The Sky Above the Mountains

Settling In

The charge nurse handed Amy a clipboard. "Honey, you were lucky to have had your boyfriend there when you hit your head. Who knows what would have happened to you while you were unconscious!" said the nurse.

Amy signed the appropriate fields on the form. "Do I need to come back for anything?" The nurse told Amy, "No, not here. We've forwarded the paperwork to your primary care physician. You may want to make an appointment to see him soon. There didn't appear to be anything lasting, but if you start having any weird symptoms, like blurred vision or bleeding out of your nose or eyes, you make sure and get back here pronto."

"Thanks. I'm a little weak, but I guess that's normal, right?"

The nurse said, "It isn't uncommon. Do you have someone to stay with you?"

Amy smiled coyly. "Yeah. He's bringing the car around to pick me up at the exit."

The nurse had an orderly wheel Amy to the ground floor and out the hospital exit. Jim was waiting with his car door wide open. "Here Amy, let me help you," said Jim.

Amy was perfectly capable of getting up out of the wheelchair and walking to Jim's car, but she thought it was so sweet that Jim wanted to help, she didn't resist as Jim took her hand and cradled her torso as they slowly walked to the car. As Amy sat down, Jim made sure that every part of Amy was in the car before he gently closed the door. "Oh wait, Amy? Do you need help with the seat belt?" Amy shook her head and buckled herself in. 

Jim walked around the car and got in. After buckling up, he took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully. "So, my dear, where to? I'm sure we could find lessons for swing dancing someplace, right?" Amy rolled her eyes. "Home, James. But I'm hungry! Can we get a drive-thru burger first?"

Jim grinned slyly. "For you, anything."

After stopping at the local fast food joint, Jim and Amy proceeded to Amy's apartment. Fortunately for Jim, this was Saturday, and Jim made sure he had no other plans than to spend time with Amy.

Jim took Amy's keys and unlocked the apartment door. He then went back and opened the car door for Amy. "Madame, may I show you to your seat?" Amy blushed. "Red carpet treatment, huh? I should get sick more often!"

Jim grasped Amy's hand and helped her out of the car. He wrapped his arm around her torso. "Let's make sure you don't fall again, ok? I really don't want to take you back there anytime soon." They walked slowly through the open apartment door. Amy said, "I got it from here." She walked gently through the hallway, avoiding the table that had trapped her red wig earlier. She sat down gingerly on the couch, grabbed one of the couch cushions, and curled up in the fetal position.

"So much more comfortable than a hospital bed. Could you get me a blanket, Jim?" 

Jim picked up the table and set it in the hallway. "Coming, dear," he said.

Jim walked toward Amy's bathroom and opened her hallway closet. He picked out the softest blanket he could find, and carried it to the couch.

"Hold still for a minute Amy. I'll get it set up for you." Jim gingerly laid the blanket on a now semi-conscious Amy. "I love this blanket. So soft and warm."

Jim went back outside to close the car door and to lock the car up. As he re-entered the apartment, he looked at Amy. She looked so peaceful laying there. He heard a sound coming from Amy that sounded like gentle snoring.

Jim looked around the apartment. He saw that Amy had quite the book collection next to her television. Jim picked up the first book he saw, sat down in the chair next to Amy, and started reading. Within an hour, Jim too had nodded off.