Page 187 of New Growth
“Let me help,” I said quickly.
“You sure?” he asked, looking up at me.
“Please. Let me.”
He studied me for a second, then nodded. “Okay.”
He passed me the packet, and I opened it, gently cleaning the area near the previous injection site. My hands were steadier than I expected.
“I’m gonna need to do a straight-up injection,” he said. “Think you can handle it?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He pulled one of the chilled insulin pens from the cooler, dialed it, then tested it with a quick pump into the cap. With his teeth, he removed the protective cover, then pinched the skin just above where the pod had been.
“Just insert it here,” he said, guiding my hand, “and press the release. That’s it.”
I followed his instructions carefully, pressing the needle into his skin and clicking the release. He winced, groaning softly. He hated the needles.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
He gave a weak grin. “Good job, Peanut.”
“Was that enough?”
“Yeah,” he said, exhaling slowly. “It’ll bring me down. But I need to get a new pod on, or I’ll just keep climbing once the insulin wears off.”
“Okay. What do you need me to do?”
He gave me a soft look. “I’ve got it, but you can help prep it if you want.”
“I want to.”
He smiled. “I figured.”
He pulled the new pod kit from his bag, setting it on the nightstand with a syringe and a fresh vial of insulin. I watched carefully as he drew insulin from the vial with the syringe. His hand still shook a little.
“Want me to fill it?” I asked gently.
He hesitated. Then handed me the syringe. “Yeah. Just draw up 200 units, then inject it into the pod. See that little port?”
I nodded. “Got it.”
I did it slowly, steadying my hand like I’d done the injection earlier. The pod made a soft clicking sound when it primed itself.
He gave a faint smile. “Perfect. Now I just have to pick a spot.”
He lifted his shirt, revealing a line of healed dots across his abdomen—past injection sites. I rubbed against his usual spot, and he winced.
“Too tender?” I asked.
“A bit. Let’s go with the next side.”
“Okay.”
He passed me an alcohol wipe, and I cleaned the right side of his abdomen while he synced the pod on his phone.
“Once it’s ready, it’ll beep,” he explained.
