Twisted Thursday: Jaded, Part 9 (By Saria Monette)

Editor’s note: Due to technical difficulties, the 9th installment of Jaded had to be posted later in the day than usual. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you enjoy it just the same.  

Exhausted from several painful, futile attempts to lift her body on her own, Jade pressed the red button at her bedside.
“How may I help you, Ms. Jones?” a slightly muffled female voice called back through the small speaker.

“I need help getting to the bathroom,” Jade said, agony and exhaustion in her voice, her bladder filled five times over.

“OK. Your nurse will be right down.” 

In less than a minute, a plump, copper-skinned, middle-aged nurse floated into Jade’s room like the morning sunshine on a cloud of cheer.

“I hear you need to visit the lil’ girls room, Ms. Jones,” the nurse said in her overly pleasant Southern drawl. “Let’s see if we can’t just ease you right on up outta this bed.”

Jade grimaced from the pain as the nurse scooped her arms under Jade’s back and sat her upright in one motion.

“Now, see if you can swing your legs out for me, baby, and put your feet on the floor,” the nurse said. Jade embraced the challenge, determined not to be overtaken by the pain. She rotated her body around slowly.

“There you go … that’s it,” the nurse encouraged, never removing her hand from Jade’s back. “Alright, easy now. Try to stand up for me.”

Jade straightened herself steadily.

“Alright, you not feelin’ dizzy, are ya?” the nurse asked.

Jade shook her head, in too much pain to speak. 

“OK. Let’s walk then,” the nurse told Jade, guiding her toward the bathroom. “Just put your arm ’round my neck for support, hun.”

Jade’s steps were short and calculated, making the 10-foot trek to the bathroom seem more like 10 miles. But the cheery nurse didn’t mind. She hummed some old spiritual, every step of the way, which Jade found thoroughly aggravating.

Jade made it to the bathroom, finally, and reassured the nurse she’d be fine alone inside. She scooted over to the toilet and eased herself down over the bowl. Thank God for relief, Jade sighed. She lifted herself back up and scooted to the sink. As she washed her hands she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. The sight frightened her: her face bruised, her eyes nearly swollen shut from all the crying. She tried to manipulate her hair into place with her fingers. That’s as good as it gets, I guess, Jade reasoned. Maybe I’ll call Elise later … see if she can brings some things from my house so I can pull myself together. Jade continued her mental conversation as she leaned to splash water on her face. I wish I could call Melvin but I’m sure he hates me. I may never be able to patch things up. Oh, God in heaven, how did I get myself into this crap!! 

Jade wiped her face with a stack of paper towels and let out a smothered sigh. She wanted to fall on the floor and sob but she couldn’t. Her body was in just too much pain and it seemed she’d used all of her tears the night before.

“You alright in there?” the nurse called from the other side of the door.

“I’m fine, thanks,” Jade lied. “I’ll be out in a sec.” 

After a short while, Jade pulled down on the door handle but realized she was too weak to push it open. The nurse propped the door open and the two began the slow journey back to Jade’s bed.

Just as the nurse got Jade situated in the bed, a soft knock came from the other side of the room door.

“That must be Elise,” Jade’s thought aloud.

“You up for company, miss lady?” the nurse asked.

“Yeah …” Jade answered, breathing heavily from trying to find the most comfortable — or the least painful — position in the bed. 

“Come on in,” the nurse yelled toward the door, then walked to the faded pastel curtains to let the bright noon sun pour in.

The nurse turned to see the startled expression on Jade’s face.

“Melvin …” Jade said in a partial whisper. For the first time the sight of him made her shudder in fear.

“Uhh … you gon’ be OK, sweetie? Should I leave you two alone?” The nurse asked Jade, as if to say: “I can stay and call for back up if you need me to, girl.”

“I think I’m OK. I am a little hungry though,” Jade told her, as if to say: “I don’t even want to see any food, really, but just come back in a few minutes to check on me.”

The nurse nodded in understanding and left the room.

“Jade …” Melvin said finally, after a few moments of silent stares. He was trying to fight back tears. 

“Melvin,” Jade interrupted. “I’m so sorry for hurting you. There are no words to express just how sorry I am for the pain I’ve caused. I know that can never begin to take the pain away and I’ll understand if you never forgive me. Just know that I’m truly sorry, and I’ll be torturing myself for this for the rest of my life.”

“What was it, Jade? What did I do?”

“Nothing, Melvin. You’re perfect. I’m just the biggest idiot of life.”

“Perfect, huh? I wanna hate you … but I can’t stop loving you. You have any idea how that feels?” Melvin said as he crept closer to Jade’s bed, his tears flowing freely now. “I was up all night trying to figure out how I could kill you ’cause that’s the only way I can see myself without you.”

Jade’s fear escalated with Melvin’s every step. She didn’t think he was capable of causing harm, but she had never heard him speak of it either. “Melvin, please …” Jade begged. Could he really kill me? He just might kill me.

“Tell me something, Jade. How long were you gonna play this little game before you realized someone could get hurt, huh?” 

“Melvin, baby, just calm down and I’ll tell you everything, from beginning to end.”

“I’m calm, Jade, and I don’t need you to tell me how it went down,” Melvin seethed. He’d made it all the way to Jade’s bedside. “Your little boyfriend filled me in quite nicely when he brought his bright ass to my house last night.”

Jade had no response, but her eyes seemed to have replenished themselves and the tears poured down her face. 

” Are you hurtin’? Is it painful, Jade?” Melvin began to ramble as he hovered over his fiance. “You wanna know what pain really is, Jade?”

Melvin reached for the object in his pocket. Jade let out a harrowing scream.