Real Life (2002)
“Lucia and Elaine have been waiting an hour when finally Lucia rises, walks down the hall to the desk, and points this out to the uniformed woman there. The woman replies briskly, not looking at Lucia, “We know you’re waiting.” Then less harshly, “It won’t be long now.” Lucia says, “I’m only telling you because of the sign.”
“Mmmmm,” the woman says, snapping shut a drawer, and Lucia realizes she has once again entered can’t-win-land. As she reseats herself beside Elaine she tells herself that th...is is quite possibly funny, that some day she may laugh about it.
She reaches over and takes Elaine’s small, slightly polio-deformed, very white hand in hers. Elaine grasps hers tightly, although otherwise she doesn’t move or change her expression. She sits in her wheelchair, the clear plastic of her oxygen nose-piece glistening on her upper lip, ignoring even the television, normally her favourite source of entertainment, that blats away next to her.
Every chair in the waiting area is occupied by patients or their companions.MoreLess
“Mmmmm,” the woman says, snapping shut a drawer, and Lucia realizes she has once again entered can’t-win-land. As she reseats herself beside Elaine she tells herself that th...is is quite possibly funny, that some day she may laugh about it.
She reaches over and takes Elaine’s small, slightly polio-deformed, very white hand in hers. Elaine grasps hers tightly, although otherwise she doesn’t move or change her expression. She sits in her wheelchair, the clear plastic of her oxygen nose-piece glistening on her upper lip, ignoring even the television, normally her favourite source of entertainment, that blats away next to her.
Every chair in the waiting area is occupied by patients or their companions.MoreLess
Read book Real Life for free
Write Review:
Guest
Read Also
9 / 10
8 / 10
User Reviews: