The Dental Student

D i e c i s i e t e

I woke up because a nurse was checking my vitals, again.

"Oh good, you're awake. Chief Williamson wanted you to pick out dinner." The nurse said, handing me a menu.

There was legit two options, either roasted chicken with mashed potatoes or "meat"loaf.

Neither sounded too good, knowing that hospitals can turn any food terrible.

I just went with the chicken, hoping that it isn't bad. Mashed potatoes aren't easy to screw up.

"Can I have the chicken, please?" I spoke to the nurse as soon as she finished putting something on my chart.

"I'll put it in, it should come within the next half an hour."

I wasted time trying to find something good on the television, but only able to find on naked and afraid and some murder show, not interested in either.

Eventually my food came and shocker, it was disgusting.

The chicken tasted like cardboard, even though I still ate it.

I didn't think you could screw up mashed potatoes, but they did, somehow.

The only good part was the sugar-free lime jello, because it didn't taste like complete crap and wasn't made by the hospital, itself. 

As I finished the jello, the Chief walked in seeming pleased with himself, until he saw my arm.

I totally forgot about the new IV.

The Chief went to a cabinet and I immediately realized that he was going to have to replace it.

I heard the snap of his gloves and jumped at the sound.

I wrapped myself up in my blanket and curled up into a ball in my bed, covering my arms and burying my face into my pillow

I know it may seem childish but I do not  want another needle and I will do whatever it takes to avoid it as much as possible.

"Willow, I need your arm."

I heard the Chief say, but I wasn't going to look up from my pillow, so I shook my head no.

I heard him sigh, before he asked again.

"Ms. Samuels, you need a new IV." He said a little persistent.

I hate needles but I looked up and gave him my right arm.

He rested my arm against a little table and wiped the crook of my arm with an alcoholic wipe.

I closed my eyes and started to breath heavily, on the verge of crying.

"Hey, Willow, don't tense. Relax." He said, trying to calm me, which didn't work.

He sighed, once again, when I wasn't calming down.

I heard the snap of his gloves being taken off and I heard his footsteps leave the room, but then I felt his presence along with somebody else.

"Willow, can you do me a favor and look over at Doctor Miller." 

I opened my eyes and looked over at Bryan who was on my left.

"Yep, just keeping on looking at him and don't tense." 

I cringed at the sound of both the Chief and Bryan snapping on gloves.

I focused on Bryan's eyes and took multiple breaths as I felt the alcoholic wipe, yet again.

I felt the Chief's gloves fingers on the crook of my arm, looking for a vein.

"Ok Willow, deep breaths." The Chief reminded as I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the worst.

I felt Bryan put his hand on my shoulder and something in me felt it comforting at the moment.

For a few seconds the Chief didn't do anything and I didn't hear anything except for my obnoxious deep breaths. 

Out of nowhere, I felt the needle enter my skin, my eyes shot open, and a tear slipped down my cheek.

I wanted to turn my head to look at the needle out of instinct but Bryan softly grabbed my face and made me look at him, causing me to get lost in his gaze.

I felt Bryan's gloved thumb delicately wipe the tear off of my cheek and I almost melted into his touch, if it wasn't for someone knocking on the door.

I look over and see Noah in his seafoam scrubs, looking heartbroken with a bunch of flowers in his hand, standing in the doorway.