PRESENT TENSE
Chapter Nine
Michelle woke Rose at three o’clock. After
slipping on a single sneaker, Rose followed Michelle out to the parking lot.
Workers were already fixing the downed power
lines, so it took about ten minutes to get out of the parking lot. The trip to
the hospital was faster than before, though, because a lot of the debris had
already been cleared. Although Southland had been hit hard, it was on more
stable ground than Masline, and the damage was considerably less.
They reached the hospital just before 3:30.
Rose hurried into the waiting room, arguing with Michelle the whole time.
"I’ll be back for you at four
o’clock."
"Four o’clock! That only gives me half
an hour! Make it 5:30."
"4:30."
"Who appointed you my mother? Five
o’clock."
"Fine. I’ll see you then. I’m going to
walk around and see what’s going on out there."
"Be careful."
"Yes, Mother."
Rose made a face at her and headed inside.
The shower, food, and rest had improved her disposition considerably, although
she was still terribly worried about Jack.
After waiting in line for a few minutes, Rose
was able to ask after him.
"He’s having some tests run right
now," the nurse told her, checking the now working computer. "You can
go up and see him in about ten minutes."
"Is he in the same room?"
The nurse checked. "Room 603."
"Right." Rose sat quietly for a few
minutes, then headed for the elevator.
She reached the room just as the doctor was
on his way out. He stopped, rubbing his eyes tiredly, trying to place her.
"Dr. Rodriguez? Has there been any
change?"
"You’re...Flora, right?"
"Rose."
"Rose." He pinched the bridge of
his nose. "I knew it had something to do with flowers. Yes, there has been
some change. The brain swelling is starting to go down."
"Is that good?"
"Definitely. We still can’t be sure
he’ll recover, but it is a step in the right direction."
"Has he shown any signs of waking
up?"
Dr. Rodriguez shook his head. "I’m afraid
not." He yawned.
"You should get some rest."
He shook his head. "Can’t. Not until
seven. Though at the moment, I’d gladly exchange places with your friend
there."
At Rose’s shocked look, he apologized.
"Sorry. Bad joke. I’ve been working since four o’clock yesterday
afternoon, and it’s never been so hectic. The earthquake and all. I think I’ll
find some coffee."
Rose stopped him. "Is there anything I
can do to help him?" She gestured to Jack.
He shook his head. "At this point, it’s
mostly a matter of waiting. About all you can do is be there for him, though he
probably won’t realize you’re there."
Rose nodded. "But the brain swelling is
going down…"
"We aren’t certain how much, if any,
brain damage there is, and his other injuries complicate matters a great
deal."
Rose nodded slowly. She hadn’t thought about
the possibility of brain damage. Depending upon it’s extent, it’s effects could
range from minor to severe. He could be fine, with few or no problems, or he could
wind up hopelessly crippled, either physically or mentally, or even wind up a
vegetable.
She shuddered, trying to squelch the thought
that he would be better off dead. Whatever happened, she would be there for
him. But she knew that he would hate to live as a mental cripple, unable to
care for himself or do the things he had once enjoyed. She thought that he was
strong enough to find a way to overcome any physical limitations these injuries
might bring, but it was much harder to overcome an injury of the mind.
Rose sighed, sitting down next to him. There
was no guarantee that he would ever wake up, and, despite the problems that
could arise, Rose desperately hoped that he would. Many people suffered head
injuries with no lasting effects. She had had one herself two weeks earlier. Of
course, she had only had a concussion, not a skull fracture, and she hadn’t
wound up in a coma. But even if there was brain damage, it might not be too
severe, and he might be able to learn to overcome it. She’d heard of people
who’d had severe strokes or who had been shot in the head who had still managed
to recover, for the most part.
Reaching for Jack’s hand, Rose stroked it
gently, trying to convey to him that she was there. She had no idea if he could
perceive things going on outside himself, but she had to try. Squeezing his
hand, she spoke softly, quietly, telling him about the things going on around
them, about Cal’s arrest, about Trudy’s death, about Mari and the jimsonweed,
even about the folk music she was learning to appreciate. Anything and
everything that she could think of.
After a while, Rose fell silent. Looking at
him, she could see that someone had cleaned him up. When she had been there
that morning, his face had been almost as dirty as hers, and had been prickly
with a day’s growth of beard. Someone had bathed him and shaved him, working
around the various equipment he was hooked up to and the bruises and contusions
that covered his face and body.
Gently, Rose put her hand to his face.
"I love you, Jack," she whispered, hoping that somehow he knew what
she was saying. Holding his hand in both of hers, she tried to convey her love
for him, and her hope that he would recover.
Propping up her foot, Rose settled back,
maintaining her vigil, praying that he would recover. For the next hour, until
Michelle returned for her, Rose held Jack’s hand, occasionally speaking quietly
to him, other times trying to transfer her own energy to him, trying to heal
him. But Jack never stirred.
Michelle finally returned at 5:30. Lugging
four plastic convenience store bags, she made her way into the room.
"Rose."
Rose looked up, still holding Jack’s hand.
"How is he?"
"Dr. Rodriguez said the brain swelling
is going down, but they still don’t know what his chances are."
"He hasn’t woken up?"
Rose shook her head. "No." She
thought for a moment. "I want to stay here, with him. You go on
back."
"Uh-uh. You’re coming with me."
"Why do you keep doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Telling me what to do."
"Because you’re my friend, and I know
you well enough to know that when you get something on your mind, you won’t let
go of it until it’s resolved. Who knows how long it will be until anything
happens with him? You still look exhausted, and you need to eat and care for
your injuries, and let the doctors and nurses take care of Jack. You won’t help
him by hurting yourself, and I’ve got a bunch of things that can be put to good
use back in the dorm."
"Where did you get all that,
anyway?"
"I helped a convenience store owner
clean up broken glass and fallen shelves. He gave me a bunch of stuff in
return. I’ve got food—beef jerky, chips, canned fruit, candy, soda—even some
cookies."
"Health food," Rose replied, a
little sarcastically.
"High energy food, which is what people
need at times like this. I’ve also got some first aid supplies—clean bandages
for you and Mari, hydrogen peroxide, multi-vitamin supplements, Band-Aids, and
some Tylenol. No more disinfecting wounds with mouthwash."
Rose half-smiled at this; she had already discovered
that mouthwash on stitches stung badly. But she still didn’t want to leave
Jack.
"I’ll bring you back here at eight
o’clock tomorrow," Michelle promised her, "and you can get the
hospital to call you if anything happens."
Rose finally nodded reluctantly; she was
tired, and she couldn’t help Jack by sitting there and wearing herself out.
"All right." She got up, leaning on
her crutches, and kissed Jack good-bye, promising him that she would be back.