Casey
“Nervous?”
“A bit. I wish I knew a bit more about this patient.”
“That’s why I’m introducing you,” Martin says. “Relax, you’ll like him.”
“I don’t have to like him, I have to work with him.”
“Even better.”
“How come this has to be a home visit? If he just has a torn meniscus, could he not have come to the hospital?”
Martin sighs thoughtfully.
“Oh no. There’s something you’re not telling me, isn’t there?”
“Maybe…”
“Martin!”
“I didn’t want to hide it from you, I just wanted you to meet him first. I haven’t known him for long, but what he’s done for his family is really admirable.”
“Okay, but I’d rather know what’s happening before I meet him.”
“He’s ill.”
“Ill? Ill how?”
“Alzheimer’s.”
“Oh,” I say, feeling sorry for him. “And he doesn’t…?”
“He’s still fine. He has his moments where he gets confused and agitated, but for now his family can still handle everything – even though it’s not easy.”
“Of course, I get that.”
“But after his accident, things have got worse. It’s like he’s lost the will to fight, you know? He keeps a lot to himself, and he’s developed this aversion to doctors, hospitals, and going outside at all.”
“That’s understandable, his accident probably made him consider everything a little more. He’s probably scared of having another one.”
Martin turns suddenly and looks at me. “This is why I asked you.”
I smile at him.
“And you need it, right? What with them cutting back your hours at the hospital.”
“Damn budget cuts! I really could’ve done without that.”
“Well, luckily your friend Martin is here with his tights and superhero cape.”
“I don’t see any tights.”
“Trust me, I’d look amazing.”
“You look amazing in everything,” I say, letting my gaze slide over him.
Martin is charming and charismatic. He’s sarcastic, he’s funny, but he can also be sweet when he wants to be. He has dark, magnetic eyes and sandy hair that’s always tousled. He has that kind of face you want to punch, but that you find irresistible at the same time.
