Hospital awakening

The sterile scent of antiseptic permeated the air, a stark contrast to the lingering sensory overload from Randy’s embrace. My eyelids fluttered open, struggling against a persistent haze. The fluorescent lights above cast a harsh, unwavering glare on the pristine white ceiling, a far cry from the familiar comfort of my living room. A low, rhythmic hum of medical machinery filled the quiet space, a constant reminder of my disoriented state. My vision slowly cleared, the blurry edges sharpening, and the first face I truly registered, leaning over me, his brow furrowed with palpable concern, was Darnell.

"Deppgrl? Can you hear me?" His voice was a soft, urgent murmur, his hand gently squeezing mine.

I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my mind. "Darnell?" My voice was weak, barely a whisper. "What... what happened?"

He offered a small, reassuring smile, though the worry didn't quite leave his eyes. "You're in the hospital. You collapsed at your place. Matteo called emergency services."

My mind reeled, a jumble of fragmented memories: Randy, the long drive home, the unexpected sight of Matteo on my porch, the sharp sting across his cheek, his slumped shoulders as he turned to leave, then the sudden, dizzying darkness. "Matteo?" I murmured, the name feeling foreign on my tongue. "He called?"

Darnell nodded, his gaze unwavering. "He did – he said you just went down. When I heard your address come over the scanner, I came speeding over. I'd hoped to get there before the paramedics." He squeezed my hand again, a silent confirmation of his concern. "How are you feeling now?"

A wave of exhaustion, deep and profound, washed over me at his words, acknowledging the truth of it. I shifted slightly, wincing at a lingering ache in my head. "Who's my ER physician?" I rasped, trying to sit up slightly.

Darnell's hand pressed gently to my shoulder, urging me back down. "That would be Dr. Jones," he explained, his voice calm. "Do you remember her?" He continued, "The full test results aren't back yet, but the preliminary assessment points to extreme exhaustion and dehydration. You’ve truly been pushing yourself lately."

Then, another thought surfaced, cutting through the haze. "Jessica," I whispered, my voice laced with apprehension. "Have you... have you talked to Jessica lately? Is she okay?"

Darnell's expression tightened almost imperceptibly, a shadow crossing his features. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We're barely speaking, honestly," he admitted, his voice low. "It's... still very tense between us. But she promised me she wouldn’t out me. She gave her word." His gaze met mine, a silent plea for me to believe him. The reassurance, however fragile, offered a small measure of relief.

Just then, a crisp knock sounded on the doorframe, and Dr. Maddie Jones stepped into the room. Her dark hair was pulled back efficiently, her presence radiating a quiet authority. She held a clipboard, her gaze briefly acknowledging Darnell before settling on me.

"Hey, Deppgrl," Dr. Jones said, her tone calm and steady. "I have your preliminary results." She then turned her attention to Darnell, a polite but firm smile on her face. "Darnell, if you wouldn't mind, I need to have a private conversation with my patient for a few moments."

Darnell's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he nodded. He squeezed my hand one last time. "I'll be right outside," he promised, giving Dr. Jones a curt nod before stepping out and closing the privacy curtain behind him. He then stood sentinel near the doorless doorframe.

Dr. Jones approached my bed, her eyes assessing. "Alright, Deppgrl," she began, her voice softening slightly now that we were alone. "First, and I imagine this will be a considerable relief: you are definitively not pregnant."

A profound wave of relief washed over me, so potent it almost brought tears to my eyes. A shaky breath escaped my lips. "Thank God," I murmured, the words barely audible.

She offered a small, understanding smile. "Now, there's something else I need to discuss, related to your current health and, frankly, your overall well-being." She paused, her gaze direct. "It's been close to three months since the last time you received a Depo-Provera shot. I'm sure you recall our previous encounter regarding that. At that time, it was administered without your explicit consent, which was a serious breach of protocol. I want to assure you that such a lapse will not occur again under my watch, or anyone else's. However, given the nature of your collapse, and what appears to be a highly active sexual life, I need to ask if you would be willing to consent to the shot now. It's a highly effective form of birth control, as you know, and you wouldn’t have to remember to take a pill every day. It could alleviate a layer of stress for you."

