Something Like Happy by Eva Woods

Author:Eva Woods
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Graydon House
Published: 2017-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

DAY 38

Visit a sick person

“How is she?”

George just shook his head. He looked as if he hadn’t slept all night; when Polly collapsed they’d sent everyone home from the concert, saying she needed to rest, but Annie hadn’t slept, either, for worry, and had taken the first bus back in the morning.

She looked at the giant stuffed bear she’d brought, feeling stupid. She’d tried to avoid the “get well soon” stuff, as surely Polly was not going to get well at all. “Have they said anything?”

“Not a word. Dr. Max is avoiding me. And Mum and Dad...” He sighed deeply. “They’re driving me completely mad. Come in, will you? They might stop if you’re there.”

Annie followed him into the private room, registering that Polly lay there—that frail body disappearing beneath sheets and hospital gown—hooked up to the machines. Heart monitor. Breathing mask. IV. Annie had been in the hospital enough times to know that the more tubes you had, the worse things were for you.

Valerie and Roger sat either side of her, arguing in stiff quiet voices. “I told you we shouldn’t let her gad about the place. She’s sick, Valerie!”

“It’s what she wanted. And she was so well.”

“She wasn’t well at all! Why can’t you just face things? Polly’s dying, George is...how he is, and—”

“He’s just confused, Roger! He doesn’t know what he wants! And you’re one to talk. I was so ashamed last night—having to call a taxi to get here because you weren’t fit to drive and—”

“Annie’s here,” George said loudly.

They both stuck on fake smiles. “Oh, how nice. Come in, dear.”

Annie stood in the door. “I don’t want to intrude. I just needed to see how she was.”

Valerie’s eyes were bright were tears, her voice strained. “She had some kind of crash last night, but we don’t know if it’s...if it’s temporary or not. We’re still hopeful, of course! She’s probably just tired.” Roger tutted.

The door opened and Dr. Max came in, brisk and rumpled. Had he been home at all? Annie doubted it. “Hi, everyone.” His eyes flicked over her, and the teddy bear she was holding.

“I’ll go,” she said hastily. “Give you some privacy.” After last night, she didn’t know what to say to him.

George grabbed her arm, squeezing subtly. “I think Polly would want you here, Annie.”

Reluctantly, she stayed. Dr. Max cleared his throat, arranging X-ray films on the wall holder. “Right. This is a scan of her lungs. You see that white bit?”

Annie knew by now what white bits meant. They meant not good. They meant oh, shit. They meant Polly was getting worse.

“A tumor,” George said in a small voice.

“Aye. A secondary, on the lung. It explains the breathlessness and back pain she’s been trying to hide for weeks now.” He glanced at Annie and she felt a stab of guilt, thinking of Polly up that ladder.

Valerie’s voice was wobbly. “Can we...is there anything...?”

“Radiotherapy should shrink it. Reduce the pain a bit, let her breathe. But it’ll take its toll.

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