Mia heard shouting when she arrived at work. She and Tori glanced at each other and laughed. It shouldn't have been funny, but it was. The night shift girls rarely did their job the way they should, ignoring call lights all night until the last hour and it wasn't unusual for them to find residents who could no longer hold their bladders laying on wet sheets with only a dry protector pad and brief beneath them. And there was nothing that could be done about it because the nurses shrugged it off, telling them to come in early and make a round with the third shift. It sucked. The entire station needed to be evaluated and cleaned out. But they thought the new patient was dishing out exactly what some of the aides and nurses deserved. He refused all care, including his medicine. Rarely ate a meal. She knew he didn't eat anything during the day. And she hoped he did in the evening and she breathed a sigh of relief then that he wasn't put in one of her rooms. He had been there nearly two months and no one could do anything with him. Chelsea cursed him several times, but she had wanted it and soon she didn't even try. Just ignored the room all together, not even offering him his meals and she got away with it.
She had often been asked if she was related to the man because the shared a last name. She had taken Randy's last name when she moved, wanting a new identity only and that was the only way she could change her name without it costing a lot. She just shook her head. She didn't know any of Randy's family besides his mom and dad and if it had been his father, she was sure she would have seen Randy within the past sixty days. Then she would remember that he was in jail, because of her so of course she wouldn't see him, even if the man was related to him. Shortly after each inquisition she would shake away Randy's memory because it bothered her, knowing he was where he was because of her and she only wanted to focus on her new life. But she did wonder about the man, wondered if she would find similarities in his face. Wondered if he would be an older version of her former friend, but she was always too busy to take a peek and a little scared to be hit by whatever he could get his hands on. That day, the man's demeanor was worse. She was passing by, caught up and on her way to help Tori when she heard it.
The charge nurse had just told Chelsea that she had to try and get the new resident bathed because he was getting sores and the smell was terrible and could be smelled in the common room each time the door was opened. Chelsea then went into the room.
"I'm not dealing with this shit anymore." She overheard. "I'm not losing my damn job over you." She had gathered three aids to help her out and she could hear them whispering, but couldn't make out what they said. Then the door was closed. The next thing she heard was a loud thud and an aid was running out of the room, calling for help. The patient had shoved Chelsea. Hard and everyone was running into the room. There was a lot of screaming as the patient threw things, kicked and fought anyone who tried to restrain him. Whatever Chelsea had said to him last had really ticked him off. Tori came over and stood beside her and she quickly filled her in. Tori spit out a laugh even though they shouldn't, but they both knew how Chelsea bossed around her patients. The fighter that had come to her room hadn't given her any trouble so she knew it was Chelsea's approach that had been the problem. Soon the room was cleared and the old man was left alone.
Later that day, the charge nurse approached her. She was a sweet, older woman who didn't seem very far away from having her own room in a nursing home, but she had grown weary and a lot of things slipped past her.
"Mia, you seem to have a way with some of the difficult patients." and it was true. She had been able to calm down a few even when they weren't in her group. "Can you please go in to 401 and see if he will let you do anything for him."
"Okay." but she hadn't dealt with one so violent before and he had already been irritated. If nothing else, maybe she could at least get him to eat.
Randy had grown worse, so bad he couldn't stand himself. He hadn't meant to hurt the girl who cried holding her arm, claiming it was broken. But she just kept on and he wasn't going to be restrained. He really didn't like her. He disliked her more than any other aid because she tried to force him. Like he wasn't in his right mind at all.
He stared out the window. Wishing he could do more than lay in that bed. It was a beautiful day and he only wanted to be out there, sitting in the sun, but he couldn't get himself out of the bed and into the chair by himself and he was too proud to let anyone help him. No one understood how much he had lost. It wasn't the same for him as it was for the others. He had lost a lot more than they had. It was just another prison.
"Get out!" he said forcefully, but his voice was too hoarse to put anymore effort into it when he heard the door open. Then he heard it close and he thought whoever had opened it had decided not go any further. Usually, they tried to give him care, asking him at least once. It was quiet like he liked it. So he could think, or feel sorry for himself. Sometimes he could daydream, but even they made him angry because he couldn't do those things anymore. Like walk, date. Who would want a cripple?
Mia stared at the man who faced the window, his back to her. He was younger than she expected. She watched him for a moment and she was sure he thought she had left.
