Obscurity

Chapter 12: Ramifications

Sierra

Alma slinks into our room. I heard her coming. I close my notebook and turn to her. She has a hygiene kit in her hand, and she offers it to me.

"To replace what I used. Sorry."

I take the kit from her and narrow my eyes at her. "Do you know how unbelievably rude it is to use someone's personal things without asking?"

She moves over to her side of the room. I can't read her body language so well with this massive headache I have but if I were a betting woman, I'd say she's ashamed.

"I said I was sorry. You weren't here anyways. It's not like I could ask you." She says.

"Just don't do it again, okay?" I say.

"I won't." She fidgets with her hem on her shirt. She looks to the doorway of our room and then back to me.

"Why'd you cover for me?" She asks in a low voice.

"Why didn't you fess up when I did?" I say with a hint of superiority.

She shrugs. Seems like shrugging is her go-to.

"Don't worry about it." I snap at her as I get up from my bed.

"I want to thank you. For ya know." She tilts her head a little to the side.

I shake my head and walk out of the room without acknowledging her. She can thank me all day. It doesn't change things between us. She isn't helping my headache any, so I go for the day room to get away from her. At least in there, no one bothers me with their feelings and useless shit.

She seemed remorseful but who the hell cares? I'm over here with a busted up face and she's prancing around here like she doesn't have a care in the world.

When I take my usual spot at the table closest to the windows, I pull out my deck of cards. Shuffling and watching everyone is my favorite pastime in this hell hole. I decide against building houses or castles because frankly I just don't have the energy.

I thank heavens she didn't follow me out here. I need some space from her. I'm not afraid of her. She's just getting on my nerves.

As I'm shuffling, I listen to the conversations going on around me. Jim and Abigail are talking about the Olympics. Evidently, shuffleboard is all the rage with them. I laugh inwardly. When I get that old, please someone shoot me.

Nick is talking to Daniel, but I can't really make out what they're saying. So I shuffle as I watch the nurses station. There's nothing else to do here. Watching people is entertaining. I like watching Cindy more so than all the other day shift staff. She's got this quiet strength to her. I may even admire her a bit, I don't know.

I watch as Cindy files reports and answers phone calls. A few different new day shift nurses go to her with what seems like questions and she sends them off with quick replies and an eye roll here and there. Yeah, Cindy is fun. I like her.

I hear the elevator sound and see Dr. Kavanaugh step off it and make his way over to the nurses station. Interesting, doctors rarely, if ever, come to the floor on Sundays. I shuffle again. Then it hits me. He's here for Alma. Special treatment, it seems like. That explains why she's in such a good mood today. I laugh inwardly again. She must think she's getting out of here. Then, I laugh out loud, and everyone turns their heads to look at me.

Waving them off, I collect my cards and sit still watching the nurses station. The good old Doc goes into the station. He seems quite at home inside there. He picks up a file. Alma's no doubt, and sits in one of the chairs at the main observation desk. Cindy is reading along with him over his shoulder. He seems to be asking her questions.

Cindy looks up at the day room. She probably felt me staring. She looks directly at me as she says something to the doctor. I quickly look away, but then right back to her again. I'm no lip reader, so I have no idea what she's saying. She glances back down to whatever it is the doctor is holding in his hand and they resume their back and forth.

I stretch and decide it's time to ask for some more meds for my nose. I pray they'll help relieve this headache I haven't been able to kick since last night. I get up, pocket my deck of cards and approach the nurses station. Cindy sees me coming and meets me at the counter.

"Need something, Sierra?"

"Can I have some more Tylenol yet?"

"Let me look and make sure it's time." She walks over to the board on the wall and references my last dose being more than four hours ago.

"Yeah, let me get one of the nurses to get it for you." She says.

"Thanks." I wait patiently by the counter, listening to see if Cindy and the doctor go back to talking. From here, I'd be able to hear whatever they say.

They don't say much. They have been actually pretty tight-lipped since my intrusion. The nurse Cindy sent for my meds comes back and hands me the pills. I take them, and she takes my cups and throws them away behind the desk before going to my chart to update it. Cindy marks the time on the board on the wall to indicate my latest dose of Tylenol and I saunter back over to my table in the day room.

I start to ponder the ramifications someone might have for assaulting another patient on the unit. I wonder if a little longer of a stay isn't exactly what the doctor should order for dear Alma. I grin as Cindy and the doctor go back to talking again. Cindy looks back out to the day room and I wave when she looks at me this time.