"This is Pam, Pam Beesly and she almost drowned not long ago." Jim stated to the triage nurse when they arrived at the ER "Her head was bleeding, she wasn't breathing, and I think she has a concussion. She wants to go to sleep, but I won't let her."
"Sir, calm down and let's get you over to registration so they can get all your information."
"What? No you don't understand she was really hurt. She almost died and she has injuries and I can't keep her awake anymore."
"She looks awake to me. Miss, can you tell me your name and what today is?"
"I'm Pam Beesly and today is Friday June 6th. My head does hurt, but I can stay awake."
"Ok well this is Darla and she will get you registered and we will see you as soon as we can."
Jim watched as the nurse walked away and felt a sudden surge of anger. Pam was hurt and they wanted her to register before they could see her. He would have given them all the information they wanted while they took care of Pam. He sat quietly listening as Pam gave Darla her insurance card and personal information. When she was done he helped her to a seat in the waiting room and sat nervously watching other sick and injured people file in.
"See if someone would have called an ambulance you would have been seen right away" Jim said as he watched an elderly man be wheeled to an examine room by EMT's "That guy looks perfectly fine to me."
"Jim he looks like he's eighty and he's holding his chest. He's probably having a heart attack for God's sake. I think he is priority over small head injury. In fact I think I could probably go home and just go to my doctor on Monday morning."
"Are you crazy? You almost died and I may have broken your ribs. How do you know your head isn't really damaged either?"
"Pam Beesly." The triage nurse called from the waiting room doorway. Pam was thankful that she didn't have to answer Jim's questions.
The examine room was cold and sterile. Pam hated sitting on the edge of the bed in a hospital gown being looked over by people she didn't know. All she wanted to do was go home and get some sleep. She felt like an idiot for slipping on the rocks and was getting tired of repeating the parts she remembered to the hospital staff. Most of all she was worried about Jim who had said little since they had entered the examine room. He had told the triage nurse everything he knew about the incident and had repeated the story twice for the other nurse and the doctor. Pam could tell that he was uncomfortable speaking about it and that each time he had repeated it he had been quieter and more sullen.
Jim was playing with the ties of his swim trunks, avoiding Pam's eyes, but listening intently to everything the nurses and doctor were saying. He wasn't angry at Pam for her comment, he wasn't hurt either, just worried. He was worried that she didn't understand how injured she had been and worried that she wouldn't rest as much as she would need to. He hated seeing her pain.
"Your x-rays look fine Ms. Beesly and your lungs are clear and healthy." the doctor stated. "Your ribs are not broken but your sternum is bruised. It's not anything to worry about, it's just painful."
"How long will she be pain?"
"She will probably be sore for two to three days, but it will lessen each day and Motrin will help."
"What about her head? Are you going to scan it and make sure everything is normal?"
"You do have a mild concussion, but I don't think an MRI is necessary. I am prescribing an antibiotic for you because you inhaled some dirty lake water. Otherwise you are fine to go home and I will see you in my office on Thursday for a follow-up."
"She is ok to go home? Are you sure you don't want to keep her and monitor her? She nearly died, don't they keep people to make sure nothing else goes wrong?"
"No Mr. Halpert, there is no need to keep her overnight. The threat to her life has passed and she will do fine with some rest. Besides, I'm sure you will be watching her close enough."
Pam and the nurse convinced Jim that she could walk to the car on her own. She fell asleep almost immediately. Jim was glad because he didn't want her to see him crying, because he just couldn't help it anymore. The tears were silently falling all over the steering wheel and his hands were shaking. He had almost lost her and wasn't sure he could ever get that thought out of his.
"I'm so sorry Pam" he whispered as her stroked he arm.