"You're only hurting yourself you know." she spoke softly, but differently than she would any other patient. He was her age, maybe a little older and she instantly knew he couldn't be approached the same way. She approached him carefully, sat down on the edge of the bed like she had done for many others and touched his shoulder. "You must be hungry. I can get a burger and chips if you don't like what they give you on the tray."
Randy breathed out slowly. He was having another hallucination. He knew someone was in there. Her approach was different, but he heard Mia. He knew that wasn't right, but for a moment, he closed his eyes, pretended the touch was hers. It felt wonderful especially as she began gently rubbing his arm.
"Just leave me alone." he said in a whisper.
"The nurse said you are starting to get sores. They must hurt." she softly reasoned.
"What do you care?"
"Okay, fine." Mia stood, put her hands on her hips. She would have to use a different approach. "But you shouldn't sit here in the dark feeling sorry for yourself. You should be thankful and enjoy what you still have."
He snorted. His arms came out from under the dirty blankets that covered him and she saw the tattoos. Those familiar tattoos.
"I have nothing to be thankful for! Just get out!" he screamed. But even though she knew he might sling her across the room, even strike her, she touched his cheek softly, turning him to face her. His eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"Mia?" She nodded, but she was confused. How did he get there? He was supposed to be in jail. She choked back her emotions, seeing the man who had been so strong laying so weak before her. He was only a shell of himself and it broke her heart. Without saying another word, she left to retrieve some towels, wash clothes and razors. She returned, placed them on his tray table, then went into is private bath for a basin of warm water. Randy watched her every move, but he didn't object. She sat down on the edge of the bed and gently washed his face, holding back the tears that wanted to fall. It was so hard, so hard to see him that way. Then she washed his chest. It was still toned and she remembered how wonderful it had felt to lay her head against it and listen to his beating heart.
"I can do that." his voice cracked. He gently held her hand, took away the cloth and she let him wash himself, turning away with her arms crossed as he did what he could. "I can't quiet reach my back." she turned to see him with a weak smile. An almost child like smile. She came back, warmed the cloth and he used his arms to pull himself to his side. She gently stroked his back, gently massaged it as she cleaned. He seemed to relish her touch, and she knew it felt good for him to be clean.
"You're bed needs to be changed." she spoke professionally.
"This is where you've been all this time?"
"Yes, I like it here." She told him as she changed the water. She picked up a new can of shaving cream that had never been opened, massaged it on his too thick beard. She was ready carve all that crap off of him. She wanted to see him. Needed to see him just to make sure he wasn't a figment of her imagination. "When did you get out?"
"Three months ago. This happened the night I got out. I guess the universe decided I hadn't paid my debt."
"Don't think like that Randy." Mia ordered softly. "Things like this just happen."
"do they Mia?" He took touched her cheek. "Everything happens for a reason. I thought I was being punished, but now – now I know." she knew what he meant.
"Randy, you ending up here doesn't have an underlying meaning. You and I – we were never meant to be." His hand dropped to his lap. He stared at her while she finished shaving him.
Chelsea's friend Brenda walked in and glared in disbelief with a hand on her hip, but Randy didn't care, he just kept staring at Mia while she made one last swipe with the razor, then gently wiped away the excess cream.
"Now, that looks better."
Brenda stood by fuming, her nose turned up in disgust.
"He's going to have to learn that he can't pick and choose who takes care of him." she snorted.
"I prefer non-bitches." Randy smarted off.
"Brenda, can you help me get him into his chair."
"What, no!"
"I have to change this bed and it would be easier if you weren't in it." Mia said sternly, but sweetly. "Besides, it would do you good to get up."
"I'm not going to get near him. Chelsea's arm is broken. I only came in here because they wanted me to make sure you weren't knocked out on the floor."
"I would never hurt her!" Randy said nodding his head at Mia.
"Then ask Tori to come help me." She spat. "Come on, Randy."
Randy felt like a child, but he let Mia guide him to the edge of the bed, using his upper body strength as much as he could. He didn't like appearing fragile in front of her. He was embarrassed that she knew how he had been acting. The aid named Tori seemed to be close with Mia and he made no fuss about her helping Mia lift him into the chair and he was shocked at how strong the two women were. He never thought Mia would actually be able to lift him off the bed.
"So, now what?" He groaned, with a little bitterness.
"I'm going to make your bed, then I'm going to clock out and go home." Mia informed him.
"What? No! You can't leave me now. You can't leave me again!"
"Again?" Tori raised an inquisitive eyebrow and Mia knew she was busted. Everything she had wanted to leave behind had found her.
