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It had been six months since Blue, my patient in a coma, had come into the trauma unit. His family was still by his side every day, filling the hospital room with a sense of love and loyalty. It was a beautiful thing to witness, especially in a place where people didn't always have someone. But today, I had my hands full with another patient, Mrs. Mary, who was known for giving her care team a run for their money.
I stepped into her room, already hearing her bickering with the care tech.
"Mrs. Mary! Why are you giving your care tech a hard time? She just wants to clean you up." I said, trying to calm the situation with a smile.
She huffed, crossing her arms. "That bitch ain't touching me. She evil."
I bit back a laugh, gasping dramatically. "Mrs. Mary! That's not nice!"
She gave me a sharp look, full of sass. "Well, when you keep it real, there's a thin line."
I shook my head, grinning. "Lady, you gone be the death of me." I leaned in closer, batting my eyes playfully. "Can I clean you up?"
Her face softened, and she gave me a wink. "You sure can, sweetheart."
I helped the care tech gather the supplies and got to work, chatting with Mrs. Mary as I gently cleaned her up. For someone so feisty, she had a soft spot for me, and I always managed to get her to cooperate when no one else could.
"You know, you're my favorite nurse, Lo," she said, her tone lighter now.
I smiled. "I better be with the way you cuss everyone else out."
She chuckled, the sound raspy but warm. "I don't let just anyone take care of me. You got that special touch."
"I appreciate that, Mrs. Mary." I said, finishing up.
Once she was settled, I straightened the blankets and patted her hand. "You all good now?"
She nodded. "I'm good, baby. You go on and take care of them other patients. But if you see that evil tech again, send her somewhere else."
I laughed, shaking my head as I left the room. Mrs. Mary was one of a kind, and as exhausting as she could be, moments like these made it all worth it.
As I stepped out into the hall, I passed by Blue's room, pausing for a moment. His family was in there, as usual, talking softly to him even though he still hadn't woken up. I watched through the window, the steady beeping of the machines and the sound of their love filling the room. It reminded me of how important my job was—being there for people, even when they couldn't say it out loud.
I took a deep breath and continued down the hall. There was always more work to be done. I finished my shift and rushed home to get ready. My girl Sammie popping out for her 24th birthday!!!!!
