Chapter 15 #2
When I finally opened my eyes, Charlie had terrified tears. “How am I going to get home? I didn’t even think about it. I just knew I wasn’t leaving–”
“Charlie,” I tried to stop his ramble, clearly he got that attribute from his father.
“And how am I going to handle my dad when I do? I’ve only ever seen him this mad once, which is what led us to Pittsburgh.
I can’t believe this is happening again.
What was I thinking dragging you to talk in the mine, like we weren’t going to get caught and then bringing that book down there? I’m such an idiot!”
“Charlie, Honey,” slipped out of me. My eyes widened over the endearment and Charlie went completely silent, frozen like the color of his eyes.
Jesus, where did that come from.
I needed these drugs out of my system. There was no reason for me to call him that. He wasn’t mine, yet. Right? Maybe he didn’t hear me correctly.
“What did you just call me?” It sounded like Charlie said it without air.
“I said your name,” trying to cover my slip.
“No, you didn’t. Jim,” his eyes were shifting, searching mine.
“I don’t know where that came from, I’m sorry,” trying to pull my hand away in worry, but Charlie held tight. The static in the air was overwhelming. Like the oxygen molecules were being compressed around us.
“Jim,” he whispered, leaning closer to me, but right at that moment Nancy came back in.
“The doctor is coming,” looking down at our hands, then the closeness of our faces. We immediately pulled apart from each other. She gave a little smile before leaving, which I didn’t know if that was helping me at the moment.
Having someone know about me and be okay with it and then having that same someone see two men holding hands tends to get a different reaction.
I had told people in my life a long time ago but once they saw it, it changed things.
Like them actually seeing it set it in stone, and their minds couldn’t handle the weight.
The doctor walked in, skipped the introductions completely, and jumped right into giving us the rundown of what they did to treat me and what the next steps were.
My wound was about an inch and a half in length and almost two inches deep.
If it had been just a little more to the center, it would have nicked my kidney.
Whoever stabbed me – probably Richard – didn’t have the force to get any deeper, because of the angle, the blade was dull and my jumper helped resist it.
I have 6 stitches and I was not to work for two weeks and bed rest for three days minimum, including today, so as to not break the wound back open again after they discharged me.
“We are keeping you here for at least tonight to keep it clean and to watch for infection,” the doctor finished up. “Do you have any questions?”
“Can he stay here with me,” referencing Charlie. If not, I had to get him home somehow.
“I’m sorry. No visitors after six o’clock,” looking at his fancy watch, “which is soon and usually when meals get delivered for dinner. The nurses usually make the rounds and ask people to leave. He will be able to come back tomorrow at ten o’clock in the morning.
If all goes well, you should be discharged by noon.
If you need anything, let the nurse know.
” And with that, he left like he arrived, without fanfare.
Before I could look at Charlie he said, “How am I going to get home? I should have left with my dad,” in a panic.
I hated that his father intensified his emotions when they were already high.
I hated that he dulls Charlie’s light so easily.
This was already a hard situation, him coming in here the way he did wasn’t necessary.
“Charlie, breathe, I’ll get you home. We will ask for trolley directions. I have money in my wallet, wherever my jumper is. It will be okay,” I moved to reach for him but instantly regretted it, grimacing.
Nancy walked in at that time and saw the pain in my face, “I’ll go get something mild for you to take for the pain, if you don’t want something stronger. Meals will be here for the both of you shortly,” she turned to walk away but Charlie stopped her.
“Wait, both of us?”
She only turned her head with a small smile, care in her eyes.
“Both.” Then she left. I continued to look at the slit in the curtain, my brain stalling out, before she came right back.
She had two aspirin tablets for me to swallow and some more water.
Before she left us again, she told Charlie where the bathroom was if he needed it.
I was instructed to use a half-pint if I needed to pee as I wasn’t allowed out of bed.
And like hell if I was using a bed pan to shit.
I would fucking hold it until I got home.
This was all a lot. My head was starting to feel slow. I was tired between being injured and all the hostility that had been in the air.
Charlie must have noticed because he quietly said, “You should rest. Your eyes are starting to droop.” He placed his hand on top of mine.
“I’m okay. What were we talking about before the doctor came in,” trying to gather my thoughts and some energy, but wasn’t successful. I was fading, fast.
“Later,” then Charlie got nervous again. “I… umm… I need to go find a pay phone. Tom gave me a dime to call him once I knew anything important. It was the only way I could get him to agree to let me stay.”
Quickly losing energy I said, “Okay, honey.” Then I lost the battle with my eyes.
The last thing I felt was a kiss on my forehead.