I loitered in the hallway for a while, watching nurses scurry about, listening to the moans and groans of patients. It was pure chaos, and this was just the beginning.
30
“Look who’s still here?” she said when the tech rolled her back to her spot in the hallway.
“Dr. Parker should be with you shortly,” the tech said before hurrying away.
“I guess I wouldn’t make a good boxer,” Ariel said.
“No. I don’t think so,” I replied.
“I’ve never been in a fistfight before. Does this count?”
“No. Sorry. You didn’t even throw a punch.”
“Plenty of heavyweights get knocked out without even throwing a punch.”
“You are not a heavyweight.”
She frowned at me playfully. “You really don’t have to stay here. I’ll be fine.”
“Let’s make sure you’re okay before I leave.”
“It’s not like you can do anything either way.”
I called her bluff. “You’re right. I should just go now.”
She reached a hand for mine. “Wait, you don’t have to go right now.”
I chuckled. “I guess I could stay a minute longer.”
“Or two.”
I was more than happy to stick around.
Doctor Parker stopped by a few minutes later. “CT’s normal. No bleeding, fracture, or swelling. I think you’re dealing with a little post-concussive syndrome, some dehydration, and maybe a vestibular disturbance from the blow. Probably a little anxiety about the whole thing.”
“Maybe a lot,” she said.
“I’m going to prescribe 25mg of Meclizine for the dizziness and give you a script for Zofran as needed. You can get meclizine as Dramamine over the counter if you need more. We’ll run another bag of saline, then get you out of here. No alcohol, no driving, no contact sports. Take it easy for the next week. You need someone to watch you and wake you up every 3-4 hours for the next two days. You have someone who can look after you?” Parker looked at me.
“I’m not sure,” Ariel said.
“My offer still stands,” I said. “Plenty of staterooms to choose from.”
Ariel nodded. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“I’m releasing her into your care,” Parker said. “If symptoms return or get worse, come back. I’ll get your discharge order ready.”
Parker patted me on the shoulder as he walked away. There was an endless sea of patients to take care of.
The nurse came back a few minutes later with a dose of meclizine before discharge. Ariel swallowed it down. The nurse switched out the bag of saline for a new one, then darted off.
It took another 40 minutes to get the discharge papers.
We gathered her things, and I escorted Ariel to the car and helped her in. She was a little steadier now. I hurried around, slid behind the wheel, and fired up the engine. The barf bag had been disposed of. We were flying without it now. “You feeling settled?”
Ariel nodded. “I’m good.”
