The Other Side Of Dr. Wolf by Bruce Portnoy

Author:Bruce Portnoy [Portnoy, Bruce]
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440150364
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2009-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 33

I took the stairs to the I.C.U. but was told Abbie had been moved to a private room on a different floor. Even though her condition had not improved, she was rated stable and no longer required either the I.C.U. or the Critical Care level of concern. In the general ward one station nurse could observe and monitor up to four individual patient rooms via closed circuit robotic television cameras.

Hospital policy required a wrist I.D. before the floor nurse would release my wife’s room assignment to me. Under the circumstances, I appreciated the extra security.

Viewing through her room door’s glass panel, I saw Abbie dressed in a pink sleeping gown. Even the numerous monitors, with their leads attached to her head could not take away from her loveliness. I entered and gently said, “I have always loved you. For me there will never be anyone else.” I kissed her lips and for a second heard what sounded like a sigh, a dream perhaps.

I looked around for a chair but none was to be found. Therefore, I sat on her bedside and stroked the curls that gently fell upon her temples. I leaned and whispered into her ear, “I didn’t purposely cause the accident that hurt you. If I could only trade places with you…” I hesitated, and just looked at her, preferring to not finish the obvious. Her eyes were not closed. Partial irises and pupils were visible. Whether or not she understood my words, I saw her features soften. “Abbie are you trying to tell me something?” Calm came over me, as if she understood. I felt relieved.

Suddenly, the room door opened and immediately swung shut. When I turned, there was no one there. I assumed a nurse came in to check my wife’s I.V. or address some another issue and changed her mind.

It didn’t matter. Abbie and I were together. The door opened again. This time a nurse returned with the missing chair. She informed me Abbie’s parents wanted to see her, but refused to be in the same room with me. Almost immediately, I felt her body tighten.

“I’m her husband. Tell them I’ll be out in just a moment.”

“Abbie, I am going to check on your medical progress. It’s important we let your parents work through their feelings. They have loved you for more years than I have known you and deserve that respect. If I have to come at different times to visit you, that’s O.K., sweetie.”

No matter, I still felt disgusted at the underhanded legal shenanigans Silver put me through. There will come a day of reckoning. I kissed my wife goodbye and left.

I overheard my father-in-law speaking with a nurse. I approached them from behind so I could hear what was being said without interrupting.

“The good news: Abbie is accepting I.V. nutrition and fluids and continues to be stable. However, her brain wave patterns are not normal.”

The nurse then asked if there were any questions. Jim suddenly turned towards me, and if he could have gotten away with it, he looked as if he wanted to hit me.

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