As much as the anesthetic had taken the edge off of last night's surgery, Soma had still been in considerable pain when she'd finally manage to drift off, Lingormr still at her side. It was the pain that woke her, too, though it had thankfully receded somewhat.
But her head was clear for the first time in days, and as far as she could tell, her fever was gone. The soreness in her muscles seemed to have relocated itself almost entirely to her abdominal region, but that was only to be expected after what had happened. Hesitantly, she raised her arm, and she couldn't help but exhale slowly when she saw the rash had faded significantly.
It worked, she thought, and it was stupid, but the sudden wave of relief, magnified in part by Marie's own emotions, brought tears to her eyes. It was a moment before she could swallow the lump in her throat and wipe her face with her sheet.
Sitting up immediately seemed like a bad idea. Instead she had to wait until her nurse arrived, and not even her explanation for what had happened (some kind of suicide attempt? Really?) could dampen the joy she felt. Maybe it was a little early to consider herself out of the woods, but she couldn't really bring herself to care. Instead she kept quiet as the nurse assisted her into a wheelchair and escorted her to the cafeteria.
Lingormr's face was the first she looked for as she entered. The cafeteria was still mostly empty, and he was easy to find. Still, when she told her nurse she'd like to sit with him, all she got in response was a frown and a faint shake of her head. She'd been spending too much time with Lawrence, the nurse said as she filled Soma's tray with fruit and water. Evidently they thought he'd had something to do with her so-called suicide attempt, as if he'd encouraged her to do it or something equally stupid.
Soma could see trying to argue the point would have been a waste of breath, and even breathing held a certain kind of ache to it. She didn't quite feel up to calling across the room to him, but she managed a wave and a wan smile as the nurse wheeled her past.
Left at an empty table with her breakfast and an admonishment to make more friends, she stuck her fork in a chunk of cantaloupe and frowned slightly. She might be feeling better, but her appetite hadn't entirely returned yet.
no subject
But her head was clear for the first time in days, and as far as she could tell, her fever was gone. The soreness in her muscles seemed to have relocated itself almost entirely to her abdominal region, but that was only to be expected after what had happened. Hesitantly, she raised her arm, and she couldn't help but exhale slowly when she saw the rash had faded significantly.
It worked, she thought, and it was stupid, but the sudden wave of relief, magnified in part by Marie's own emotions, brought tears to her eyes. It was a moment before she could swallow the lump in her throat and wipe her face with her sheet.
Sitting up immediately seemed like a bad idea. Instead she had to wait until her nurse arrived, and not even her explanation for what had happened (some kind of suicide attempt? Really?) could dampen the joy she felt. Maybe it was a little early to consider herself out of the woods, but she couldn't really bring herself to care. Instead she kept quiet as the nurse assisted her into a wheelchair and escorted her to the cafeteria.
Lingormr's face was the first she looked for as she entered. The cafeteria was still mostly empty, and he was easy to find. Still, when she told her nurse she'd like to sit with him, all she got in response was a frown and a faint shake of her head. She'd been spending too much time with Lawrence, the nurse said as she filled Soma's tray with fruit and water. Evidently they thought he'd had something to do with her so-called suicide attempt, as if he'd encouraged her to do it or something equally stupid.
Soma could see trying to argue the point would have been a waste of breath, and even breathing held a certain kind of ache to it. She didn't quite feel up to calling across the room to him, but she managed a wave and a wan smile as the nurse wheeled her past.
Left at an empty table with her breakfast and an admonishment to make more friends, she stuck her fork in a chunk of cantaloupe and frowned slightly. She might be feeling better, but her appetite hadn't entirely returned yet.
[for Nina!]