Nurse Judy watched with a scrutinizing gaze as Maureen hooked up the dialysis machine. It hurt Maureen to see Joanne wince in pain as she eased the tube inside her. Nurse Judy gave Maureen a satisfied nod.
"You've got it," she said before grabbing her medical kit. Maureen spun around.
"Wait, where are you going? You can't leave!" she cried.
"I have to get clear across town to see another patient. You have my beeper number if you need anything. You'll do fine." Nurse Judy shook Joanne's hand and left.
Once Nurse Judy was gone, Maureen pulled on a white mask over her nose and mouth and crawled into bed next to Joanne. Joanne entwined her fingers with Maureen's.
"Do you need anything, Pookie?" Maureen asked. Joanne shook her head. She kissed the back of Maureen's hand softly.
"No, I'm fine. You go to bed, you look pretty tired." Maureen set a timer next to her head so she could get up and take care of Joanne in a few hours.
The timer went off, shattering Maureen's light sleep. Maureen quickly turned off the timer so it wouldn't wake Joanne. Maureen crawled out of bed and turned on the dim light next to the bed. Joanne moaned softly but remained fast asleep. Maureen's hands worked quickly to unhook the dialysis machine. Once she was done, she turned off the lights and crawled back into bed. She felt Joanne roll over and drape her arms over her waist.
Maureen was curled up on the Lazy-Boy with a magazine in front of her. Joanne was on the couch trying to get some work done. The phone rang in the kitchen.
"I'll get it," Maureen said as she leapt to her feet before Joanne even had a chance to open her mouth. Maureen rushed to the kitchen and grabbed the phone. Joanne went back to her work. A few minutes later, Maureen returned to the family room and rested her head in Joanne's lap.
"Who called?" Joanne asked as she stroked Maureen's hair.
"Mimi; she wanted to go shopping tomorrow," Maureen replied.
"Oh, that's nice of her. What time are you going?"
"I'm not."
"What? Why not?" Maureen sat up and rested her head on Joanne's shoulder. Joanne wrapped her arms around her.
"I want to be here with you." Joanne let out a sigh.
"I think that you should go. You've been here taking care of me, you deserve a break." Maureen shook her head. She only wanted to be with Joanne.
Once Maureen had hooked Joanne up to her dialysis machine, she went out to the other room. She grabbed a pad of paper and made a list of Joanne's medications that needed to be refilled. Maureen glanced at the digital clock on the microwave. It was only ten o'clock. Maureen knew that she had to stay up for a few more hours. Her days were starting to become longer and more draining; both emotionally and physically.
Two hours later, Maureen unhooked the dialysis machine. She grabbed a small glass vial and a syringe off the nightstand and filled up the syringe. Maureen gently woke Joanne up.
"Pookie, I'm giving you your shot, okay?" she asked. Joanne nodded sleepily. Maureen carefully eased the needle into Joanne's arm, marking her perfect mocha skin. Joanne winced ever so slightly. Maureen injected the medicine and tossed the unused needle into the biohazard box in the far corner. She kissed Joanne's cheek softly and went to bed herself for a few hours.