Intense boredom afflicted Caspian, tossing and turning in his hospital bed. The featureless room did nothing to engage his mind, and the nurse’s warnings about walking kept him from leaving. At least he wasn’t in pain, whatever meds they had given him thoroughly numbing it.
“Ughhhh,” he groaned, tossing the covers off of himself once more. “This is the worst.” He couldn’t even go to sleep. He had tried, but all it had involved was him laying motionless his mind swirling with thoughts. Laying around in bed wasn’t his style, he needed to be constantly doing something. Otherwise, he got restless.
Trying anything to pass the time, he grabbed his satchel that had been resting by the bedside table. His worries had disappeared when he found his watch tucked into the bottom, sighing with relief. It was the only thing he had left of his parents, missing band and all. Placing it carefully on his table, he dug out the forms he hadn’t had to use.
They were slightly crumpled but still readable. Taking a single piece, he began to press and fold it methodically, making sure that the folds were nice and straight. The tip of his tounge peeked out his mouth, his focus completely on the piece of paper. Before long, the sheet of paper had transformed into a sleek paper airplane.
Looking down its wings with one eye closed, he checked to see that it was straight and uniform. Holding it up in his good arm, he pulled back and then flung it forward. The power behind the throw was too much, and the paper plane flew for a few moments, before it veered downwards, careening into the floor.
“Dammit, too much power on that one,” he muttered, reaching for another sheet. He began constructing the next one in earnest. Fold it in half, make sure the crease is strong, pull in the corners to make the wings. Refold, and fold half the wings back down. Smooth everything out and make sure it's all even. Holding up his next plane, he did something different this time. Pressing the tip back in on itself, he made the front more blunt. This one flew a little further than the first, but he was still throwing it instead of letting it glide through the air.
Caspian constructed three more planes before he made one that flew across his room and smacked into the wall. Still with plenty of sheets of paper left, he tried to come up with something else to do. Finding a pen in his bag, he started to draw on the back of the paper. Letting his hand guide him, he started to sketch, line after line added. He didn’t even notice the time pass, eventually filling the page with random doodles. His wrist and fingers were sore, and when he looked at his hand, the entire bottom was caked in black ink.
“Oops,” he thought, rubbing his wrist. Gulping down a glass of water, he relaxed on his bed. His mind felt much cleared now. Switching the light off, he tried to go to sleep, but his mind was still too active. Thoughts bubbled up, going from one thing to another in an instant. Focusing his breathing, he concentrated on that instead.
Breathing in for a few seconds, making sure to expand his ribcage, he held it for five seconds, before breathing out slowly. Pausing before his next breath, he sucked in another, holding it for longer this time. After a few minutes of this, he started to visualise his body sinking into the bedding each time he breathed out. Tension evaporated from him, his body soothed and relaxed. Before he realised it, he was out like a light, soft snoring emanating from the room.
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A noise awoke Caspian, a new nurse opening the door and bringing in a meal tray. “Good morning Caspian, I’m Margret,” she smiled. She was younger than the other nurse and had a bundle of blonde hair tied up in a bun. “Do you need help to go to the toilet?” she asked.
“Hello. Umh, I think I can manage it myself if that's ok?” he said.
“If you think you can that's fine, but I will wait just outside just in case,” she said smiling. Pulling the covers off the bed, she offered her hand to help him out of the bed. Taking it, he dragged himself out of the bed, clutching onto the IV stand. Margret opened the door for him, before looking away.
He quickly went, slightly embarrassed someone was so close and could most surely hear him. Flushing the toilet, he trotted out, Margret helping him back to the bed. “Everything go ok Caspian?” she asked.
“Yeah it was fine,” he replied, his cheeks slightly flushed.
“Now how are you feeling, any new pains or problems I should know about?”
“My arm and leg are this sort of dull pain, but it’s not really new. And I have a bit of a headache,” he added after a moment's thought.
“That’s just the pain meds wearing off I'm afraid. You said it was a dull pain, how would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10?” she asked, checking his bandages.
“Ummm, maybe a 3 or 4. It’s not that bad,” he said.
“Well, you let someone know if it gets worse ok. Make sure to drink enough water as well, your body lost a lot of fluids so you need to replenish. These bandages will have to be replaced later as well,” she said. “OK?”
“Drink water, got it. Also, Valorie said I’d be getting discharged today, when is that?” he inquired, hopeful.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Valorie? Oh, the woman he came and visited you. Let's see, Doctor Irvine did mention that the earliest you could be discharged was today, but only if you were stable. You’ll have to ask him when he comes and visit,” she said glancing over his chart. “I have to go now, so enjoy your breakfast, I’ll be around if you need me.” With that she disappeared out the door, pushing the cart stacked with food further down the hallway.
Sucking in a breath, he collected his thoughts. “I gotta get out today, I don’t want to be wasting time that I could be using getting ready for the expedition.” Opening his eyes, he pulled the table over, his stomach rumbling in anticipation.
