“That looks painful.”
“It looks infected.”
“Yeah I was going to lead up to that, but…”
“Feels like my leg is gonna fall off.”
“Can you put any weight on it?”
“Jesus.”
“Okay. What if I help?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Enemies aren’t supposed to ‘help’.”
“We can’t fight if you’re dead. I don’t want that to happen. You don’t want that to happen. An enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“So what are we frenemies now or…?”
“Just get up.”
“I’m worried about you. You haven’t been right for days.”
“I told you I’m fine. Why don’t you believe me?”
“Because you keep telling people you’re fine, but you can’t lie to me. I know you.”
“You worry too much. It’s just a pulled muscle.”
“You can barely walk. I see you wincing.”
“It only hurts sometimes. No don’t- don’t touch it.”
“That’s really swollen. You can’t keep walking on it.”
“I can’t just sit around.”
“It’s blue. Sit down or I’ll sit you down.”
“Any better?”
“Yeah I’m okay.”
“Are you sure? You’re shaking.”
“I’ll be okay. It’ll stop soon.”
“It looks really bad. I still think we need to go to the ER.”
“No not yet. Please. Just give it some time.”
“It could be infected. It’s so swollen you can barely walk.”
…
“You’re pale and your hands are all clammy. Please. Let me take you.”
“I don’t know.”
“We don’t have to tell anyone. We can go back to hating each other on Monday.”
“…okay…okay let’s go.”
“Marry me?”
“Hmm?”
“Marry me.”
“I’ve been…asking…for weeks…and you pick…now?”
“I’ve changed my mind. I’m allowed.”
“I just wish you’d d-done-done it-.”
“Shhh…it’s okay. Don’t talk.”
“Hard to…breathe.”
“I know…um…they’re talking about intubating you. So your body can rest, you know? They think it’ll help bring your temperature down too. You’ll feel a lot better.”
“Will you stay?”
“For better or worse. In sickness and in health. Isn’t that how it goes?”
“Something like…that.”
“You’re going to get better. We’re getting married.”
“I know…”
“I won’t leave you.”
“…I know.”
“Marry me.”
“Not this again.”
“Not ‘no’ again.”
“We’ve been over this. We need to focus on getting you better.”
“I am better.”
“You’re still in the hospital.”
“Yeah, but I do my own breathing now. Look.”
“Your hands are shaking. Do you need more pain meds? I can go ask-.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m good. Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re sweating! They said you could have morphine if you need it.”
“I don’t need it. It makes me groggy and I’m tired of sleeping all the time.”
“You love sleeping.”
“Not for six weeks!”
“I’m just really worried about you. You’re not as well as you think you are.”
“Listen, I love you, but you have got to stop worrying about me. I know I traumatized you that one time, my bad, but this is officially unhealthy for you, too.”
“You love me?”
“…Right…yep…that’s what I said. And I meant it so just…have some faith in me. I’ll be out of here soon. I’ll prove it to you.”
“I know…”
“We’re getting married.”
“…I know.”
“You’re being selfish.”
“…what?”
“You heard me.”
“Get out.”
“No.”
“I don’t want to talk.”
“Good. I don’t want you to talk either.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because you won’t see them.”
“I- I can’t. It’s complicated and none of your business.”
“No, it is my business because while you’re in this stupid hospital room hiding from reality I’m out there picking up pieces.”
“They’re fine. It’s better like this.”
“Are you listening at all?? They’re worried sick about you.”
“…really?”
“They don’t eat. They don’t sleep. And you can’t bring yourself to talk to them.”
“I’m just not myself. I need time.”
“I watched them fall apart while they started and restarted your heart over and over again. So yeah…they’re also ‘not themselves right now’.”
“I didn’t know…I just- I don’t know what to say to them. I don’t want them to see me like this.”
“Well I’m sick of being the funny one. It’s exhausting. So you two, get a grip.”
…
“Look…neither of you are fine after what happened. No one is. But at least be ‘not fine’ together.”
“Hey, wake up. C’mon…I need you to wake up for me.”
“Mmm.”
“Yeah…there we go. Nope. Don’t go back to sleep. Look at me.”
“What’re you doing here…”
“I came to check on you. You missed the meeting with corporate this morning.”
“What…what time…”
“How long have you been like this?”
“Hmm?”
“How long have you been sick?”
“I don’t know. Been asleep.”
“You’re super pale…and burning up. What hurts?”
“Everything.”
“Can you narrow that down for me?”
“Stomach…”
“Does it hurt if I press he- okay I’ll take that as a yes. Hey…hey, you still with me?”
“Just wanna sleep…”
“I know, but I really need you to talk to me. Do you have a water somewhere?”
“No.”
“When’s the last time you had any fluids?”
“It just came back up.”
“I’m going to get you a bottle of water.”
“I can’t. Please…don’t make me.”
“You can’t keep anything down?”
“Hurts…M’so nauseous.”
“We’ve got to get you to the Emergency Room.”
“It’s just a bug. It’ll pass…”
“You’re doubled over. You can barely walk.”
“I need to go to work.”
“Absolutely not. Do you even own a thermometer?”
“I don’t have a fever.”
“Your shirt is soaked through. Your hair is stuck to your face. You don’t think you have a fever?”
“Bucket.”
“What?”
“M’gonna throw up. Bucket.”
“Oh uhhhhh.”
“Right now.”
“Here it is. Here it is.”
