“I can do it myself,” Xin Tian says through gritted teeth, already sweating from the simple act of sitting up in the bed. The middle-aged nurse has enough experience to know better than to trust a patient, especially a young guys who think they are Superman. They never know their limits.
“Do you want me to lose my job?” the nurse scolds as she places the wooden board across the bed to the wheelchair. She uses her arms and legs to stabilize him, “Now use your only use your upper body to move yourself to the chair.”
“I know what to do.” Xin Tian puffs, his arms already trembling from just pivoting onto the board.
“Be careful—,”
“I said I’ve got it.” Tian grabs the top edge of the plank and uses all his strength to slide his body over. The shift of his body’s weight along the board forces it down on his fingers. He barely stops himself from cursing at the pain.
The nurse helps him move back, freeing his fingers. She helps guide him into the wheelchair. As much as his hand throbs, his pride is hurt worse. He held the push-up record in his unit and now he can’t even move his ass out of bed.
The nurse lifts the wheelchair’s armrest back into place. The metal click sounds like prison bars trapping him inside. He can’t live like this.
“Now we're going to transfer you back to the bed.”
He grips the arms of the chair tight, trying to hide the shaking in his own, “Shouldn’t we go for a spin?”
The only place worse than this chair is the bed. He is tired of being on his back. He is tired of being a useless piece of trash.
“We are only doing the transfer today. Small steps.” The nurse reminds him
Tian moves his hands to the wheels. “I’m fine,” he says, and using all his remaining strength, he pushes. The chair doesn’t budge, but his body, off balance, topples forward. He is sure he is going to face-plant into the floor.
Instead, he finds himself cushioned in warm softness and the smell of jasmine and talcum. It reminds him of snuggling into the freshly washed sheets his grandmother had dried on the line. It takes him a second to realize that his pillow is attached to a body. He can feel his face heat up, and he braces his hands against the arms of the chair, forcing himself upright as he mumbles an apology.
“Are you hurt?” A soft voice, not belonging to his nurse, whispers.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Tian’s humiliation increases tenfold when he realizes who his savior his.
Cao Niu Ju straightens up, her face red with embarrassment over their awkward position. She is glad that she arrived in time, but now she doesn’t know where to look. She studies the tops of her old, worn sneakers like they are a masterpiece painting as she shifts back in forth.
“Thank you, Miss Cao,” Xin Tian says, “What are you doing here?”
Cao Niu Ju isn’t sure what to say. He probably never wanted to see her again after she made her outburst and ran away last time. However, she made a promise to herself and him, so she will keep it. She will stand beside him until he recovers, if he is willing to let her.
“The wheels are locked,” she blurts out, stating the obvious.
“Oh.” Xin Tian replies, not sure what else to say.
The nurse saves them from another awkward silence, “I have other patients. Let’s finish up so you and you’re girlfriend can enjoy your visit.”
“We’re not dating.” Both of them burst out in sync.
The nurse gives them a ‘yeah right’ look, but doesn’t argue. She lowers the arm of the chair again and replaces the board. Xin Tian looks between the nurse and Cao Niu Ju, who are both waiting for him to perform. After the struggle to get into the chair and embarrassing himself several times already, he is hesitant to attempt it again. The piece of wood bridging from the chair to the bed seems to grow longer in front of his eyes with every passing moment.
“Move, soldier.” A stern voice commands.
Years of military conditioning send Tian into action. He grabs onto the board, this time careful to keep his fingers on the side. He pulls his weight across the 90cm chasm and onto the bed. The nurse guides his leg back into an elevated position carefully.
Cao Niu Ju brings him a drink of water. “Wow, you did that so quickly.”
Tian can feel the ache in his arms from the strain. The muscles he had spent years developing had rapidly deteriorated after only a couple of weeks in the hospital. However, it soothes his ego a bit that even in his weakened condition, he can still impress a lady.
“How did you know I was a soldier?” he asks, wondering how she knew what would motivate him into action.
Cao Niu Ju looks pointedly at the black T-shirt. He follows her gaze down to the white snow leopard insignia on the left side of his chest and the initials PLA written beneath.
The nurse finishes writing in his chart. “I’ll be back same time tomorrow. Don’t push yourself too hard trying to show off. Let her help you if you need anything.”
Cao Niu Ju and Xin Tian are left alone, except for the five other patients as an audience. Still nervous about her welcome, especially after she snapped at him, she digs into her purse for the gift she brought. She holds out a package of individually wrapped Haw Flakes.
“Would you like some? It’s nice to have something sweet after working hard.”
She places one roll in his hand and distributes the rest around the room.
He hasn’t had these since he was a kid, Xin Tian thinks, placing the thin disc in his mouth. The initial sweetness melts into the tanginess of hawthorn berries, and once again he is reminded of home. It’s the taste of hot summer nights and sneaking snacks into the bedroom to share with his brother.
Cao Niu Ju turns back to Xin Tian to give a quick farewell after distributing the snacks around the room before she rushes off to her job interview, but he is already asleep. She leaves the remaining packages on the table beside the bed and whispers, “See you tomorrow.” As she walks out the door, she feels slightly lighter than before.