The meal was far less glamorous than dinner had been, a simple bowl of porridge, a single apple and a cup of coffee that had already started to cool. Smelling the intoxicating armour of the coffee, he took a long drink. It was very weak, but he supposed he couldn’t complain. Wolfing down the warm porridge, he felt it heating him up, a few beads of sweat forming. Washing it down with the rest of the coffee, he gave the apple a squeeze. It was nice and firm, and when he took a bite, the crunch only confirmed that. The sweet sugary juice spilled down his mouth, making his hands all sticky.
In no time at all the breakfast was gone, leaving Caspian with a satisfied smile on his face. Getting served meals was something he could get used to, no toiling over a hot stove. Filling his cup with water, he used a bit to wash off the apple juices, whipping his mouth with the sleeve of his robe. Drumming his hand on the table, he tried to think of something to do.
“Just gotta get Doctor Irvine to discharge me,” he thought. “I feel pretty fine so it should be easy.”
Going back to his pages of scribbles, he continued, drawing whatever came to mind. Page after page was filled, an odd peacefulness befalling him. He’d never been one for creative pursuits, but he could see why people would dedicate so much time to them. It wasn’t until a few hours later that another soul came to visit him.
A rather tall man wearing tortoiseshell glasses walked in, his expression all business. He didn’t even address Caspian, going straight for the chart hanging off the end of the bed. Flipping through the pages, he looked up at the IV stand. Margret came in just after him, hurrying along.
“Hi,” Caspian said, trying to grab his attention. “Are you Doctor Irvine?”
“I am indeed. How are you faring?” he asked, his solemn voice betraying no emotion.
“I’m feeling good. Great actually, right as rain,” Caspian said, giving his best smile.
“Uhuh. No major discomforts? You’ve been keeping up your fluids?”
“Been drinking water nonstop. I had a bit of a headache earlier but it’s gone now,” he said.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with a desire for a speedy discharge would it Caspian? Miss Ashford was quite insistent on that.”
“Who? I’m not sure I know anyone by the name Ashford,” Caspian replied, his brows creased.
“Peculiar. You are not familiar with Valorie Ashford?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh Valorie, sorry I didn’t know her last name.”
“And yet she has on multiple times called me and my officer, inquiring that we discharge you as soon as possible. Do you perchance know why she would be doing that?” he asked.
“Probably because I work for the Expedition group she’s a part of. That’s actually part of the reason I’m in here in the first place,” Caspian said looking away. “So when am I getting discharged?”
Drumming his hands on the chart, he looked at Margret, who just shrugged her shoulders. Clearing his throat, he took a deep look at Caspian sitting in the bed. “I guess there is no reason you cannot be discharged. Your wounds are light, the main concern was how exhausted and depleted your body was. If you take ample time for rest and recovery, I am willing to let you go.”
“Oh that’s a relief, because I just got this job, and it’s a bad look being cooped up in the hospital when I should be working or learning, and they’re planning an expedition soon so I don’t want to miss it or get fired,” Caspian said rapid-fire, relieved. He couldn’t stop his mouth.
Margret had a little chuckle at his outburst, whilst Doctor Irvine simply gave him a quizzical look. He had to clamp his mouth to stop himself, but his eyes were shining for all to see.
“Very well, Margret will help you with getting you discharged. No excessive movement for at least a few days, and make sure to keep your fluids up,” Irvine said putting the chart back. As he was about to leave, Margret whispered something in his ear, causing him to pause for a moment. “Also Margret will replace your bandages before you leave. Best of luck with your future endeavours Caspian, you’ll need it.” With that he was gone, his long strides whisking him away.
Shaking her head with a sigh, she turned smiling to Caspian. “Well, you got what you wanted right.” Rummaging through the medical cart in the room, she started to pull out various things, most of which he couldn’t identify. Placing them on the bed, she turned to him and motioned for him to pull the covers down. “Come on, the faster you let me change your dressing the faster you can be out of here.”
Embarrassed, he pulled them down, relieving his bare legs for the world to see. Margret must have noticed, because she let out a small laugh. “Don’t worry it’s nothing I haven’t seen before young man. No need to be embarrassed.”
Nodding his head, he tried to relax, with slight success. With nimble hands, she sliced the old bandages off, cleaned the wounds and applied a new fresh set. Doing the same to his arm, she also removed the IV tubing, his hand stinging. A small pinprick of blood pooled, before he whipped it away. “That’s that done, you can get dressed now,” she said.
Looking around the room, Caspian frowned. “Where are my clothes by the way?”
Margret blinked, before pointing at something out of his view. On the other side of the medical cart, was a chair, a pile of clothes neatly piled up on it. “I believe Miss Valorie left those for you. Your other clothes were pretty much ruined I'm afraid. I’ll leave you to it then,” she said, closing the door with a soft thud behind her.
Getting out of bed, he hobbled over to the chair. His eyes lit up as he examined the clothes. Unlike his usual wardrobe, which was full of cheap clothes that were fine for everyday living, these were of a much higher quality. Holding the white linen shirt up to the light, he could barely see through it, unlike his old one. Carefully avoiding his wounds he got dressed, a pair of black brown cargo pants and new hiking shoes going with the shirt. Smoothing out the wrinkles, he straightened his collar and posed in front of the mirror.
“Oh yeah, this will do nicely,” he grinned, running a hand through his hair.