“So diz- dizzy. Mmmm. There’s nothing to throw up. My stom-.”
“Jesus. Easy. Here, let me hold it.”
“I’m sor…I’m sorry…. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Something serious. We really need to get you somewhere. Can you move?”
“I-gah-I don’t know.”
“Let me help you.”
“I can’t.”
“Please. Let me help.”
“It’s the middle of the night. What’re you doing?”
“I’m sorry. I d-didn’t know where e-else to go.”
“Jesus, you’re soaked. I’ll get you a towel.”
“NO.”
“Okay…”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m getting water everywhere. I just- just- stay here. Okay?”
“Yeah. Of course. I’ll stay right here with you. …is everything oka-.”
“My results came back on the…on the test I had to do.”
“…And?”
“They’re not… It- it doesn’t look…. I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay….what if we just took off your shirt so maybe you can warm up? Can we start there?”
“I’m not cold.”
“You’re shivering.”
“…right.”
“Wrap this blanket around you. I’m going to throw this in the drier…better?”
“Yes…”
“Good. You look really pale. When’s the last time you ate?”
“…not sure.”
“Hey, look at me. …You look exhausted.”
“Can I crash on your couch?”
“You really should eat first.”
“I can’t…not right now.”
“Then get some sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Please don’t leave.”
“Shhh I’m not. I’ll be right here.”
“What was that?”
“What was what?”
“What hit me?”
“The floor.”
“Why was the floor up there?”
“Because you passed the fu-. Hold on. What did you just say to me?”
“How’d the floor get up there…with my head?”
“Wow. You really did hit hard.”
“You saw me get hit?”
“No I heard you get hit. I mean do the hitting.”
“What?”
“You passed out, bro. Are you listening to me?”
“Why?”
“Because I know what I’m talking about sometimes.”
“No, I mean why did I pass out?”
“I don’t know.”
“Am I okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is that my blood?”
“I. Don’t. Know. I don’t know how to do this! You always take care of me! …Actually I do know that one. Yeah, that’s your blood.”
“Your…hands are shaking.”
“Yeah well. Adrenaline.”
“I don’t feel good.”
“I can hear the ambulance. Should be hear soon.”
“I really don’t feel good.”
“Me neither.”
“I’m gonna throw up.”
“No. No. Do not. You wait for that ambulance.”
“Why am I on the ground?”
“I don’t know. Looked like a seizure or something.”
“I’ve never had a seizure.”
“I know. Which is why I’m freaked out. Do you ever stop talking? I’m about to knock you out again.”
“Marry me.”
“Ooookay now I know you’re delirious.”
“I’m not. No really, listen. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Yeah but I really, really love you and when I get out of this place I’m gonna marry you.”
“How about you just focus on getting better first?”
“I won’t be in this hospital forever. They’re going to let me go soon.”
“You’re really sick.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do. You need to rest.”
“I sleep 20 hours a day. I want to talk to you.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just really freaked out lately with all this… and I miss you.”
“I’m here. I’m delirious. But I’m here.”
“You almost left.”
“I’d never do that. I’m gonna marry you. Remember?”
“I remember.”
“My face…feels heavy…”
“Rest. Don’t fight it.”
“Okay…I love you.”
“I know.”
“We’re getting married…”
“…I know.”
“Okay, now I’m really worried about you.”
“I told you I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie to me. You’ve been getting paler and paler this whole trial and now you just asked for a recess?? That’s not like you!”
“I just need to sit.”
“Okay, here. Let me help you. Now what’s going on?”
“I can’t shake this dizzy feeling. My heart’s pounding.”
“You’re sweating.”
“I have to finish this trial. This case is important.”
“Not this important. Someone else can step in for you.”
“I’m not going home.”
“I agree. We need to get you to the ER.”
“My chest- Can’t catch my- Breath-.”
“I’m calling an ambulance.”
“I’m gonna lie down.”
“Hang in there. They’re coming.”
“Hey…you okay?”
“Yeah I just…had to get that mask off.”
“Why are you breathing so hard?”
“I don’t know I don’t know. I can’t catch my breath. I’m freaking out.”
“You probably just got too hot. There’s a ton of people in there.”
“I don’t know. This has never happened before.”
“It’s alright. Just focus on taking deep breaths. I’ll stay here with you. Actually why don’t we sit you down. You’re starting to look pretty pale.”
“I feel like I’m gonna be sick.”
“Try to put your head down between your knees like this. How does that feel?”
“Bit better.”
“Good. Stay just like that. I’m going to grab you a water. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“You good?”
“Mhmm.”
“You sure? Because I can pull over.”
“No. I’m good. I’m good. Keep driving.”
“Please don’t puke in my car.”
“I’m not. Just drive.”
“….pulling over pulling over pulling over wait wait wait wait wait.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t puke in the car.”
“Yeah, but it was close.”
“Yeah, well next time maybe listen to me. I’m a nurse. I know when someone’s about to puke on me…or my car.”
“Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I’ve never seen you put your head down on your desk before.”
“Oh. Well I’m okay. Really.”
“Are you sure? You look really pale.”
“Yeah I’m just not feeling great.”
“You feel warm. Maybe you should go home.”
“I can’t. I’ve got so much to do.”
“You’ve been doing too much lately. You’ve got to start taking care of yourself.”
“I know. I know. I’m just terrible at it.”
“Let me drive you home.”
“I don’t know…”
“Please. Let me drive you home.”
