I blinked.
The numbness was hard to describe. It was a deep ache, atoss-up somewhere between the feeling of frostbite and pins and needles—intense and burning.
“Okay, that’s good. I can absolutely help mitigate that for you.” He typed something into his iPad. “Do you know why you’re here, Lily? One blink for yes, two for no.”
I blinked twice.
“From what I’ve been told, you’re a nurse over at the hospital in Rockwood. Is that correct?”
I blinked.
“You were in critical condition when you arrived via ambulance, unresponsive, and due to the situation that unfolded at the time, we had reason to suspect that a potential poisoning was the culprit. We were aggressive with life-saving measures, and further testing confirmed you had come into contact with a deadly nerve agent. You didn’t present with any puncture points, which left us to suspect either inhalation or skin contact.”
How could something like that have happened at all? It didn’t make any sense.
“We’ve administered two antidotes, pralidoxime and atropine, to reactivate the poisoned enzyme acetylcholinesterase and manage the symptoms via intravenous infusions. It’s important to note that in some situations, poisoning can cause respiratory muscle paralysis, but I’m happy to report that hasn’t been the case here. You didn’t require a vent to help your breathing, which will aid in your recovery tremendously. Your EEG also showed normal brain activity, and we’re closely monitoring your heart for any cardiac issues.”
“Do you understand so far?”
I blinked again.
It was a lot to absorb, but the context of what he was sayingwasn’t unfamiliar, as it would likely have been for someone who didn’t work in the medical field.
“Good. As you know, flushing out this type of poison isn’t an option. Your body needs lots of rest while your enzymes repair and recover. I’d like to keep the infusions going for at least another twenty-four hours. We will continue running labs during that time to ensure your levels are trending in the right direction and stabilizing. Once we are certain there’s no longer a risk to public health, we will remove you from isolation and allow visitors. Discharge will depend on how long it takes for the muscle paralysis to subside and your fine motor skills to return, but I have to warn you, it could be a slow process. It is important to note that everyone recovers differently. Understand?”
Yes, I blinked.
“Now, I know I’ve tossed a lot of information at you, and I can see the exhaustion in your eyes, but please take comfort in knowing there’s a small army of people eager to see you and rooting for you, Lily. You will recover from this. Time and rest will be paramount, though, okay?”
I blinked.
“The nurse will be back in a minute with some pain medication, and we’ll talk again soon. Hang in there, you’ve got this, Lily.”
He said it as if I’d ever had any other choice in the matter. Giving up wasn’t an option, and neither was moving, apparently. I let my eyes drift closed while the doctor’s words echoed on repeat in fragments, clinging to faith that this was just a season, a blip in time that would soon be in the past.
Sleep crept in with an all too familiar heaviness pulling me under. Knowing it was crucial to my recovery, I didn’t resist. I allowed darkness to blanket my mind, settling over me withoutremorse because I wasn’t just doing this for me; I had someone worth fighting for in my corner that made this life worth it.
Jaxon.
My sense of time blurred, lacking its familiar rhythm. Light and darkness came and went with no logic or pattern. I lost count of how many times I’d stirred awake, each time my eyes peeking through a haze, noting my surroundings and feeling a little lighter each time.
At first, I thought my hand twitching was a muscle spasm. Then it happened again, and I watched in wonder as my fingers spread out over my covers, feeling the rough cotton hospital blanket against my skin. My whole body jolted with joy and a broken breath as I realized my senses were starting to return.
It was the sign I desperately needed.
I cried myself to sleep, feeling so much gratitude and hopeful that this living nightmare would soon be over. The next few times I woke, the aching stiffness deep in my bones remained, but I was determined to stay positive, believing it was all a step in the right direction to reclaiming my body.
When my consciousness pulled me from my latest slumber, there was a heavy weight resting on my stomach that wasn’t there before and a wave of heat emanating from it. I tried to arch my back and stretch, but it was of no use because the blankets were pinned down and unforgiving.
When I opened my eyes, what I saw made my heart skip a beat.
“Jaxon.” My breath hitched, and tears stung my eyes at the sight of him.
His body jerked upright beside me with a grimace of pain at war with the look of immense relief glossing over his facial expression.
“Lily.” My name tore from his throat, thick with emotion. “Oh, thank God, Lils.” He pressed a soft kiss to my lips, lingering just long enough to make my heart swell with gratitude. “You came back to me.”
The kiss was gentle, like a silent prayer of worship, before he leaned back with his eyes anxiously searching mine as if he were trying to decide if I was real, or just a fragile fantasy toying with his reality.
