Intensive Care
“How you doing this fine morning darling girl?” the nurse asks with a seemingly Caribbean accent. She is not soft-spoken. In fact, the stagnant air of the ICU vibrates in the wake of her question. Each time she enters the room, pristine white sneakers pounding the dirty linoleum, she asks how I am doing. I don’t bother to answer and she never bothers to ask twice. A pair of thick reading glasses dangle from a chain around her neck. She only uses them to read the monitor or clipboard, raising them to her eyes with one hand then releasing them with a flourish so they fall with a distinct thud back onto her chest. Mom sits across from me at the far end of the room reading. She and the nurse have barely spoken a word to each other since I was admitted to the ICU three nights ago. They acknowledge each other with small nods and imperceptible glances.
The pain comes and goes in waves and the monitor gauges length and severity. The nurse checks in when the monitor detects a strong wave. Mom stops reading as she enters. She watches in silence as the nurse performs her various duties. I grip the side-rails and bite my bottom lip. Mom walks over to to the bed and wipes my forehead with a cool, damp towel while softly squeezing my hand.
“You mustn’t hold your breath darling-girl,” the nurse says as she reads the monitor. As the pain descends, mom kisses my forehead then lays the warmed towel on the bedside table with the others. She returns to her place on the chair to. The nurse circumvents the bed to retrieve the small pile of used towels that have gathered on the table. She leaves the room, returning a short time later with several fresh towels.
Through the window I see the swell of dark clouds. The ICU is now cast in shadow. The nurse walks over to where mom sits. She pulls gently on the chain dangling just above mom’s head. A small florescent lamp flickers on and a faint yellow glow surrounds them. Mom raises her head and their eyes meet as the nurse places a hand on her shoulder. I close my eyes and the monitor beeps loudly breaking our silence.
