But she was definitely grateful for the aide’s assistance in helping her get out of bed and then half-walking, half-stumbling into the bathroom. She highly doubted she would have been able to walk even that short distance on her own, given how sore and stiff she was. She felt like an arthritic old woman, half wishing she had a cane right now.
“Jesus, is it supposed to hurt this fucking much?” she muttered under her breath, but evidently not so quietly that the aide didn’t hear.
The aide offered up a smile, then winced as even that small movement looked as though it made her headache worse. “You haven’t been on your feet in over twenty four hours,” she pointed out as she turned the shower taps on. “Staying in bed for that long is bound to make it all worse, since your muscles have all stiffened up. The hot water might help a little. Here, you should sit on this bench so your legs don’t buckle out from under you.”
Despite her resolve to act tough and therefore make her case about getting discharged later today, Scarlett hastily tossed off the hospital gown and sank down on the shower bench. The nursing aide seemed content to let Scarlett wash her own hair and soap herself off, and didn’t even flinch when she spied the puckered scar on the side of her rib cage. Once the aide helped Scarlett dry off and put on a clean hospital gown and a pair of socks with treads on the bottom and then waited for her to use the toilet, she escorted her back to the bed, then took off without another word.
‘Great bedside manner,’ thought Scarlett sarcastically. ‘And I thought I had a bad attitude when it came to customer service. At least I’ve never shown up at work hungover.’
Her backside was throbbing painfully again, but she fought off the urge to recline back against the pillows and take a nap. Despite sleeping straight through for about twelve hours last night, she was still drowsy, no doubt a side effect from the pain meds and the anesthesia. She forced herself to remain upright, though, knowing that Sergio would be stopping by in a few minutes and taking her for the promised walk. There was no way she was going to betray how much pain she was in, and take the chance she’d have to spend another night in this place.
“Here. I didn’t notice a robe in the things you brought with you, so I borrowed this one. Walking up and down the hallways in just a gown might make you a little self-conscious.”
Scarlett shrugged, but accepted the dark blue robe that Sergio held out to her. “I guess. And I didn’t pack a robe because I don’t own one. That’s why I brought pajamas along, figured I would just wear those.”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “We prefer you use the gowns, makes it easier for exams and stuff. Natalia said you did okay with the shower, but that you were definitely having some issues walking. Still feel like taking a walk?”
“Absolutely.” She stood up immediately, bracing herself with a hand on the bed. “And I was just stiff earlier, that’s all. Anyone would be after lazing around in bed for twenty four hours straight.”
“Maybe,” commented Sergio dubiously. “But Natalia also said you were complaining about the pain.”
Scarlett waved a hand in dismissal, silently cursing the nursing aide for her loose lips. Apparently the woman hadn’t been all that hungover.
“Nah, it’s fine. The pain meds I took earlier hadn’t had time to kick in yet. I barely feel anything right now,” she insisted. “Must be some strong stuff you’re giving me.”
The nurse smirked. “Not especially. The doctor’s orders were to start weaning you off the stronger stuff. This morning you just got a bigger than normal dose of Motrin, nothing you couldn’t buy in a pharmacy over the counter.”
“Oh.” Scarlett quickly regrouped, retorting, “Well, whatever it was really helped. I’m hardly even sore right now. I could walk three miles.”
Sergio chuckled. “Okay, speedy, if you say so. Let’s see how we do with a few trips up and down this hallway before you lace up your Nikes.”
Scarlett reluctantly placed her hand on his proffered arm, then clenched her jaw in anticipation of the pain she knew would flare up instantly as her feet touched the ground. And while it wasn’t quite as excruciating as it had been earlier, it was still significant. But not for the world would she betray this fact to Sergio, and offered him up a weak smile as they began to walk slowly from the bed to the doorway of her room.
“You doing okay?” he asked as they passed by several other rooms.
“Just great,” she muttered, mentally willing the stabbing pain in her backside to go away. “A little stiff, but really hardly any pain at all.”
“Uh, huh.” Sergio grinned at her, readily seeing through her lie. “Guess that’s why you’re almost cutting off the circulation to my arm.”
Scarlett glanced down to where her hand was indeed gripping his arm for dear life. She instantly slackened her hold, which in turn caused her to wobble precariously.
“Easy there, speedy,” warned Sergio, placing his free hand on the small of her back. “Hey, it’s okay to hold on tight, Scarlett. And it’s okay to admit that you’re hurting. I’ve seen grown men who had this procedure done who moaned and groaned with each step they took. Men who were probably a foot taller than you, and outweighed you by a hundred pounds. So stop acting the martyr, okay? I knew from the minute I met you that you were a tough cookie, but right now you need to ease up a little. All right?”
Stubbornly she shook her head. “No. I really, really want to leave here today, Sergio. I can’t stand hospitals, and I think I’ll go insane if I have to spend another night in this place.”
“Hmm. Don’t suppose that attitude has anything to do with that beauty of a scar I noticed on your right side.”
Scarlett stuck her tongue out. “Nothing beautiful about that scar. And that’s only one of the reasons I hate these places. Come on, help me out here, Sergio. Can’t you tell Doctor Parks that I’m doing great today? That I ate most of my breakfast - even though it was about as tasty as a bowl of cardboard - took my meds, went for a little walk. So I’m good to go, right?”
“First of all,” replied Sergio calmly as they reached the end of the hallway and made the turn to head back in the direction of her room, “that’s totally not my decision to make. I see on your chart that you’re pretty anemic and rundown, you’re lucky you didn’t have to have a blood transfusion after what you went through yesterday. It will be up to Doctor Parks whether or not you get discharged today. Second, in my opinion, you’re nowhere near ready to leave here. You got people waiting at home to take care of you?”
“No,” she admitted sullenly. “I’m supposed to stay at a hotel for a few more nights and then fly home on Friday.”
“Well, then, if Doctor Parks asks my opinion - which, by the way, he probably won’t - I would tell him you need a lot more recuperation than just a night or two in the hospital. You experienced a really severe reaction to the anesthesia yesterday - persistent nausea, chills, dehydration. You’re so fragile you look like a good wind would blow you away. Or that you’d shatter half a dozen bones in your body if you happened to fall over. And the way you’re walking right now - well, I’ve seen ninety year old men move faster and with less effort. Tell the truth now, Scarlett. Are you in pain?”