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As usual.
He hated the pins and needles sensation in his ankles and toes, especially because he couldn’t rub them. He hated the weakness in his muscles that had started in the lower half of his body and was spreading upward. He hated the paralysis that had reached the muscles controlling his breathing, because in the end, that would be what would kill him.
He fucking hated the fact that he knew what AIDP meant. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, just one of the forms Guillain-Barre took—or GB as he referred to it in his thoughts.
“Do you need anything?”
The male voice startled him, and Keith gave himself a mental shake. A nurse stood at the foot of the bed. Dark brown hair, hazel eyes, blue scrubs, the collar of a white tee snug against the base of his throat. A beard that clung to his jawline, not thick but dark. He was maybe in his mid-twenties.
Keith couldn’t help himself. “Santa sure works fast.”
Dark brows shot up, and the nurse cocked his head. “Excuse me?”
Lord, he was good looking.
Keith bit his lip. “Something Anna said earlier today.” He frowned. “Why haven’t I seen you before?”
The nurse came around the bed to stand beside him. “I started here today. And I only work nights.”
“I thought Lisa was the night nurse.”
“She is. But so am I.” He tapped his badge. “The name’s Yuri.”
“Welcome, Yuri.” Keith smiled. “You sure make the place look a whole lot prettier.” He caught a smell, a familiar scent that stirred something deep in the recesses of his mind, but he couldn’t coax it to the surface to name it.
Yuri grinned. “You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?” Before Keith could protest, he came closer. “If you don’t need anything, I’ll let you sleep.”
“No!” Another pain spike gripped him, and Keith moaned, unable to restrain himself.
Yuri consulted the chart. “Let me give you something for the pain.” He went over to the tray he’d wheeled in, and picked up a vial and a syringe. Keith took deep breaths in an attempt to conquer the spasms, and it wasn’t long before he began to feel the effects of the medication.
“Do you have to go right away?” Keith couldn’t stand the loneliness of those dark hours when sleep eluded him.
Yuri smiled. “I could stay a while and talk until you felt tired.”
Keith returned his smile. “That would be a most welcome distraction.” He waited until Yuri pulled up a chair and sat. “So tell me about yourself.”
Yuri leaned back, elbows on the armrests, fingers laced. “I’m twenty-six, and I’ve been a nurse for four years.”
“Did you always want to do this?”
His eyes sparkled. “Yeah. My mom said when I was a kid, I used to put bandages on my teddy bear.”
Keith chuckled. “That’s cute.” It was also familiar. “I knew someone once who used to do the same kind of thing. A long time ago.” He sighed. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the past lately. Probably because it’s nearly Christmas. I guess we all reminisce when the holidays roll around.”
Yuri nodded. “I know I do.” He cocked his head again. “What do you think about?”
The bandaged teddy story brought one person to mind.
How long has it been since I thought about him? Years? Decades?
“Are you okay?” A gentle hand touched his arm.
Keith smiled at him. “Memories. Sometimes they make you smile, other times they hurt.” He gazed at Yuri. “Forgive a personal question, but... have you ever been in love?”
Yuri studied him in silence for a moment before responding. “Once.”
Something in his expression spoke of unhappiness. “What happened?”
