Page 25 of Motivating Mira
“Nah, he’s still as pretty as ever.”
A page came over the speakers for him, and he left with a wave.
I looked at Wes with raised brows. “Dr. D?”
And just like that all the tension was broken as he explained the reason behind the name.
“And there it was, a Grimace-sized purple penis in Liza’s hand with my name printed in all caps by the nurse’s station’s label maker, stuck to it.”
By the time our trays were empty, my eyes were wet, and my ribs were hurting from laughing. I hadn’t laughed in a long time,let alone to the point of tears. I was still beaming when I turned into my mom’s room ten minutes later.
“Mira?”
I looked at the frail woman, who had been fast asleep when I left, and immediately felt guilty for the smile on my face.
“Hi, Mom, everything okay?”
“I thought you went home.”
“No, I just went for dinner downstairs in the cafeteria. Remember I asked if you wanted anything?”
“Oh yeah. Good, I’m glad you got some food in you.” Her voice was raspy and weak. “You’ve lost weight.”
The irony of those words coming from a woman who was little more than a skeleton herself, might have made me laugh if it weren’t so tragic.
“I eat, Mom. In fact, I eat too much when I’m here. I’m going to need to buy a bigger wardrobe soon because while I may have lost weight before, I’m quickly gaining it back.”
I moved to fix her nasal cannula which had shifted. And it was true. Firstly, because I’d been very conscious about my eating habits ever since Wes scolded me that night she’d been admitted. I hadn’t been lying earlier when I’d told him I’d had a big lunch. He’d reminded me that it was an issue and as a capable person, I’d realized he was right and took action.
Now, no matter how exhausted I was, I remembered to eat. And secondly, because he kept pulling stunts like he had today and buying me food.
She lifted her hand and waved away my statement. “Pfft. You’re gorgeous.”
I smiled, reminded of my insecure teen years when she’d stood behind me in the bathroom, our reflections staring back at us in the mirror, and told me this same thing every single day.
“You always say that.”
“It’s true. And ten pounds either way can’t change that.”
I didn’t argue, I just sat down in the chair beside her, because she’d only double down and I didn’t want her wearing herself out.
“As much as I enjoyed seeing the smile on your face when you walked in, you don’t need to be here. You should go home.”
“Mom!”
Two days later, I was at her bedside again, only this time my feet were propped next to hers on the bed. I had my laptop perched on her tray table playingThe Notebook, but I was watching her more than the movie. She was supposed to be getting released the next day, which is why I left the whole day free on my calendar with Professor Stahlbaum. I wanted to make sure Mom was totally settled before I left her. I wouldn’t be seeing her as much once she was home. Not because I didn’t want to though. We had an agreement. I was only allowed to visit on the weekends unless she was in the hospital or I was in town for an appointment or errand.
“Did you eat today?”
“Did you?” I countered.
“I certainly tried. This fine establishment served fish sticks, frozen mixed veggies, the peas and carrots kind, and my favorite, the just-add-water mashed potatoes. And it just kept getting stuck. Almost as if stuff like that was never meant to be consumed.”
I laughed. “I can bring you something from the cafeteria, you know.”
“I’m fine. Nothing I eat goes down well lately. And before you say anything, yes, Dr. Martin knows, and he’s informed DrBiard. I spoke to him when he did rounds earlier. But anyway, I was asking about you.”
I sighed. “You don’t need to, remember? I checked just for you, and I’ve gained three pounds.”
