Page 42 of Ask Another Day

‘OK, now I know you’re faking it. I’m not that heavy.’

‘Whatever you need to tell your– ow, did you pinch me?’

And despite the pain, and the embarrassment she was currently experiencing, she laughed.

‘Was totally worth it,’ he said.

‘What was?’

‘You don’t laugh enough, Holly. So if pinching me brings you joy, knock yourself out.’

‘Sir, is that really necessary?’ the nurse’s haughty voice cut in. ‘She should be on her feet and walking by herself.’

‘It really hurts if I stand on it,’ Holly offered in way of explanation for Seb’s over the top gesture.

The nurse tutted before asking, ‘Can you talk me through what happened?’ She nodded to a bed in a small curtained cubicle in the assessment area as Seb set her down and moved aside.

‘I fell off a stool in my kitchen–ow!’ Pain shot up her leg as the nurse pushed down on her ankle.

‘There’s very little swelling. Most likely a sprain from a fall like that,’ the nurse said dismissively. ‘Rest and elevate for a couple of days, but keep moving around on it. Otherwise it’ll seize up.’ She stood, and turned to leave.

‘She needs an X-ray,’ Seb stated.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘Apology accepted, Nurse,’ he studied her badge and then added, ‘Grace. But she needs an X-ray.’

‘She doesn’t meet the threshold for one.’

‘It’s OK, Seb. I’m sure she’s right.’ Holly acquiesced; shying away from the threat of conflict.

‘Can I speak with the supervising doctor please?’ Seb ignored Holly.

Nurse Grace tutted, but stalked off to speak to someone.

Holly waited a couple of minutes until the silence between them became too much.

‘Was that really necessary?’ she hissed out, ‘I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.’

‘Yes,’ was all he offered back.

‘Seb–’ but whatever she was going to say was cut short by Grace returning with a wheelchair. It seemed Seb had got his way, and she was off for her X-ray.

*

‘It’s a pilon fracture of the distal tibia,’ Grace explained thirty minutes later. Gone was the irritated nurse, and in her place was someone who was the picture of kindness and compassion. ‘It presents differently to a usual break, which is why a sprain was assumed. It’s often the result of a high-impact injury - snowboarding, car accidents… not falling off a stool.’

Holly’s head was swimming with all the information; plaster casts, six weeks, no weight bearing, possible surgery. This was bad. So bad. Grace had pulled up the X-ray and was pointing things out like any of it made any sense to Holly. And then she was gone and a different nurse bustled into her curtained cubicle.

‘Hi, Holly. I’m Gavin. I’ll be doing the cast.’

Holly nodded.

‘I’m afraid I need to cut these jeans.’

His pitying words snapped Holly out of her daze. She was wearing her favourite FatFace jeans.

‘Can’t we just roll them up?’