Page 103 of Enough
He snickers. “I know she is. She’s special. She’s not like any girl I’ve ever known. She’s so tough, but I can see through it. She’s got a beautiful heart. As far as my patience goes, you don’t have to worry. I once sat for three days straight outside the house of a would-be terrorist. I didn’t close my eyes once the entire time and I gripped my gun so hard I had blisters. If I could wait for an ass like that, I can certainly wait for the woman of my dreams.”
AT MIDNIGHT I’M advised that we have a high-risk teen in the unit who’s due to deliver. She’s the only one in my wing right now, so I go in to introduce myself.
She’s curled into a ball on her bed and shaking from head to toe.
“Hi, sweetie. I’m your nurse, Everly. My friends call me Ev, so you can call me Ev if you like. How are you feeling?”
“I feel like fucking shit. How do you think I feel?”
I nod my head and check her chart. Her name is Nadia.
“I know you’re in a lot of pain. Your doctor should be in very soon to check on you. Have you given any thought towhether or not you’d like medication to help with the discomfort?”
“You mean drugs and shit?” she asks. “Will I feel better?”
“Depending on your medical history and progress, your doctor will tell you if that’s an option for you. Did you discuss it when you made your birthing plan?”
“I don’t have a doctor, much less a fucking birthing plan.”
“Have you been to the doctor during your pregnancy?” I ask.
“Only when they make me.”
I check her chart and see she’s assigned to a doctor I’ve worked with before. “Your doctor is listed as Dr. Fidell. She’s very kind. I think you’ll like her.”
“I’m only going to like her if she gets this thing out of me without pain and lets me go on my way.”
I swallow and wonder what her story is. It’s not my place to ask, so I don’t. “Would you like another pillow or maybe some ice chips?” I ask.
She cringes and writhes in pain. I wet a towel and place it on her forehead. “Do you want me to touch you or not? I know when I was pregnant, the last thing I wanted was someone anywhere near my skin.”
“You’ve had kids?” she asks as her contraction subsides.
“Um hmm. Two.”
“You don’t look old enough to have kids.”
I smile and curtsy to her. “Well, Nadia, you just made my night.”
Her lip curls up on the side.
“Do you think you can change into a gown? We need to see how far along you are and the doctor will want to know when she arrives.”
“Do I have to?” she questions.
I teeter my head back and forth. “Well… yeah… you kinda do.”
“I don’t think I can stand.”
“No worries. I’ll help you.”
I close her door and pull a pink gown from the closet. I offer her my hand, and she lifts up to a seated position. “Let’s start with shoes. Can you kick them off?” She does. “I have these cozy little socks here for you with tread on the bottom in case you want to walk the halls.”
“I can leave?” she questions as she pulls off her socks.
“You can walk up and down the hall if your doctor says it’s okay. Sometimes if a labor stalls, a little bit of movement can push it along.”
“I just want it to be over.” She reaches to her face and roughly rubs her eyes before she glances away from me.
