FATE ON A HOSPITAL BED
So, there I am, the nurse, and Mrs. Chambers sweeps in with her usual dramatic flair, tossing a shopping bag onto the bed with enough attitude to startle her poor husband. “You look after him, will you? I can’t even bring myself to come nearlet alone feed him with a spoon,” she huffed, barely meeting my eye.
I laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Honestly, there’s no need to fret! Mr. Chambers will be back on his feet before you know it. He just needs proper care at the moment. Ill help Daniel get through this,” I said, hoping to calm her nerves like Id done for so many others.
Daniel had been brought in in a right state, but the prognosis was hopefulhe wanted to live, and thats already half the battle. I always found it a shame that Mrs. Chambersher names Jenniferhad no faith in medicine at all. She almost seemed to have given up on him entirely, which broke my heart a bit.
Funny how things come full circle, thoughyears later, Daniel and Jennifers son, Harry, would come down with the same dreadful illness. Same story: Jennifer gave up on him before the fight even began. But Harry pulled throughresilient as you like.
Back then, Daniel tried to keep his spirits up, always cracking jokes, determined to make his stay at the chest clinic as brief as possible. He was from a rural town without anything close to a specialist hospital, which meant Jennifer rarely made the trip to see him. The poor man looked so neglectedhair a mess, ill-fitting old jumper, nothing but battered shoes on his feet.
“Daniel, would you mind if I brought in a few bits and bobs for you?” I teased him one day. “You havent got so much as a proper pair of slippers! Honestly, youll catch your death traipsing about in those shoes. Fancy a care package from me?”
“If its from you, Rose, you could deliver poison as medicine and Id still take it gladly,” he smiled, squeezing my hand gently. “But honestly, theres no needjust let me get well, and well see…”
I slipped my hand away and excused myself, heart fluttering, thinkingam I falling for him? Thats madness. He has a family. Thats not right. But, you know, your hearts stubborn; it doesnt listen to reason. Headlong into the storm, as they say…
I found myself visiting Daniels bedside more and more, sitting for ages just chatting. Those long nights on shift bring out the confessions, dont they? It was easy, comfortable, our friendship slipping into something more tender. Soon enough, we were on first name terms and laughing like old friends.
Hed talk about Harry, his five-year-old, with such pride. “Harry is the image of his beautiful mum,” he said. “Rose, I really loved Jennifer, honestly. Did everything for herlaid the world at her feet. Shes a passionate woman, intense, and in bedwell, full of fire. But she only ever loves herself. Her selfishness, it just eats away at you, you know? So here you are, looking after me, and Im just some stranger to you.” Daniels sigh was heavy.
Trying to stick up for Jennifer, I said, “Its a long journey for her, Dan. You cant blame her for not popping in all the time.”
“Oh, come off it, Rose! They say a wife who loves her husband will visit him even if hes locked away. Shes managed to find her way to her lovers door often enough, further than a trip here, from what I hear.” Dans tone turned sharp.
“Get some rest, Dan. Dont do anything rash. Things will work out, they always do,” I assured him, flicking off the light and slipping from the room.
He truly suffered for it allthe poor man, stuck in that hospital bed while Jennifer entertained herself who knows where. Nothing fatal about it, but as they say, sometimes the smallest thing can tip the balance in your life.
A week later, I heard shouting from Daniels room and dashed in. “I never want to see you here again, you wretch! Get outNOW!” he was yelling at Jennifer, who scarpered from the room like a shot.
“What happened?” I asked, shocked.
Daniel just turned to the wall, body shaking under the blanket. I ended up giving him a sedative to calm him down.
A month slipped by. Jennifer hadnt shown her face since. “Daniel, should I call your wife? Maybe shed like to know how youre doing?” I tried delicately.
“No need, Rose. Were getting a divorce,” he said, voice steady.
“Because of the illness? Thats ridiculousyoure recovering!”
“Remember when I threw Jennifer out the other week? Shed come here to tell me all about her new man. She said hell be moving into our houseits all up in the air with me, so she says she needs a man around to fix things. Roofs leaking, apparently…” He trailed off, grimacing.
“Absolutely dreadful,” was all I could manage.
To make matters worse, Jennifer soon showed up with some chap in tow. Daniel never saw him, but from the nurse’s station window, I did. He sat on the hospital bench out front, chain-smoking, waiting for her. Eventually she came out, giggled, kissed his cheek, and the two of them vanished together.
“Dan, youre being discharged!” I told him, feeling it was news worth celebrating.
“Rose, can I ask you something? Oractually, perhaps not,” he hesitated, lost.
“Ask away. Ill say yes, if thats what you mean. Did I get it right?” I found myself boldly going for it.
“Rose,” Dan confessed, “I dont have anywhere to go. Could I stay with you? Everythings settled with Jennifershes already remarried.”
“Ive got a little one, you know,” I admitted. “If youre alright with that, maybe we could make a real home together.”
“A childs no trouble to me. I already love him,” he said, looking into my eyes. I melted right there, warm as toast.
And so time passedyears on years. Dan and I had two gorgeous kids, built a lovely family. Harry, Dans son, visits often with his wife and children. My daughter from before lives overseas. Truth be told, I never was marriedjust fell for the wrong fella when I was young. He promised me the world, but things just never took off. StillI dont regret a thing.
As for Jennifer, well, she married a few more times and had a son with some stranger passing through. Poor boy struggled with his mind his whole lifeshe never showed him much warmth, left him to his own devices. When Jennifer passed on, her lad ended up in a care home.
Dan and I are old fogies now, but honestlyour love shines brighter today than ever. We walk through life side by side, cherishing every look, every breath, every precious day were given.
