tobadzistsiniMar 28
I don't normally post revisions of my #wss366 stories but here we are.
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Memories of the patient from room 816 haunted her.
Two years ago, on New Years Day, a man with a chip on his shoulder and pistol in his pocket stormed into Morency Memorial.
That chip wasn't a government-issued, Israeli-made mind control chip but a grudge against the staff in the hospital where his wife succumbed to cancer. 1/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
Out of nowhere 816 stepped in front of Carly at the precise time one Thomas Houlihan pulled his trigger.
816 didn't rush.
816 wasn't being heroic.
816 just was.
And 816 was at the right place at the wrong time.
Even if it was only the right place for her.
Her black coffee was cold but she needed the caffeine to function after a full week of twelve hour days.
When Carly blinked her eyes, she replayed the terrible scene where 816 bled out from a head wound. 2/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
Blood was dark as her coffee.
Echoes of security wrestling the guy down rose to a long, insistent beep.
Mister Herrera in the ICU wanted a drink and the beep was his tapping out La Cucaracha.
Their little inside joke.
Carly never interacted with 816.
One of the doctors shared with her how the cops and EMTs said 816 ate half a kilogram of homegrown magic mushrooms. 3/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
816 was unconscious when he was wheeled in and he only regained it on the day he saved Carly's life.
After pouring a ginger ale for Hector while he flirted with her, she returned to her station.
But the folder left on her chair held her interest more than the dog-eared trashy romance novel face down on her desk. Xavier had followed through.
The folder's tab was labelled with "Lawrence Stipple. Room 816." 4/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
She thumbed through his documents, translating the jargon and getting the information she wanted. Her savior now had a name instead of a number.
By lunchtime, her work-wife Bernie was roped into taking her shift on Saturday as Carly now had other plans.
Stipple's sister looked younger despite being only twenty.
Carly hoped she didn't look older than her forty eight years.
"Hi, I'm Carly." Half a beat later, "Your brother saved me."
"Ginny." She looked behind herself, "Come in." 5/x
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Show threadtobadzistsini
Two cats inspected her sneakers as Carly got a lay of the land. Bookcases lined the living room. The flatscreen was off and dusty. Cat hair covered the couch and Lawrence Stipple, upon the same couch, waved to her.
Ammonium carbonate bit the inside of her nostrils, shaking her back to consciousness. All this time Carly thought fainting people was an old timey trope.
Live and learn.
Both Stipples regarded her with serious concern. 6/x
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Mar 28 at 1:38amWeb
Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
"You'll be okay." Lawrence helped her from the floor while Ginny watched. "You might say I knew this." He winked.
Before Carly could speak, Lawrence cut her off. "Yes. I am dead. Just not right now."
Citrus tea in a cup upon a mismatched saucer clattered on the coffee table for feline inspection.
"I am also unconscious in the hospital 817 days ago. It appears my #concerted effort to become unstuck in time actually worked." A skinny white cat curled covetously against his leg. 7/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
Carly squinted, "You don't have a twin?"
"Nope. Broke the mold. Now I can #slip through time as easily as a banana peel." He pet the cat. "I'm glad you showed up."
Something heavy thumped in the kitchen.
Sprawled across the checkerboard tile was Ginny. She was barely breathing.
From the other room, "She's diabetic! Been scrimping her insulin because it costs so damned much." 8/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
Automatically Carly checked vitals and scanned the counters for anything to help. She dug out a packet of sugar and sprinkled it in the girl's mouth before calling 911.
After the paramedics finished their work Carly ensured both cats were inside and safe, giving her a pretext to poke around and see where Lawrence might be hiding.
She was alone.
Save for the cats. 9/x
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Show threadtobadzistsiniMar 28
Rain had begun as she got into the car. Under her wiper was a note. "Thank you" was scribbled across loose leaf paper. "See you in 47 years." 10/10
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Show threadtobadzistsini5d ago
My soon-to-be ex-wife doesn't understand this story 😂🤣