I met her gaze, the bluntness of her words softened by the clear intent behind them. The thought of adding another layer of potential complication to my already chaotic life was appealing. "Yes," I said, my voice firmer than before.

She nodded, a subtle approval in her eyes. "Very well. We'll arrange for that shortly. Beyond that, the primary findings corroborate what Darnell mentioned: significant dehydration and extreme exhaustion. Your body is clearly under immense stress. You need considerable rest, and frankly, you need to take substantial time off from whatever has been driving you to this point."

I managed a weak, ironic chuckle, the sound feeling hollow in the sterile room. "Time off?" I rasped, shaking my head slightly. "Dr. Jones, I just had time off. I was away for two weeks... on a beach."

Dr. Jones simply raised an eyebrow, a hint of something knowing in her expression. "Perhaps," she said gently, "it wasn't the right kind of time off for true recovery. We'll keep you here for observation for a day or so, get some fluids into you intravenously, and then we need to discuss a comprehensive plan for genuine rest and stress management."

"Understood, Doctor," I sighed, the exhaustion pressing down on me once more. "I'll try to heed your advice."

Dr. Jones offered a small, encouraging smile. "It will take more than casual effort, my friend, but we'll get you started on another IV drip, and then I strongly urge you to rest. I know the environment here is far from ideal for that."

She departed, and shortly after, my favorite nurse, Max, entered with another IV bag of fluids. As he efficiently switched the bags, he offered a gentle, yet firm, reminder that I needed to prioritize my well-being. I offered a slight, wry smile and a nod, acknowledging his concern, promising to try. Once he was done, he left.

Darnell stood sentinel near the doorless frame, a silent figure ensuring no one intruded. I offered a faint, dry amusement in my voice. "You're wrong there, Darnell. Only you and Matteo knew I was here."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're wrong about that. Bob knows, Kay knows, Randy knows, and Vince knows." He then urged me gently, "Just try to rest now, Deppgrl."

Thankfully, the quiet and the continuous flow of fluids allowed me to drift into a few hours of much-needed sleep. When I woke, Darnell was slumped asleep in an uncomfortable hospital chair beside my bed. A few minutes later, Dr. Jones and Max walked in; Max carried a syringe and a vial with him, ensuring I saw it was the Depo injection. As he prepared the syringe, Dr. Jones inquired about my well-being.

"Significantly better," I affirmed, my voice stronger. "I can't believe how long I slept."

"That's excellent news," she said, a genuine warmth in her tone. "While you were sleeping, you finished the second IV bag, and we've since switched them twice more. Think you're up to getting out of bed, walking around, and making your way to the restroom?"

"Good heavens!" I exclaimed, a genuine laugh escaping me. "I must have been severely dehydrated. Yes, I can certainly get up and move. The restroom sounds like an immediate priority!"

Dr. Jones laughed heartily. Once Max had administered the Depo injection, he carefully removed the IV connection from my arm and helped me steadily to my feet. Once I was comfortable and stable, I made my way to the bathroom.

Upon my return, Dr. Jones informed me that given my improved mobility and successful trip to the restroom, she no longer felt the need to keep me for extended observation. I felt a surge of genuine relief and happiness. I gently roused Darnell, who blinked awake, startled.

"Hey," he said, shaking the sleep from his head. "Looks like you're good to go."

As Dr. Jones gathered my discharge papers and I got dressed, I asked, "So, what's the plan for getting home?"

"I've already texted Randy and Vince," Darnell replied, pulling his phone from his pocket. "They've been having a bit of a debate at Randy's place over who's going to pick you up. I think they've sorted it out."

Once I was dressed and ready, Darnell escorted me to the hospital entrance to meet my ride.