Thursday, March 31, 2011

In Closing

While I sat in the Urgent Care room, its chilly pleather aqua blue and mauve chair squeaking beneath my restless twisting and turning, they told me it was the last time. I was given the script for antibiotics that would drain my credit card and destroy my guts. It's been two weeks I've been sick, maybe three, it's hard to remember now.

We'll culture your sample, we're shocked its never been cultured before, with your history.

I don't go to doctors.

Your sample was incredibly dilute.

I drank 96 oz of water since 7am to keep the pain down.

Infections can be resistant to all but the most exotic antibiotic.

Great

They listened to heart and lungs. Peered into ears, eyes, nose and tonsils. Tapped an aching back. The doc was excellent, thorough.

It's the last time. Another, in a month or less, you'll need to go to a Urologist.

I don't go to doctors.

You've likely already damaged your bladder and possibly kidneys.

My face in my hands I stare at blue smears on a composite tile floor, all a fluorescent white, burning my eyes...

...I'm cold.

(another sketch for a short story)