or snow. She toyed with the idea of going downstairs and breathing in some fresh air, and then she’d know for sure. A single breath would give her all the information she needed to know. If there was rain in the air, she’d be able to taste it. She decided it was too far to go. It looked like rain, and that was fine for now.
Toto sat haphazardly on the couch beside her, his scratched plastic eyes watching her with sympathy? Boredom? Sometimes it was hard to tell with that little dog. Maybe she’d go down in a little while and check the weather.
The two men at the pool table were discussing a shot. In another room there were rows of reclining chairs, and the only television available on the hospital floor. Ward 9 was essentially two large box rooms with many small double-occupant rooms lining them. In the rec room, where Dorothy sat, there were couches and a pool table, and a punching bag hanging from the ceiling. There was also an air hockey table, but the nurses hated the noise it made and left it unplugged. The rec room also contained the nurses’ station, and the only way off the floor via elevator. There was an emergency stairwell exit beside the elevator, but that door was alarm sealed. Behind the nurses’ station was a small hallway with offices and storage space, and where Dr Weller had his sessions with patients. The other room was off limits to Dorothy; it contained the television and rows of comfortable chairs. If she’d been allowed near the T.V., she’d be able to flick on the weather channel and see what the forecast was for the rest of the week. Instead, she had to do it the old fashioned way; look out the window and take a guess.
And there were so many windows to choose from! As though the sight of the city surrounding them from the ninth floor of the City General Hospital would somehow calm their inner demons and make them feel sane again. Like it wouldn’t make them aware of every single moment of their life ticking away. Dying, moment to moment. Like beach sand in the crack of their asses washing away in the shower. Like other things, too, but Dorothy was bored and didn’t feel like coming up with them. It was cold; maybe it was snow after all.
When the elevator dinged, Dorothy looked up. The doors swung open and two security guards stepped out. Between them, a disheveled blond girl about the same age as Dorothy, her face a mix of anger and embarrassment. She looked like she’d been at it with someone. There were bruises on her face and a big lump over her eye. One of the security guards whispered something to the girl, and she shook her head.
She looked around the room. Her eyes fell on Dorothy. The pair looked at each other until the blond girl scowled and Dorothy looked away. She looked back out of the corner of her eyes, but the blond girl was speaking with security again.
“Alice Pleasance, unconfirmed,” one of the security guards said to the attending nurse. “Transfer from Emergency.”
“Ahh yes,” the nurse said. “She’s the one who made the big mess in the hall by the cafeteria.”
“One and the same,” the security guard said.
“Look Toto,” Dorothy said. She lifted the stuffed animal so that its head was peeking up over the back end of the couch. Toward Alice. “We have a new neighbour.” She moved the dog’s head back and forth, and with her other hand wagged its little black tail. Then she picked him up and hugged him. “Yes,” she whispered. She is very pretty.”
She looked back at the Alice. Caught her staring; giving Dorothy a look that was equal parts confusion and amusement. Dorothy tipped her head. Caught her eye and smiled. Alice shook her head and turned to the security guard.
“You can’t put me in here with these fucking psychos,” she said.
Dorothy’s face flushed. She spun around on her chair, face pulled down by a heavy pout. There were times when Ward 9 was almost like summer camp. Other
Toto sat haphazardly on the couch beside her, his scratched plastic eyes watching her with sympathy? Boredom? Sometimes it was hard to tell with that little dog. Maybe she’d go down in a little while and check the weather.
The two men at the pool table were discussing a shot. In another room there were rows of reclining chairs, and the only television available on the hospital floor. Ward 9 was essentially two large box rooms with many small double-occupant rooms lining them. In the rec room, where Dorothy sat, there were couches and a pool table, and a punching bag hanging from the ceiling. There was also an air hockey table, but the nurses hated the noise it made and left it unplugged. The rec room also contained the nurses’ station, and the only way off the floor via elevator. There was an emergency stairwell exit beside the elevator, but that door was alarm sealed. Behind the nurses’ station was a small hallway with offices and storage space, and where Dr Weller had his sessions with patients. The other room was off limits to Dorothy; it contained the television and rows of comfortable chairs. If she’d been allowed near the T.V., she’d be able to flick on the weather channel and see what the forecast was for the rest of the week. Instead, she had to do it the old fashioned way; look out the window and take a guess.
And there were so many windows to choose from! As though the sight of the city surrounding them from the ninth floor of the City General Hospital would somehow calm their inner demons and make them feel sane again. Like it wouldn’t make them aware of every single moment of their life ticking away. Dying, moment to moment. Like beach sand in the crack of their asses washing away in the shower. Like other things, too, but Dorothy was bored and didn’t feel like coming up with them. It was cold; maybe it was snow after all.
When the elevator dinged, Dorothy looked up. The doors swung open and two security guards stepped out. Between them, a disheveled blond girl about the same age as Dorothy, her face a mix of anger and embarrassment. She looked like she’d been at it with someone. There were bruises on her face and a big lump over her eye. One of the security guards whispered something to the girl, and she shook her head.
She looked around the room. Her eyes fell on Dorothy. The pair looked at each other until the blond girl scowled and Dorothy looked away. She looked back out of the corner of her eyes, but the blond girl was speaking with security again.
“Alice Pleasance, unconfirmed,” one of the security guards said to the attending nurse. “Transfer from Emergency.”
“Ahh yes,” the nurse said. “She’s the one who made the big mess in the hall by the cafeteria.”
“One and the same,” the security guard said.
“Look Toto,” Dorothy said. She lifted the stuffed animal so that its head was peeking up over the back end of the couch. Toward Alice. “We have a new neighbour.” She moved the dog’s head back and forth, and with her other hand wagged its little black tail. Then she picked him up and hugged him. “Yes,” she whispered. She is very pretty.”
She looked back at the Alice. Caught her staring; giving Dorothy a look that was equal parts confusion and amusement. Dorothy tipped her head. Caught her eye and smiled. Alice shook her head and turned to the security guard.
“You can’t put me in here with these fucking psychos,” she said.
Dorothy’s face flushed. She spun around on her chair, face pulled down by a heavy pout. There were times when Ward 9 was almost like summer camp. Other
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