APOV
"Hi there" the nurse at the desk greeted me.
"Hi' replied.
"Come with me and I will show you what you will be doing today." The nurse said as she walked around the desk.
"Ok" I said.
We walked over to a cart of book and looked up at her in confusion.
"I'm going to have you read to one of our coma patients today" she explained.
"Sounds good" I replied.
"Studies show that people in comas can hear when people speak to them" She continued.
"Really" I asked.
"Yes, now let me tell you a little bit about this patient" She said as we stopped in front of a door.
"Alright" I replied.
"This young man was brought in during the 9/11 attacks, he appeared to have been hit with something, most likely flying debris from the wreckage. It caused swelling in his brain and lead to a coma. The swelling has gone down which is good, the doctors are hopeful that he will wake up soon. Of course there is still a chance that he might not wake up at all, but right now things look good so we are trying to stay positive."
"That awful" I said and fought back tears as I thought of Tyler.
"Are you alright" the nurse asked as she noticed my tears.
"Yes, my boyfriend died in the attacks so it hits close to home" I explained.
"I'm so sorry" she said sympathetically "I can assign you something else if this is too much."
"No it's fine" I said gathering myself "I want to do this."
"Good" She said and smiled "I have soft spot for this patient as he was brought in with no ID and is therefore a John Doe. I am really the only visitor he gets besides the doctor who comes to check on him."
With that she opened the door lead me into the room.
I looked at the young man in the bed and my book dropped to the floor with a resonating thud.
Last one for today