Debbie was walking into the living room when she saw Robert coming down the hall.
He walked into the unit. “What a day. Deb, you wouldn’t have one of those great cups of coffee you make? I sure could use a good cup of coffee.”
“I’ll put the pot on.”
Robert peeked in the bedroom and saw Ric with Gini.
Debbie poured a cup for him and one for her. There was a tap at the door; it was Lisa.
“Man, what a day,” she said.
Debbie laughed. “I have coffee.” She offered one of the cups she had just poured to Lisa.
“No thanks.” She walked into the room. “Dr. Young.”
“So what’s going on?” Debbie asked.
Lisa was looking at her phone. “Big wreck on the freeway. A lot of patients in the ICU. I guess the roads are slick.”
Debbie handed Robert his coffee and then lifted the blinds to look out the window—the snow was falling fast. The one thing about this job, she didn’t have a commute, so it could snow all it wanted.
“I’ve had two surgeries in the last six hours,” Robert said.
“Are you going home now?”
“No, just a break. Both patients are critical, so I want to be with them a while longer.”
“How about you, Lisa?”
“I’m done, just waiting for Lenny to pick me up.”
“Lenny!” Debbie said, surprised. His name hadn’t been mentioned for a long time. Debbie hadn’t seen him for months. She shook it off. She actually was glad Lisa wouldn’t be driving in the bad weather. There was no reason for her to be concerned. Lisa would tell her if her and Lisa’s relationship had changed. Debbie would never be able to do this assignment with Gini without the love, understanding, and help Lisa always willingly gave.
“How’s the game?” Lisa asked.
“Haven’t been watching. Gini and Ric were into it. I found out Gini’s a big fan.”
There was a tap on the door; it was Dr. John Meyer. “Come in, Doctor,” Debbie said.
“John.” Robert looked up. “How is it going?”
“Ben just made it in, so we’re good. Why don’t you go home and sleep for a while?”
“I’m fine. I just came for some of Debbie’s coffee. You need some; it’s the best.”
Debbie handed John a cup as he sat down.
Tracy, the floor nurse, walked in the door.
“Coffee?” Debbie asked.
“No thanks. I found those lessons I told you about.” She handed Debbie a box of ten DVDs.
Ric walked out of Gini’s room. “Wow, the whole gang’s here. Did I miss the memo?”
Robert smiled at Ric’s comment. “Bad pileup on the freeway.”
“We’ve had to close our ER to all but head traumas,” John added.
Ric looked out the window. “I guess I’d better get going.”
Lisa stood up and went to Debbie. “Lenny’s almost here.” She hugged her. “See you tomorrow. Do you need anything?”
“No. Get some rest.”
“I will, back on shift in six hours.” Tracy, Lisa, and Ric left together.
“Drive careful,” John yelled out.
“Two more head injuries.” Dr. Meyer stood up, and Robert started to.
“No, I mean it, you need to sleep; we have it covered.” John set his coffee cup on the counter. “Thanks, Deb, it hit the spot.”
The game was over, and the news showed many cars on the road going all different directions. There was some fire and smoke, and the snow was coming down hard.
Robert reached over and picked up a white card with nothing on it from the coffee table. “Braille?” He could see the raised bumps.
“Braille playing cards. I’m trying to figure out ways for Gini to use her hands.”
“But we don’t know if she can see or not.”
“I know, but with her eyes closed most of the time… Anyway, I’m pretty sure she can see, but does her brain understand the information from her eyes? That’s the question.”
“I didn’t know you knew braille.”
“I don’t, so I’m learning with her, and I’ve got these DVDs Tracy brought in for sign language lessons. Gini gets so frustrated when she can’t say what she wants to say. All will help with the dexterity of her fingers.”
He laid the card back on the table. “Guess I’m out of here. Glad I don’t have to drive in the storm.”
“Me, too, for both of us. I had no idea it was even snowing.”
Robert and Franco had a weekly video call to discuss Gini’s progress. Gini took therapy in the gym daily. Aaron had her in the harness but had not gotten any further than that.
One day, when he made an unannounced visit, Franco was taken to the area. He could see her across the room, literally hanging from the ceiling. Her legs were tucked up close to her body. Aaron tried to get her to straighten them out. Franco could hear him coaxing her with his gentle words. Gini seemed completely confused about what she was doing and where she was. Her hands were flexing, and she thrust her tongue furiously. He hated seeing his beautiful wife so helpless, unable to control her body, unable to control anything. So pathetic, it sickened him. It was destroying all his memories of her. She would never have any kind of meaningful life again. Why had she lived? Why did the hospital and everyone act like this was okay, someone spending decades of a useless life learning how to move a little bit. What was the point? He couldn’t talk to anyone about this—they’d think he was a monster. Sometimes he thought so too. But he knew Gini wouldn’t have wanted to live like this. Why didn’t she will herself to die?
Debbie stood near the wheelchair watching when she saw
