Help

Content Warning: Medical setting, violence against vulnerable person

I only have a little time, Carla thought, standing in front of the large wooden door. Let’s get this done, an enormous grin gracing her face. Glancing down at the door handle, she slowly lifted the lever, trying her hardest to open the door without a sound. With one last quick glance down the hallway, she slipped through the slight opening, disappearing into the darkened room.

With her back to the room, her heart pounded faster as she glided the door to a noiseless close. Lowering the cold metal handle, she could hear the faint clicking of the latch as her hand trembled from a mix of anxiety and excitement. Shakily exhaling, Carla turned to face the dark interior of the room as a shiver shot down her spine. Her eyes, straining in the dark, looked across the room to the lights belonging to the various monitors on the wall. Taking her first step, guided by these faint lights, her foot squeaked against the waxed floor. Tensing her body, Carla dared not breathe, as silence took back the room.

As her ears rang, Carla searched through the high-pitched squeal, trying to focus on the rhythmic electrical humming from the wall. Lulled by these sounds, she could feel her breath and her body sway with the tempo. Breaking the hypnotic trance, Carla looked down at her wrist and tapped the screen of her watch. Five minutes, raced through her head, trying to convince her body to take the next step.

Anxiety swelling, she again, with a shuddered breath, stepped forward and placed her next foot down, while her dark-adjusted eyes looked to the opposite side of the room for movement.

“Hello?” called a voice from the distance.

This raspy voice shocked Carla like a gunshot to the chest. Her legs trembled as her presence was no longer a secret.

“Nurse?” called the hoarse voice again.

“Yes,” Carla answered almost in a daze.

“Can I have some water?”

“Of course you can,” Carla cheerfully answered, adjusting her plan. No longer trying to be silent, Carla walked over to the bed and grabbed the large plastic mug from the stand.

“Thank you,” grunted the man as he pushed himself up.

“Not a problem,” bending the straw down so he could drink.

Anxiously, she watched his throat contract as he swallowed the water, her impatience only escalating. Knowing time was against her, Carla pulled the cup away. “Don’t drink too much, you’ll get a stomachache,” she said gleefully with a wide smile.

“You’re the boss,” he smiled back through absent teeth.

Carla, placing the cup back onto the side table, returned her attention to the patient. “Let me help you lie back down,” she said, cupping the back of his head.

“You’re much too kind,” he replied as his head cradled back onto the pillow.

“I’m here to help you,” Carla answered as she slid her hand from beneath his smooth head.

Taking a moment, she gazed down at the frail body that lay before her. His loose skin pooled against the bed as atrophy ate at what was once a strong-framed man. With a lightness in her, Carla placed her hand onto his forehead and traced her thumb across his furrowed brows. This reassuring touch soothed the man, as Carla could see the glint in his eyes disappear, along with his brows relax. In this lulled state, Carla traced her thumb across his forehead one last time before creeping her hand down, cupping the side of his face. As her thumb glided across his cheek, she could feel him lightly push against her hand as he released a soft sigh.

“Everything will be all better,” Carla said as she watched him submit under her touch.

Studying this newfound relaxed face, her free hand reached into her front scrub pocket. As she moved past the small pieces of paper, various clips and other items in her pocket, her fingers brushed against the smooth, rounded object she searched for. There you are, she thought with a smile, as she wrapped her fingers around it. As her hand withdrew, her heartbeat quickened, and by the time Carla had removed her hand, she could feel the thumping beat in her throat. Looking down, she paused as the sight of the small, blue-tinted syringe came into view. Mesmerized by what she held in her hand, the shifting of the man forced her to refocus.

Looking up, she watched as the corner of the man’s lips curled upwards, still content under her touch. Gliding her thumb across his cheek, she continued down his wrinkled jawline. With a slight pause as she reached his chin, Carla shifted her hand and ran the back of her nails up the side of his cheek. Cupping his weathered face one last time, she gave him a light squeeze. Releasing, she lowered her hand, gently caressing down his hair-studded neck, and onto his shoulder. Continuing down his emaciated arm, she massaged his frail frame until her hand neared the IV line attached to his forearm.

Moving onto the line, the thin tube slid through her fingers as she neared the port. Grasping hold of the hard plastic connection, she turned the safety cap and placed it onto the bed beside the quiet, steadily breathing man. As she brought her right hand up, Carla placed the small syringe against the port and turned it slightly, locking it in place.

Moving up the smooth barrel, Carla’s fingers pulled against the flanges as her thumb gingerly rested on top of the plunger. With a bite of her lower lip, Carla released a long, giddy exhale and pushed down against the plunger. Attentively watching the clear slender tube, she dared not blink, not wanting to miss a second of the blue liquid disappearing into him. As the plunger hit the bottom of the barrel, and with no time to lose, Carla twisted the syringe free from the line. Quickly returning the spent syringe to her pocket, she reattached the safety cap back onto the port.

Tracing her eyes up his body, Carla moved closer, her body now leaning over to look straight down onto the face of the now wide-eyed man. Placing her hands on each side of his face, she could feel the tightness of his jaw as he clenched his teeth together, his muscles spasming from the strain. Meeting his bulging, fierce eyes, her hands pressed together as his wrinkled face compressed below her force. Pulling his head closer, Carla lifted the man’s head from the pillow. The foul, decaying smell of his breath swirled in her nose, clawing at the back of her throat, as she continued to drag his face closer. Within inches of each other’s faces, suddenly and without warning, Carla released her grasp, allowing his head to fall uncaringly back to the pillow.

With a wide, full-toothed smile, Carla looked down into the strained eyes of the man, only to see her own reflection in the dilated pupils. With a wink, she stood back up, turning towards the door. No longer mindful of the sound she would make, Carla rapidly crossed the room, seeking a quick escape. As her hand grasped the cold metal handle of the door, the quiet room was now filled with a loud steady beep. Pulling the door open, she slipped back out into the brightly lit hallway. Grabbing the handles of the cleaning cart, she pushed her supplies down the hall.

“Room 87!” yelled one nurse, off to render wasted aid.

“That’s also my number,” Carla giggled. “Off to the next room.”

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