my asking?" She looks down at her hands, I'm sure she still feels bad about finding out I don't have a family.

"She is away with her family, it's our fall break. That's why I'm a little eager to get out soon. Classes will be starting back up. She knows what happened though and she is the one that will be picking me up." I give her a reassuring smile and she nods and lets me leave the room.