//------------------------------// // Delirium // Story: Trust Once Lost // by Greenhorne //------------------------------// I woke to a beeping sound. Oh right, I was in the hospital. I climbed out of bed, looking at my leg cast with disdain. Ugh, that was just great. I felt nauseated and had to stand still for a few seconds to settle my stomach. I couldn’t even remember which hospital I was in. I smoothed out the patient's bed I had been napping on as best I could with one hoof. Wait, hoof? Oh right, I was a pony now. My name was Green - that’s what they’ve been calling me. I looked around for my clipboard, which would have the handover sheet with my notes so I could remember what the heck was going on, but gave up when I heard another beep. I sighed. Why can’t they just answer patient calls, they must know I’m on my break. I walked out into the hall, squinting as my eyes struggled to adjust to the brighter lights, my eyes hurt. I saw the call light above a patient room and knocked softly before entering. I grumbled for a moment about not knowing how to answer the call light in this facility, but such was life when you were working for an agency. "Hi," I greeted, "My name is Green, I'm one of the nurses looking after you tonight, did you need some help?" A red stallion with both his forelegs in plaster looked at me and smiled. "I think you're a little young to be a nurse sweetie." The stallion condescended. I gave him a stern expression. "Aren't you the cutest lil' thing!" He exclaimed, "Are you lost?" Ugh, I was too tired for this crap. "Sir, please don't refer to me or my colleagues with that type of language, it's disrespectful." I explained curtly, "We are professionals. We treat you with respect and we would ask that you give us the same courtesy." The patient looked appropriately contrite, but also very confused. Maybe I should check his mental state? "Green!" There was a stern voice from behind me, "What are you doing?" I cocked my head to the side in confusion and followed the other nurse out into the hallway. "Green," The blue nurse scolded, "I know you're trying to help, but you can't go in other patient's rooms, okay?" "Geeze, all right," I rolled my eyes, "It's not like I'm trying to steal your patients. Have you seen my handover sheet? I can't find it anywhere." The pink Pegasus at the nurses' station covered her mouth with a wing before bursting into a fit of giggles. "Oh Celestia!" She exclaimed, "That's so adorable!" "Please don't encourage her." The blue Unicorn had broken eye contact and was clearly suppressing the urge to smile. "All right Greenie," The pink Pegasus said in a bubbly voice, "Let's get you back to bed and you can worry about all that in the morning, okay?" The pink Pegasus burst forward with a small flap of her wings and I had the sudden fear that she would crash into me, she was so much bigger than me, I’d be crushed. I leaped away - and smacked my cast into the wall. Pain erupted from my leg. I let out a short scream of pain before I managed to force my mouth closed. I squeezed tight my eyes and I could feel tears forming. It will pass. Focus. Breathe. "Oh my gosh," The nurse exclaimed, "Are you okay?" "I'll live." I tried to keep my voice even. I failed and had to choke back a sob. It took three long, shuddering breath cycles before the pain reduced to a level where I could relax enough to open my eyes. Two enormous eyes filled my vision, staring at me. I jerked my head back, quickly getting to my hooves - and smashing my head into the handrail on the wall. There was an audible thunk, but it didn't really hurt at all, at least not compared to my leg. I heard a gasp of shocked concern from the nurse. "I'm okay!" I said automatically, "Sorry, I'm just a bit clumsy tonight. Ugh, so tired. Can you watch my patients for a moment while I get some coffee?" The world was tinted blue, and she gently lifted me into the air. It didn't feel like I was falling, or being lifted by anything. I was more like floating in pleasantly warm, but fizzy water. I could feel the concern and reassurance of the Unicorn flowing through the magic she was using to lift me. When she tucked me into bed, I could barely keep my eyes open. "I'm jus' gonna res' my eyes for a momen'." I mumbled, "Wake me if anything happens, okay?" I yawned. "Just get some rest." She said in a soothing tone, "We'll take care of everything." "You guys are awesome..." I drifted off before I even finished the sentence.