The day had been exhausting
More running around
Catering than I’d care to recall
I was angry at something-or-other
There were two people prior
Taking no notice of the mangled pulp
Offering little in the way of actual help
He knocked on my door
After one look I said
You. Car. Now.
Suddenly oblivious to any remnants of the hours prior
Time. Slowed.
Brain at warp speed. Go go go now now now no time no time
My concern was TBI, or worse
Clotting and stroke
An unknown combination to which no outward symptoms would present
Minutes matter – we’re several hours in at this point.
We drove eleven miles
I kept him talking,
(that part was easy)
Getting him to sit still was a bit of a challenge
(commands are short, simple, easy to process)
You. Sit. Chair.
Stay.
“I’m not a dog” he grumbled
Then laughing “I’m a mutt!”
[You will not die today sir
Not on my watch.]
No
No.
do not get up. (Sigh)
Again-
Chair. Sit. Stay.
There’s a reason for this (I would tell him later)
I bring him paperwork,
Warm hand off; I rattle off the synopsis, timeline, and provide my contact info
I speak quietly before I go
Be nice.
These folks are here to help
(and more qualified for the task at hand)
They saved his eye with four stitches,
And he will have a crooked tooth and some mild scarring
(it’s hardly noticeable)
From that point onwards
Two years seizure free, and another year wiser
