Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
I drag my heavy feet toward her bed. “I’m not worried about the dishes.”
“What about Harry Pawter?”
“I called my brother. He’s getting him checked out.”
She swallows slowly, and her tired eyes gloss over with unshed tears.
“He’s going to be fine.” I rest my hand on her bandaged arm like it could break if I press too hard.
“It’s not …” She sniffles.
“It’s not what?”
“Nothing.” She draws in a shaky breath, trying to chase away the emotion.
Before I can say anything, a nurse comes into the room, a little too happy for my taste given the situation. Suzanne always had the overly cheery nurses as well.
“Hi, Emersyn. I’m going to draw some blood, then you’ll go for an MRI.”
“No,” Emersyn blurts out so quickly it wipes Happy Nurse’s smile right off her face. “Just … it’s expensive. And I don’t need it. You know I have epilepsy. What do you expect to find?”
The nurse glances at me, and Emersyn follows her gaze to me as well.
“Oh, I can step outside for few minutes,” I say.
The nurse returns her attention to Emersyn, waiting for her to give the final say as to whether I should stay or go.
“I’ll go.” I offer my own synthetic smile and nod toward the exit. “I might grab something to drink. I’ll be right back.”
Emersyn won’t look at me, and I don’t wait for her to say anything.
After grabbing a sports drink from the cafeteria, I make my way back to her room, slowing my steps as I approach the desk where Happy Nurse talks to another nurse.
“She doesn’t have insurance. She hasn’t seen her doctor in six months, and she wants to check out today.”
The other nurse frowns. “The system is broken.”
“Yeah, but she needs to have her medications adjusted.”
“But if she can’t afford it …”
“I’m going to have someone see if she qualifies for any sort of assistance.”
They glance in my direction as I pass the desk. I keep my head down as if I wasn’t eavesdropping. Then I stop because … Suzanne won’t keep quiet today.
Do it.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Emersyn
What is the saying about squeezing blood from a turnip? That’s me at the moment. I never envisioned my life taking up residence in the crapper of life, not that anyone does. I made a conscious effort to do things better than my mom. Be a better person. Make better decisions. And even now, I’m not sure what I did wrong. Living with intention can’t outweigh sheer luck—or lack thereof.
“I heard you’re checking out tonight,” Zach says as he saunters into the room, wearing a reserved smile and clutching a red sports drink.
“I’m fine. And I think they’re fine with it too, since I don’t have an insurance company paying for the inflated fees and unnecessary tests. And let me tell you … as a repeat offender of seizures, I know just how criminal the price of everything is in the hospital. Seventy-five dollars for a warm blanket. No joke. Insurance or not, people should be upset and revolt.”
Zach digests my words with his eyes narrowed a fraction and lips rolled together. “I’m concerned about you.”
“Because I sound like a conspiracy theorist?”
“No.” He chuckles. “I talked with the nurse. She said you shouldn’t drive again until you’ve gone six months without having a seizure. Have you thought about that?”
My gaze angles toward the window. “I just need a different medication or dose or something.”
“Then let’s have your doctor decide what you need.”
“Cha-ching.” I laugh at his expensive idea. They just spent the afternoon removing glass from my body. I can only imagine how much that bill will be.
“I’ll pay for it,” he says.
“No. It’s not your problem. We’re not talking about a fifty-dollar loan. There’s a reason why people need insurance—because without it, you can’t afford to be sick. But … stupid me. I had to be a fucking epileptic.”
Zach shakes his head, quickly stifling his amusement. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at your situation. I just…” he fists his hand at his mouth “…haven’t heard you swear like that before.”
“Gee, Zachary … so glad I could entertain you today.”
“Listen …” He clears his throat. “This isn’t sustainable. We need to figure something out for you.”
“We? It’s kind of you to take me into your home like the stray that I am, but my health and financial issues aren’t your burdens to bear.”
“I understand. Still … we can discuss it without me feeling burdened by you … which I do not.”
“Liar.” I narrow my eyes and he rolls his.
Then … we get the hell out of here.
Zach's eagerness to discuss my situation seems to fade before we ever get home. He’s quiet, distracted, and not the bossy guy from the hospital. Has reality sunk in? Is he tired of taking care of women who need constant care?
I refuse to be his burden. I’ll move back into my car before I let that happen. Suzie wanted me to make sure he moved forward. I’m hardly helping him move forward.