"I'm sorry Bos," Faith apologized.
"What?" I asked. Having been lost in my own thoughts, I hadn't realized Faith was still there.
"I said I'm sorry," she repeated. "Some friend I turned out to be. Here you are worried about your ma and instead of being here for you, I fall asleep."
"That's okay," I told her. "You should go home Faith. Fred's probably wondering where you are anyway."
"Bosco, let me worry about Fred," Faith replied. "Besides you shouldn't be alone right now. Why don't we."
Seeing the ma's doctor approaching, Faith didn't finish her thought.
"How's ma?" I asked not being able to read his face.
"She's in CICU," he answered. "For now, she's holding her own."
"Can I see her?" I asked.
"Just for a few minutes," he answered. We followed the doctor down several halls. As we walked, Faith took hold of my hand. I glanced in her direction, appreciating her for being there with me. Somewhere during the past hours, I was feeling like that little kid again, hiding in the closet listening to my father beat ma. As much as I needed to see her, I was afraid of what would greet me when that closet door was opened..
It was worse than I expected. Machines.tubes.monitors. I took a deep breath, trying to rid my throat of the lump that had developed there. I swallowed hard, forcing away the tears that were trying to form in my eyes.
Taking ma's hand, I started to talk to her as a nurse entered the room. I watched her reading the monitors, making notes on ma's chart. She gave me a smile as if to reassure me. After she left, I talked to ma, not really knowing what to say. I hadn't said much when the doctor appeared in the doorway. My few minutes were up. I left the room, finding Faith sitting outside.
"You should go," I told her once again. I could tell by the look on her face that wasn't going to happen.
"Bosco, I don't think you should be alone right now," she argued.
"Faith, I'll be alright," I said, trying to persuade her to go home and get some sleep.
"You will huh?" she said with that look in her eyes. "Tell me one thing. When did you eat last?"
I didn't answer her. Didn't matter cause she already knew the answer to the question. We'd only been on duty for a couple hours when we got the call to report to Angel of Mercy. The last time I'd eaten was lunch before coming on duty.
"Listen, why don't we head on down to the cafeteria and get something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," I tried to tell her.
"Here's the deal," she started to explain. "We go downstairs and get something to eat and then I'll go home and get some sleep."
"I really not hungry Faith," I repeated.
"Okay," she agreed. "I'm not really tired either so why don't I just sit with you a while longer."
I had to laugh. I think Faith's worked with me for too long. Sometimes she acts just like me.
"Come on," she said with a smile on her face. "I'll let you buy me a coke."
"What?" I asked. Having been lost in my own thoughts, I hadn't realized Faith was still there.
"I said I'm sorry," she repeated. "Some friend I turned out to be. Here you are worried about your ma and instead of being here for you, I fall asleep."
"That's okay," I told her. "You should go home Faith. Fred's probably wondering where you are anyway."
"Bosco, let me worry about Fred," Faith replied. "Besides you shouldn't be alone right now. Why don't we."
Seeing the ma's doctor approaching, Faith didn't finish her thought.
"How's ma?" I asked not being able to read his face.
"She's in CICU," he answered. "For now, she's holding her own."
"Can I see her?" I asked.
"Just for a few minutes," he answered. We followed the doctor down several halls. As we walked, Faith took hold of my hand. I glanced in her direction, appreciating her for being there with me. Somewhere during the past hours, I was feeling like that little kid again, hiding in the closet listening to my father beat ma. As much as I needed to see her, I was afraid of what would greet me when that closet door was opened..
It was worse than I expected. Machines.tubes.monitors. I took a deep breath, trying to rid my throat of the lump that had developed there. I swallowed hard, forcing away the tears that were trying to form in my eyes.
Taking ma's hand, I started to talk to her as a nurse entered the room. I watched her reading the monitors, making notes on ma's chart. She gave me a smile as if to reassure me. After she left, I talked to ma, not really knowing what to say. I hadn't said much when the doctor appeared in the doorway. My few minutes were up. I left the room, finding Faith sitting outside.
"You should go," I told her once again. I could tell by the look on her face that wasn't going to happen.
"Bosco, I don't think you should be alone right now," she argued.
"Faith, I'll be alright," I said, trying to persuade her to go home and get some sleep.
"You will huh?" she said with that look in her eyes. "Tell me one thing. When did you eat last?"
I didn't answer her. Didn't matter cause she already knew the answer to the question. We'd only been on duty for a couple hours when we got the call to report to Angel of Mercy. The last time I'd eaten was lunch before coming on duty.
"Listen, why don't we head on down to the cafeteria and get something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," I tried to tell her.
"Here's the deal," she started to explain. "We go downstairs and get something to eat and then I'll go home and get some sleep."
"I really not hungry Faith," I repeated.
"Okay," she agreed. "I'm not really tired either so why don't I just sit with you a while longer."
I had to laugh. I think Faith's worked with me for too long. Sometimes she acts just like me.
"Come on," she said with a smile on her face. "I'll let you buy me a coke."