Pat

Helping Hand

“Liz, Is that you?" She asked slowly sitting up "What are you doing here?”

“I came to collect my things and saw the mess,”

“You already cleaned?” she looked around the room surprised.

“Yeah, I did. Come, let’s have dinner,”

“You cooked? Why?”

“In the state the kitchen was in, I’m sure you ate nothing but ‘junk’,”

“How did you know I’d be here?”

“I didn’t. When I didn’t see your car I thought you were at work. I tried to call you but your phone was off,”

“I lost my phone during the accident,”

“What accident? What happened?”

“Let’s say I’m unlucky to be alive,”

“How can you say that?” My eyes were already welling up.

“Because of all the pain I’m going through,” I looked at the cast on her arm and leg and the bandage on her head. I was seconds away from running to her and embracing her.

“Do you have someone to help you around the house?” I asked looking away from her.

“Yeah, I have a cleaning lady,”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, she travelled but she’s coming back tomorrow,”

“Okay cool, now eat, you need your strength to recover,”

“I don’t want to. I’m not hungry,”

“Seriously Pat, the least you can do is eat my food,”

“Why are you being nice to me?”

“Just because you did what you did doesn’t mean that I hate you. You know me better than that. I just want you well again,”

We had dinner in silence.

“Can you do me a favour?”

“What’s that?

“Can you help me take a bath? That is if you don’t mind,”

“Of course I don’t mind but does that mean you have not been taking baths?”

“I do but it’s always painful doing it alone,”

“Your cleaning lady helps you take a bath?”

“What? No. I’ve always done it myself but you’ve seen me naked that’s why I’m asking,”

“Okay, finish up eating first,”

Pat didn’t have crutches or a wheelchair and seeing her walk around in so much pain was heartbreaking.

“Can I help you to the room?”

“No, I’m okay,” She wasn’t okay and if she was going to be stubborn so was I. I went and took her arm. “I said I was okay, leave me alone,”

“I heard what you said and I know what I’m seeing. If you are going to be stubborn so am I,”

“It’s a waste of time arguing with you,”

I helped her take her bath and after that I did the dishes as the machine did her clothes. I sat down to do my work on her laptop as she did something on the tv.

“You didn’t have to do all that. The cleaning lady would have done it,” she finally spoke.

“I know that. Anyway, she won’t have much to do when she comes that way you won’t spend a lot,”  We had dinner before I helped her back to bed. “If you need anything let me know,” I said as I tucked her in.