Shift

1. Aiden

It's almost amazing to realize how that day began like any other would.

With a suture.

"How did this happen, Mrs. Lamar?" I asked, while laying a small surgical drape over her forehead and bruised eye, preparing to stitch her split eyebrow.

The woman tensed. "I already told the doctor that."

"I know you did," I said, putting the latex gloves on. "I was just trying to make conversation."

Mrs. Lamar seemed to relax a bit. "I was driving. I had to hit the brakes so I didn't run over this dog. My face hit the steering wheel," she recited, repeating, word by word, what she'd told the doctor before. As I thought she would.

"Ok, Mrs. Lamar, I'm gonna give you a local anesthetic now. Ready?"

The woman was very still while I injected the area around her eyebrow using a small needle. I could tell she was relieved the chatter was over. Except it wasn't.

"That gentleman outside... I get that he's your husband?"

She tensed again. I was yet to insert the stitching needle, so I guessed that wasn't the reason for it. "Yes."

"He seems very worried," I remarked, starting with the first stitch.

"Does he look mad?" she blurted. "I mean... because... it was his car I was driving. Nothing was broken, I think, but he's so touchy when it comes to that car. Men!" she let out a weak laugh.

He'd hit her.

"Didn't look mad to me," I admitted, unfased, finishing the suture and removing the drape from her face. "Then again, nobody can tell if your husband is mad or not better than you."

"What do you mean by that?" Her voice trembled, her hands twitched on the recliner's arms. Her one healthy eye looked more scared than angry.

"I mean that you must know him very well, since he's your husband, that's all," I said, appeasing, turning my back to her to discard the material.

"Can I go now?"

I looked back at her.

"Sure."

She grabbed her purse in a hurry.

"I just wanna let you know that we're always here if you need something. Anything."

"Ok, thanks, goodbye."

She left the infirmary without looking back. Her husband put an arm around her shoulders and whispered something to her ear, before peeking behind himself, at me. I sighed. It was the first time I saw Mrs. Lamar. Based on my experience, I expected to see her again soon.

I was watching the couple walk away when Delia stopped by. She was pushing a wheelchair with an old lady on it.

"What happened to this one? Fell down the stairs? Went against a door?"

"Hit the steering wheel to avoid running over a dog."

"Wow. They're getting more elaborate, aren't they?" Delia rolled her eyes. "I swear I don't get these women. If it were me, I'd call the police at the first shove. I would never get so deep in such a situation as some of them do."

"You make it sound so simple..." the old woman on the wheelchair scoffed.

We exchanged looks. Delia smiled and placed a condescending hand on the woman's shoulder. "I guess you're right, Mrs. Andeson. Let's have your x-ray, shall we?" She released the chair brake. "Meet me at the cafeteria, will you? We need to talk before lunch. I'll have a break in a couple of hours."