Chapter 27

“Joy to the World! I’m finally done! Repeat the sounding joy! No more tests to wrack my brain! Ree-pe-ET, re-peeeeeeet the sound-ing JOY!”

“You okay, Ci?” Ciara’s mom turned from the sink looking at her daughter like she’d just grown a second head.

“Yes, mom, I’m fine. Can’t a girl celebrate her college graduation with a little private pomp and circumstance?” Twirl on her toes. Grab a glass of orange juice.

“Yeah, sure…whatever. Hurry up and get dressed; you’re gonna be late. Did you take your shot?”

What!? “Before breakfast, Mom.” Coming home, even for a night, was such a pain in the ass. Without question, Mom reverted back to, well…Mom and Ciara reverted back to a submissive, sick little girl. To say she hated it would be an understatement of great proportions. But, Mom wanted her home last night for some reason. Bonding or something. Unfortunately, she just felt bound not bonded.

The drive to USF was quiet and strained. Ciara sat in back with her little sister who was busy rambling on and on about her latest boyfriend. She went through men like Ciara went through syringes. Made Ciara sick. Mom and Dad prattled on in between sis’ words about the lousy traffic, horrific parking and the general pathetic state of the world today. Such fun people to be with. She couldn’t wait to join her class in the line up and get away from the scene.

Ciara pulled the seating chart from her shorts pocket. You had to love a Florida graduation. Shorts, sandals, some even wore bathing suits underneath their gowns. No dress code required. Taking her seat, she silently moaned at her last name. She was sandwiched between Stanley Vwymer and a complete stranger from another department within the medical school. VWYMER for God’s sake. Total geek. Incompetent and incapable as a nurse. She prayed he’d get fired from his first job so no one lost their life at his hand.

The partner to her right showed up only moments before the ceremony began, huffing and puffing most likely from running up the football field to her seat. Breathlessly, she sat down and offered a huge smile and a hand shake. “Hi. Deanna Agriesti. PT. You?”

Oh, Ciara liked her already. Direct, not afraid. “Hi. Ciara. Ciara Watkins. Nursing.”

“Wonder how long this gawd-awful thing is gonna last?”

“Too long I guarantee. I’m just happy to be away from my family at the moment.”

“Oh. Yeah, families can be a pain in the ass. I just wanna get to the parties! You headed to any after this?”

“Nope. Mom’s got some lame thing planned at home. Being the guest of honor I’d better show up.”

“Can you sneak out? There’s a great one at the student union planned. You should come.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Definitely sounds better than the finger food and bland talk at home.”

“No kidding. Yeah, it’ll go on all night I’m sure. Come on out and look me up.”

And so it went. The ceremony was horrific of course. Gave the two girls plenty of opportunity to laugh though and by the end, she had Deanna’s phone number in one hand and a diploma…with honors, thank you very much, in the other. Suma Cum Laude. Top 5% of her class. Yeah, she rocked.

******~~~~~~******~~~~~~

And so did the parties on campus. Ciara was able to not only sneak out, but walk out. Sometimes her ill health was a blessing. “Man, mom. I’m not feeling very well. I’m gonna head home,” always did the trick. Her mom knew she preferred her own bed when she was sick. Made getting away from family crap oh so much easier.

By morning, Ciara was regretting lying to her mom. Now she REALLY didn’t feel very well. How much alcohol had she thrown back anyway? And man, Deanna could DRINK! But she was a blast to be with and she and Ciara felt an instant connection. Having a friend with a medical background was going to be a good thing. She’d understand Ciara’s situation without a sickening amount of pity attached to it. No fear, no pity, just understanding. Something Ciara had been waiting for since the day she was diagnosed 12 years prior.

She stumbled out of bed, put eye drops in so she could actually blink, and did a quick mental check on how to change her insulin to counteract the sick amount of alcohol in her blood stream. Was a little late now, but it would help anyway. Today would most likely suck all around no matter how you sliced it. How come the payment for a party never occurred to you until the next morning?

As she tossed her syringe in the trash, she groaned at hearing her phone ring…scream…whatever. Who turned up the volume on that bastard? Shuffling over to the shrill sound, she stuck her tongue out at her cat who seemed to be scolding her from her counter top. “I have one mother, thank you. Go…go shit in your box or something.”

“Yeah, hello?”

“CONGRATULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATIONS!!!!!!!”

Sweet Jesus, who in the HELL? “Uh…thanks?”

Giggles and shh’s followed. “Ci…it’s Nick…and everyone else!”

“Ohhhhhh….hi guys.” She must have still been drunk. She actually waved. “Damn, did you add to your numbers? Sounds like more than 5.” Her head ached. He’s gonna die for this.

“We’ve got the whole crew here. Let me get off speaker.” Shuffle, mumble, “get OUT of here, AJ!”, shuffle, click. “Okay, it’s just me now. How was yesterday?”

“Yesterday was boring. Last night was a blast. This morning sucks.”

“Uh, Ci?”

“Yes, Nick?” She could feel a smart ass comment coming.

“It’s 1 o’clock.”

“Shut up. It’s morning for me.”

Giggles. Bastard. What kind of friend was he, anyway? Laughing while a friend’s hung over. Rude. “Party too hard, my love?”

“My love? Well, aren’t you the little Romeo? Yes, I did as a matter of fact. Had a damned good time of it too.”

“You deserve it. Well, not the hang over, but the party. So, how long ‘til you start REAL work?”

“A week. I get this week off and start in the pedes unit next Monday. I can’t wait.”

