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“No, but I’d feel more comfortable if you had someone stay with you tonight.” She glanced at Judith, then back at me.
“I have someone,” I said.
“Me,” Judith said.
“Not you, actually. My friend can come over.” I could feel Judith bristle.
“Okay, then,” Delilah said. “What’s your friend’s name and phone number?”
“Hannah Grimaldi.” I recited the number.
“And she’s a responsible adult?”
“More or less.” I smiled, and Del smiled back.
“Are you seriously ending it with me?” Judith asked. “Here? In hospital? In front of this stranger?”
“Um…yes,” I said, and I swore I saw Del’s lips quirk in a smile. “We had some good times, though, and I’m glad to have met you, Judith.”
“Well, it appears I’ve been dismissed,” Judith said. “Ciao, Samantha.”
“Bye.” I watched her go, cape swirling dramatically. The door eased closed.
“I assume that’s your freshly dumped ex?” Del asked.
“Correct.”
“Ciao, huh?”
“Those artistic types,” I said. “You know how they are.”
“Well, good for you,” Del said. “Now, do you want me to call Hannah for you? I have your discharge papers.”
“I’ll call her. Thank you so much, Del. You were great.”
“Well, you were my favorite patient of the night,” she said. “Take care, and hope to see you again. I mean, not as a patient though. Just…bringing in a patient. As a first responder. Or just around town. You know.”
She blushed.
She blushed.
“Right,” she said, recovering her professional vibe. “I’ll leave you with these, and when your friend comes in, we’ll get you out of here. Very nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” I took the papers from her and shook her outstretched hand, which was warm and smooth. “Thanks again.” I liked her eyes. There was a lot of kindness there, a lot of intelligence.
Then she released my hand and left, and that was that.
I read the papers—the instructions written as simply as possible. You have sustained a HEAD WOUND REQUIRING CLOSURE WITH STAPLES. For the next twenty-four hours, you should have a RESPONSIBLE ADULT with you. If you experience NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIZZINESS, CHANGES IN VISION, OR CANNOT BE AWAKENED, call 911 and return to the Emergency Department IMMEDIATELY.
Del’s notes came next.
Chief Complaint: laceration of the forehead, left eyebrow.
The patient is a good-natured and otherwise very healthy member of the Stoningham fire department. About 30 minutes prior to arrival, the patient fell and hit her head at a Christmas party after struggling with her pants. To be fair, they were pleather.
I laughed out loud.
The rest of her report was standard…where my cut was, how long, how many staples, no recommendation for a CAT scan based on my mental status (alert and oriented x 3, ladies and gentlemen). She ended with instructions for me to return in ten days to get the staples removed.
