Passion and Surgery

Infants at Heart

Infant at Heart

Chapter Two

“Mmm…” I moan groggily. The birds are chirping, sun shining and all I can think of is this pounding headache and how nice the cold satin sheets feel on my bare skin. Satin? Bare? I open my eyes, only to snap them shut. The simple action makes my head spin. Taking deep breaths I open them again and slowly ease myself up off the bed. I freeze, the pounding in my head not even mattering anymore. I look around, the room is big. The walls are the deepest blue with white accents, a giant oak dresser directly in front of me, and the bed I lay in is a darkened burgundy color. I charge to my feet causing myself to lose balance and landing butt first on hard wood floors. I hug my knees to myself, realizing now I am wearing an oversized white t-shirt with nothing else except my underwear and bra. I hear a door creak open causing my head to sing.

“Ollie? Are you up?” A husky voice says.

I freeze from fear, can’t I just stay here on the ground and shrivel away to nothing? How does this person know my name? Was Hawthorne Hospital all a dream? I slowly rise grabbing the side of the bed for support.

“Nurse Kingsly?” I choke out surprised to see him. “Where am I?”

“My apartment, you passed out and I didn’t know where else to take you.” He says his eyes traveling down my body then back up slowly.

And that’s when it all came back to me.

----- Yesterday evening----

Doing my last round before I finally get to finish my first 48 hour shift at Hawthorne. I walk into room 205 C.

“Mr. Stevenson. How are you feeling today?” I ask with a smile on my face.

“Well if it isn’t Dr. Bates, I was wondering when I would get the chance to thank you.” He says shifting upwards to me.

I look into his grey eyes seeing unshed pain in them, I walk over to him with his chart in my hands.

“Well here I am, and your thanks is unnecessary. I’m going to check your incision site now, it may be a little tender.” I slowly slide down his hospital gown, revealing a shaved and bruised chest. No discharge, good. I note that down. “Looks like you will not be with us much longer Mr. Stevenson.”

“Please call me Thomas. Thank you anyways Dr. Bates. Everyone has always said you were the best, I never thought I’d see today.” He smiles at me brightly. The moment I met him to set up his Pericardiectomy, I knew I had to be the one to do this for him. I knew I could do it and ensure his future. He is 57 years old with half a lifetime still ahead of him. He needs to live  on to see his soon to be grandchildren I hear so much about.

“I told you I would keep you alive, Thomas. I mean what I say. Goodnight.” I say finishing up notes on his chart.

The moment I leave his room I feel drained. All the energy leaving me with each step. I head to the nurses station to turn in some paperwork when I see the back of a long haired red head walk over to a group of fellow nurses.

“Roan, don’t be so boring, come with us to the bar. It is not everyday we all get out at the same time.” An over girly voice says.

I decide to pretend to overview some papers and eavesdrop on their conversation.

Sighing, he says, “I am not sure I can, I have to go finish my International Relations paper.”

“Right, of course you do. You always do.” She states adding a pouting tone to her voice. The other men and woman around them mutter their agreements.