Stitches and Sepsis by Liz Faraim

Author:Liz Faraim [Faraim, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, Contemporary, thriller, lesbian, polyamory, Dom/sub relationship, multiple partners, ex-military, bartender, hospital
Publisher: NineStar Press
Published: 2021-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

I awoke to the familiar clatter of a cart outside the door, followed by a woman coming into the room carrying a tray. I cracked my eyes open and watched as she placed the food tray on the lap desk thing and rolled it over to me. I mumbled a thank-you to her, as I tried to wake up. I fumbled around and found the button to raise the head of the bed so I could sit up. Once my eyes cleared, I saw on the wall clock that it was almost noon.

My chest leaped when I remembered that Ang had been there, in my room. The chair was empty and pushed back to the wall where it had been before, almost as if Ang had never been there in the first place. I gazed at the chair, and the black hole in my chest throbbed, awakened. After months of reprieve, the loneliness was back. I sat with it for a moment, acknowledged it, and did my best to move on.

I turned my attention to the tray of food. It held a bowl of steaming broth, a cup of fluorescent orange gelatin, a plastic mug of what appeared to be hot tea, and two slices of plain wheat bread. The water pitcher had been refilled, its sides dripping with condensation from the ice and cold water inside. Clearly, they were trying me on a bland diet to see how I did after being on a feeding tube.

I ate and drank everything on my tray, except for the gelatin. I was a texture eater, and anything jiggly or reminiscent of the texture of mucus was a no-go for me. I got up, feeling a bit more sure of my legs, and used the bathroom again. Just as I was getting settled back in the bed, Tala came in. She briskly checked my nearly empty food tray and gave it a nod, and then she checked the bag of solution hanging from the IV pole. The bag had been almost empty before I fell asleep and was finally tapped out.

“All right, Vivian, it’s your lucky day. I’m going to take out the IV.” She gloved up and had the thing out of my hand in no time. The relief was immediate, and I was grateful.

“Thank you, Tala. I can’t believe how one little thing could be so aggravating.” I raised my hands up. “Look at me. Not plugged into anything anymore. I’ve come a long way in the last seven hours! Are you sure I have to stay another night? I’m fine. Really.”

“Doctor says you stay, so you stay. And don’t overdo it this afternoon. You need to rest.”

“Okay. Got it. Thanks again. And hey, I peed. Twice.” She gave me a big genuine thumbs-up. It felt silly to make a big thing out of something like going pee by myself, but I decided to celebrate the little stuff to fend off the sadness left behind by Ang’s visit.

Tala closed the curtain and door on her way out, leaving me to my thoughts.

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