Creating space
"Can I have a word with you?"
She sat in a chair at the window and didn't answer. There was no response but he was used to people like her and things had to be said. It wasn't clear if she could speak since not one single word she had spoken yet but he knew she wasn't deaf.
"You cannot keep the dog it will be picked up by its owner today. As you know it was the dog who found you. I understand you are attached to it but this is a hospital and this means we have to keep the place clean. Today and tomorrow a nurse will come along with you for your next tests and after that, a social worker will have a chat with you. If they agree you can go back home."
He studied the papers attached to her bed. There was no address known and not one single name or phone number filled out to contact anyone about her release.
"I assume you have a home..."
The woman didn't answer.
"You cannot stat here, this place is for sick people only..."
Again he studied her file and as she didn't answer he left the room.
"Dog" he had said. The dog would go and so would she but she didn't want to go back home. Home was the place with the bed. Home means strapped to the bed and being alone, alone with a piece of chocolate or the chocolate wrap. She tried to remember what home looked like but except for the bed, straps, and the light beam on the wall she remembered nothing. If she had a home there was no way back to it. The home had to spit her out on the street and after that dog found her and brought her into the next room. A room with light and food, all kinds of food she had to eat, tried to eat or gave to dog. Some food she liked but there was no chocolate and no peanut butter and no poison. The lady that brought the food had told her she could eat it because it wasn't poisoned. She had helped her and showed her how to eat. Once you knew how to do it it was easy. The spoon, knife, and fork were handy and she learned fast how to use them just like the shower and the television set. Each day she had learned something new and now it was time to go home. Would anyone believe her if she said she had no home?
It was 1 pm as the door swung open after a loud knock. A boy's head came around the corner and whistled "Come here boy, come on Bear time to go home."
The old dog stood up and ran to the door. The boy stroke over his head and hesitated as he saw the young woman look at him.
"I'm sorry ma'am but the doctor told me to pick him up."
She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Bear goes home", she said.
Her voice sounded like the voice of a young child.
"He does, how about you?"
"No home." She looked sad.
"You have no home?"
The boy stepped into the room surprised by her answer.
"Are you sure you have no home? No one waits for you?"
She looked at him, thought hard, and said "no home!".
"I'll ask and you come live with me then, me and Bear. We have room, that's if you like to live with us."
Wow! You got me there, I was thinking she'd be left alone since the boy was only a child, but he gave her hope. Thanks so much. I hope this story still continues.