“I bet not. You’re gonna be great, Ci.”

“Thanks. So, you guys almost done? Where are you now anyway?”

“We’re in New York now. Battery Studios. We’re almost done and then we take off for a real tour in Europe.”

“Ready?”

“Scared.”

“Yeah, I bet. Looks like we’re both starting a new journey here, huh?”

“I guess so. Well, I gotta go. They’re waving me into the booth.”

“Okay, thanks for calling, Nick. Hey, will I get to see you before you go overseas again?”

“Should. I’ll be home to pack and stuff.”

“Good. Okay, you go sing…I’ll, uh…take a bottle of Tylenol.”

“Sounds good…and Cici?”

“Yeah, hon?”

Silence. He wanted to say something meaningful. Something he felt, but…it would come out wrong and he knew it. He was chicken. Dammit. “Don’t kill anybody your first week, okay?”

“Ha-fuckin’-ha. Thanks. B’bye! Don’t let your voice crack.”

“Oh, not EVEN ni-!” He was answered with a click on her end. She always had to have the last word, didn’t she? Talk about brats.

******~~~~~~******~~~~~~

“Well, good evening. I’ve not seen you here before.”

The tall young man stood at the presence of a lady and reached out to shake her hand. “Hi. I’m Bill. Josh’s uncle. Just got in town today.”

“Nice to meet you, Bill. I’m Ciara, Josh’s nurse tonight…for the next few nights it seems. Where are you from?” She started checking Josh’s levels on his IV’s and monitors, making notes as she went.

“Tennessee. Knoxville.” He took a seat and couldn’t take his eyes off this petit, beautiful nurse. She wore scrubs well. Or was it they wore HER well? Either way, he was suddenly glad he’d made the trip down.

“Well, Josh will be glad you came, I’m sure. Although, he’s still doing a lot of sleeping. That last surgery really pooped him out.”

“Yeah, that’s what his mom was saying. Is he…I mean…how long…”

“He’ll be awake more and more everyday. His body has been through a lot for such a young thing. But, being young, he’ll bounce back quicker than an adult would. How long will you be here?”

“As long as I can be. I’m kind of in between jobs now, so I’ve got the time.”

“Good. He needs all the support he can get.”

The little boy in the bed stirred slightly, moaning as the familiar pain from surgery hit him. “Mom?”

“Hey, Joshy. It’s Cici. Mom went home to sleep tonight. But, you have a new visitor.”

“I do?” For a moment, the boy forgot he couldn’t sit well and tried. His mind was definitely more well than his body. He only got as far as lifting his head, but plopped it back down angrily when he couldn’t go any further. “Can you raise my bed?”

“Here, give me your hand.” The boy reached out his hand and she slid it down to the controls on his bedside. “Now you remember how to do this. Lift your bed.”

“Aw, Ci…why can’t you ju-…”

“Joshua. All you have to do is push a button. You keep arguing with me and I’ll get you out of bed for a walk later on.”

“No, no…I’m not ready for that yet.”

“Then raise your bed. Your visitor is waiting.”

He turned and stuck his tongue out at the tiran- er, nurse and found the right button to raise his bed. As it lifted, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree at the recognition of his Uncle Bill. “Uncle Bill! You made it!”

“Yeah, buddy. I told you I would.” He stood and approached the bed slowly, afraid of all the wires and machines surrounding his bed. Looking to Ciara, who had moved to the other side to finish jotting down some numbers, “Can I…I mean…”

“Yep, give that boy a hug. He’s fine. Just ouchy, grouchy and tired.”

As Bill bent down to wrap his nephew up in his arms, Ciara stopped working long enough to watch. Handsome man, wasn’t he? Not too old…good with the kid. She’d definitely have to make Josh a priority in her rounds tonight. And he did need to get out of bed if he could stay awake long enough.

“K, I hate to break up the lovin’ goin’ on here, but I need to ask Josh a few questions since he’s awake.”

“Oh, okay…should I leave?”

“Nah, you’re good.”

“Josh, have you used the bathroom on your own last time you were up?”

The boy’s face blushed. “Yeah.”

“Both?”

“Jeez…yeah.” He looked over at his uncle and rolled his eyes. “She’s so nosey.”

“Just answer the questions, Josh.”

“K, number your pain for me, 1 to 10.”

“About a 5 when I’m still, 8 when I move.”

“Okay, let me take a look at the incision.”

She pulled his blanket back and let him hike up his gown. She knew this was humiliating, so she tried to let the patient do as much as possible to keep them in some form of control. Once he was settled again, she gingerly pulled back the tape and palpated the area.

“How’s it look?”

“Looks really good, sweetie. I think we do need to take that walk tonight.”

“No…it’ll hurt.”

“Yep. And you’ll live. You don’t wanna get sick from laying here all the time.”

“I know…”

“You rest up now, Uncle Bill will be quiet for you and I’ll come back in a bit for a walk, okay?”

“Oh alright. You’re a slave driver.”

“You’re a whiner. Hike up so we can pull your gown back down.” She tucked the blanket back under him and winked at him. He was a cute kid with an expectedly crappy attitude. Cancer had plagued him most of his life and if he wasn’t recuperating from surgery, he was puking up a lung from chemo. Life hadn’t been fair to Josh and she knew it. She also couldn’t let him lay there and die. It was her job to get him off his ass and live.

“K, sleep tight. You nap too, Uncle Bill…you looked tired. I’ll see you later!”

***

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