“Don’t worry G, were not going anywhere without you next time. I’m going to find Amelia she’s been working in the gardens today” Adam said.
“Thanks Adam” I clapped him on the shoulder. “I’d better get back to the hospital. I’m not sure if I’m allowed out yet” I smiled, I said good night to them all, hugging Nia and Will before I walked in the opposite direction to them all.
My ankle felt stiff and I limped along but it felt much better than it had yesterday. I waved to Nurse Amy as I entered the medical area and she walked ahead of me to the ward and typed in the code to allow me access.
“Thanks Amy”
“No problem George. Get some rest tonight, I hear you’re out of here in the morning.” she handed me a glass of water and two different tablets from the ones she normally did.
“New ones?” I nodded towards her hand.
“Yes, thanks to your friends, we now have anti-inflammatory tablets, they will help your ankle. I can get you more pain killers if you need them?”
“No, I’m good thanks, keep them for someone who needs them.” I popped the tablets into my mouth and washed them down with the water without any more questions.
“So, tomorrow huh?” I grinned I couldn’t wait to be free. Not that the hospital wing was much different to lying in bed all day and night in my own room. but at least if I wanted to get up and walk around I could. Plus, the sooner I got out of here, the sooner that I could start training and building on my skills.
I wished Amy a good night and settled down to read. I heard people coming and going but nobody entered the ward. So, I carried on page after page. Before I knew it, I was half way through the book. But my eyes were getting droopy and I was fighting back yawns every few minutes. I put the book down folding the top of the page into a small triangle so I wouldn’t lose my place. Then snuggled under the blankets. I’d forgotten to pick up a change of clothes from my room and wasn’t about to go outside at that time of night to get them.
So, I huddled under the covers fully dressed. I fell asleep quickly, dreamt of Kelly, Poppy and Cameron. We were having a picnic at our favourite spot high on the mountainside, we flew kites and played ball. Everything was perfect, the food, the sunshine and most of all the laughter of my family. Not a zombie in sight.
I woke up in the morning sad but with a hint of happiness. It was a good dream, but that’s all it was, all it would ever be was a dream.
I got up to use the bathroom, without my crutches. I stripped off and washed the best that I could, then dried in the provided towel and got dressed again. I noticed that a disposable razor had been left out for me; biggest hint ever Doc. I thought.
In any case I used the razor, I was starting to look hideously scruffy. I looked much younger and tidier by the time I had finished but I had cut myself a few times and had to use toilet tissue to avoid staining the towel.
One look in the mirror at the tissue dotted on several areas of my cheeks and chin and it threw me back to when my father taught me how to shave for the very first time.
My heart still ached for my parents even after all this time, I’d lost my mother to cancer when I was just 19. My father followed her six months later from a heart attack. I believe that it was a broken heart after losing my mother. I was brought up by my father’s older sister who was like a second mum to me. I lost her two years ago to cancer also. I was glad in a way that they were not around now to witness what our world had become but I also missed the hell out of them and wished for just one more hug off my aunt Sarah or one great big hug off my Mum and Dad.
I shook myself out of my sombre mood. Today was the start of my new job, a chance to do my family proud by helping others.
I tried to style my hair but it had gotten too long so I just brushed it the best that I could and made a mental note to ask the doc or the captain if we had any hairdressers in camp.
I practiced smiling in the mirror and immediately felt foolish. I left before I could think up anything else as silly. It was quiet in the medical centre. A man I didn’t know was in nurse Amy’s place behind the desk and there was no sign of doc.
“Hi there, you must be George. I’m Ben, the Doc left a note saying to give you these. Take two a day, on in the morning and one in the night.” He gave me a small, orangey brown plastic bottle with four tablets in it. They looked like the anti-inflammatory tablets that Amy had given me yesterday.
“Thanks Ben, that’s great. so, I’m free to go?” I asked hopefully.
“Yes, you’re free to go” he chuckled.
“Great, thanks again. Oh, and before I forget, are there any hairdressers in camp?”
“Yeah, three doors down on the left from the canteen. Lady named Michelle and a guy named Rick I believe” he nodded.
That’s great. Thanks. Bye Ben” I hobbled out of the door as quickly as I could.
I still wasn’t walking properly and there was a slight discomfort when I put my weight on it but I wasn’t in
