Page 88 of Time to Bounce

I listened to him get ready to go and thought about how loud men were when they peed.

And wow, their bladders were massive. I’d have been straight to the bathroom this morning, no passing go. There’d be no time to talk.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t realize he was once again standing over me until he was leaning down, both fists on the bed, to give me a kiss.

I opened my eyes just in time to see his mouth descending on mine.

I kissed him back when his lips met my own and threaded my arms around his neck for good measure.

He chuckled as he went to pull back and I didn’t let go.

“Gotta go, honey.” He tickled me, causing me to let go with a squeak.

“Hey!” I cried, giggling as I came to rest on his pillow.

His eyes were sparkling as he said, “Call me when you leave there, and then when you get to work, okay?”

“Will do, sir.”

His eyes were twinkling as he left, and since I was really awake, I headed to the bathroom to get ready for my day.

Quincy arrived with Hollis in tow an hour later, and the two of them went into the hospital with me as I had my blood drawn.

After getting confirmation that I would hear the results at the end of the day, I caught a ride with the two of them to work and began my day.

By lunch, I’d almost forgotten to worry.

But by four, with three hours left on my shift, my stomach was in knots.

Maybe I was more worried than I was willing to admit.

By five, I was convinced I wasn’t getting a call.

By five thirty, I knew I wasn’t.

Just before six, though, my phone rang.

I hit pause on my calls and answered it.

“Hello?” I asked, voice quivering slightly.

“Hello, Ms. Murphy?” a female voice asked.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“This is Karrah Rhodes from North Texas ODA,” she said. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well, you?” I asked, despite not wanting to have small talk at all.

“Good.” I could hear the smile in her voice. “I just wanted to let you know that your blood work was fantastic. You’re a healthy individual and you’ll be a perfect candidate for NTODA.”

I didn’t hear much past ‘you’re a healthy individual.’

My heart soared as I thought about what that meant for me.

I wasn’t sick.

I wasn’t going to die.

---