I Wish

It Was Only Just A Dream

Sam awoke with a start when Mandi knocked on the door, and opened it with a loud squeal. Sam realized that she was actually awake now, and the nights occurrences were just a dream.  She let out a small sigh, and thought, Well, it was a good dream at that one.   Nora is one hell of a kissing partner.  She rubbed her eyes, and mumbled out a hardly understandable, "What time 's it?" Mandi looked at her watch and said 8:30 in the morning, rise and shine, you've got to go to breakfast!" Sam groaned, and stretched the kinks out of her neck.  Mandi continued speaking.  "Do you want to see if you can walk today?" Sam nodded.  They had taken out the last of the stitches the day before, and she wanted to see how painful this was going to be.  Mandi offered her arm, and Sam gratefully accepted the help. Her hands were already healing up, and she could use them to a better extent than before.  She stood up, and almost immediately collapsed, clinging onto Mandi's arm like a wet rat clings to a piece of driftwood.   Mandi winced, and offered her other arm to help Sam stand up all of the way again.  "You're going to have some sea legs from lying around for awhile, but your legs will strengthen up again, and you should be back to normal soon." Sam gave a small smile in return, wanting to concentrate more on not dying, then forming a sentence to say.  She eventually regained some sense of balance, and was able to walk lightly around the room for short periods of time.  Mandi gave her a smile, and said, "Alright! That's one thing out of the way, now you get to have breakfast!"  Sam's brow creased a bit at the prospect of eating breakfast with a bunch of mentally impaired strangers, but she figured the more she cooperated, the faster she would be able to get out.  Mandi opened the door for Sam, and the two started down the hallway at a very slow pace, stopping for an occasional breath.  Mandi decided to make the small talk, as Sam was again, working on not dying.  "Rose is doing better." she said.  Sam nodded to show that she was listening.  Mandi continued, "They're going to go through with the procedure in an attempt to relieve the pressure in her brain.  It's been rising, so we are going forward with it.  It should help." Sam caught that should, and gave Mandi a small look of concern before stopping to slide down the wall for a small break.  "I say should," Mandi said, catching the glimpse Sam had given her, "because there is always a small chance that this won't work.  It's just the usual precaution.  I can't say that she will make it, but I can say that she should make it.  I pride myself on being a nurse who tells the truth.  I'm not like some of the other nurses chalk full of band aids and chocolates and hallmark quotes." She gave Sam a small eyebrow raise and said, "You coming? At this pace you aren't going to make it to breakfast." Sam grunted, and lifted herself off the ground.  None to gracefully I might add.  "She should be fine though, right Mandi?" Sam said as she hobbled down the hallway.  Mandi drew her eyebrows together, and said, "She should, yes.  She's a tough one you know? Right as she came into the surgical ward, she woke up for a few brief seconds.  We couldn't hear all that she said, but she did say your name loud and clear."  Sam stopped, and looked up at Mandi with wide, surprised eyes.  Mandi frowned, and said, "Didn't anyone tell you that? I assumed someone did.  I was told not to mention it as it could 'aggravate' you.  I'm sorry sweetheart."  Sam stopped, and processed this information.   Rose said that?? Rose? It could mean nothing, but it could also mean.... Sam shook her head.  There was no use in giving herself false hope.  But that dream.  Come on Sammy.   Keep yourself together now.  You're lucky you woke up when you did.   The two finally got to the cafeteria, and Sam took a moment to take the mess in.  There was a central group of people that she was determined to avoid, and other smaller groups scattered about.  There were, of course a couple of people sitting alone Like Courtney.  and a few couples scattered here and there, like- ugh Jasper.  Zach.  Seriously? Could you not make out over the eggs?? Poor Nora, she's stuck on the other side of the table.  Oh.  Never mind. She's laughing.  Sam looked away as Jasper climbed into Zach's lap, still passionately making out.  The bacon fell on the ground as a wild elbow hit the table.  Mandi put her hand on Sam's shoulder to say 'good luck', and walked back down the hallway.   Sam looked at the different tables trying to figure out where to sit.  The big table promised more group, and faster 'recovery', but some promised more interesting interaction.  She looked back and forth for a few minutes, before making a decision, and sitting down.