Latent Rant
When I was in the hospital this summer, I was put in a double-room that was currently empty. I was in the bed by the window. I didn't sleep well that first night; 15 minutes asleep followed by 30 minutes awake. Nurses were coming in fairly frequently to check my vitals, offer water, etc. I slept with a magazine on my chest and the light above my bed on. It was just too difficult to stretch to shut it off, and I was reading some every hour anyway.I woke up at midnight when someone else was put in my room. Though the curtain was drawn around my bed, I could hear her quite clearly. She was there because she thought she had a stroke. She asked the nurses for something to eat; she called many people to let them know her whereabouts.
I wasn't leaving my bed at that time (a catheter can truly be a beautiful thing). I woke up again at 6am, feeling wide awake. You know how that is - there's nothing you'd rather do than sleep, but you also know there's nothing you'll be able to do less of. I read for a bit; then bit the bullet and turned on my TV. I turned it on as low as I could tolerate, which is actually fairly quiet.
Around 8am, I woke up again to hear my new roommate on the phone. Talking. About me!!!!! "I was so quiet when I got in last night. And my roommate turned the TV on this morning - early! And she had the light on all night. I couldn't believe how rude she was. (Pause) No, she's, like, 27! I dunno, I think she had surgery or something. I'm so tired of always being polite and having everyone else be so inconsiderate."
I was shocked silent. I didn't want to make it known that I was overhearing - is that really eavesdropping in this situation? But I was pissed! And annoyed! Our room was directly across from the nurse's station - she couldn't have asked for the light to be shut off? What about her midnight phone calls and entry?
So, in my typical fashion, I seethed quietly. When I was able to leave my bed, I struggled as quietly as I could past her side of the room. I was so tempted to call her out - she had no idea what I was in there for, shouldn't a little sympathy been in order?
But, as you can tell, I said nothing to her. I complained - quietly - to my mom when she got there. I slept quite well my second night in the hospital - roommate was gone by then, and I kept the light on the entire night with no guilt.
But I'm still pissed about it. Fucker. You want an 8" scar on your belly and a 2day stay in the hospital? Bitch about that, cunt.
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