Sudorific: A Painful Return (Lesbian)

05/20/2012 2000 hours

 "Good evening, Ms. Michaels. Are you ready for your bath?" I hear a husky voice says. The smell of coffee and cigarettes introduces her before I see her face. I grunt in agitation. I close my eyes when she draws the curtain. With her rough hands, the nurse lifts my gown to bathe my lower body. My mind travels to Norway, but it does not work as she provides catheter care.

It is hard to ignore the humming and her side comments while cleaning my private parts. "Hmm, let me get this spot over here," she washes in between my legs then excitedly says, "GOTTA GET THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES!" with humming afterward.

I cringe. "Meds, please?" I hold up my sign as I clench my eyes shut. She offers me broth prior to taking my medication. My nose scrunches up with queasiness. I shake my head as a yes (because I have no other choice). She leaves the room as Dr. Abasi enters.

After she closes the door, Terry asks how I am feeling then picks up my chart, "Everything checks out, SSGT. Michaels. Tomorrow you will be able to go home. Aren't you excited?" Terry grins with settled elation.

"Mmmhmm," I answer then finally open my eyes.

Terry takes off her glasses. "Who is going to take care of you after your parents leave back to North Carolina?" Before I grab my notepad to write, Terry says, "Don't say you because YOU can't do everything by yourself yet, Rio," I pause with the pen in my hand as she adds, "I will take care of you,"

Rapidly, I write, "How? You practically live at the hospital," Terry express that Cori is away on a business trip for three months and states she will cut back her workload to take care of me.

"It's the last I can do," Terry says. I flip my notepad to the last page that reads, "No." Terry doesn't seem fond of my answer but respects it. "Under one condition, I must have the name of your caregiver before I let you leave my hospital,"

Hell no you don't.

I stand my ground by keeping my "No." sign up.

"Yes, I do," she argues.

I add an exclamation mark to my "No!" so she can leave me alone.

"YES, I DO!" She demands.

I flip the notepad back to its original page with agitation and quickly write, "FINE!"

As I give up with tiredness, Terry tries not to smile from having her way, "Get some rest and I will see you tomorrow," She says while opening the door.

Why me, Lord?

During the discharge process the next day, I act like a spoiled brat. Although I cannot talk, I use my body actions to show displeasure, such as giving the nurse all of my body weight as he puts me in the wheelchair and grunting at Terry as she releases me.

My parents are officially agitated with me and I do not care. On my way to Terry's condo, I stare out the window while pouting as my mother vents about my immature behavior. Within an hour, we get to Terry's place. I admit my bitterness has the best of me. It's awkward being at Terry's place because we aren't together. Maybe if my parents knew, they would understand my negative attitude, but I never had the chance to tell them what happened between Terry and me since my return from Norway.

After settling in, my father walks around Terry's apartment comfortably as if he's made himself at home. "Skip, what are you doing? You are supposed to be nursing Rio, not snooping Terry's refrigerator for beer, like you've done every day this week," My mother ease me down on the couch while venting.

"Terry has been eating our food, drinking our alcohol and sleeping on our couch for years, Rita. One beer a day does not make us even. Don't start with me, woman,"