Two Worlds Collide

Part 2...to follow "Mystery Illness"

The short, sleepless night blended into the next day. The nurse’s aide who was on duty saw that I was on a “heart healthy” diet and promised she’d slip me some salt from time to time. What more could I ask for?

The day dragged by: more tests, more negative results. I made up the story that the doc treating me was noting in my file that I belonged on a psych ward and should be treated for hypochondria. He was patient and thorough but just as baffled as I was.

Then it started. Marcus called to say that he wanted to come to visit me when he got off work. I told him that I simply must watch the finale of Dancing with the Stars, so a visit wouldn’t be possible.

He insisted. “I just want to see you for a few minutes and look into your eyes again.” How could I say “No” to that?

Dave had been calling off and on all day, seemingly concerned that he had abandoned me at the hospital. During the last call, he told me, “You know, the hospital is right on my way home from work. I think I’ll stop by for a quick visit.” Gulp.

Now dating two guys at the same time in the early stages is one thing. However, having them both in the same hospital room at the same time is quite another.

“Oh Dave, you are just too kind, but that’s probably not a good idea. I may have other friends stopping by and I really want to watch Dancing with the Stars and…”

He interrupted, “I won’t stay long. I just want to stop by to see you and hold your hand a few minutes.”

Oh my gosh! This was going to happen. My two short-term suitors were going to show up in my hospital room at the same time. I couldn’t get the image of Marcus gazing into my eyes while Dave held my hand out of my mind. I rationalized that if there was any blood shed, at least we were already in the hospital.

I got up the nerve to look in the mirror. Whoa, scary. I lay back down quickly. I tried to remember the last time I’d brushed my teeth or combed my hair, not exactly top priorities in hospital ERs. So many tubes and leads were attached to me that I had not even seriously considered taking a bath. Nope… I predicted the guys wouldn’t be staying long at all.

Marcus arrived first… with flowers in hand. (big sigh) Any other time I would have seen this as the lovely gesture that it was. Right now all I could think about was how I could produce a make-shift “vase” and get the flowers into water without flashing my backside that showed through the huge slit up the back of my lovely hospital gown. And where could I place the bouquet so that Dave wouldn’t notice it… (I’m not sure why I worried about him noticing the flowers when noticing Marcus was clearly the larger concern.)




I grabbed my water pitcher, put it in the sink and stuck the flowers in it without even removing the green paper…all this with one hand, while the other held my gaping gown together.

I nestled back into my bed and attempted to untangle all my tubes and leads. Marcus took my face in his hands to gaze into my eyes.

The door opened. “Hey Dave. Have you met Marcus?”




They shook hands …then Marcus sat in a chair on the right side of my bed while Dave took the one on the left side. The thought ran through my head, “Ok, this is the perfect amount of awkwardness.”

Then the door opened again.

The night nurse appeared. Good, maybe she could save me from this uncomfortable situation and demand that they leave. It didn’t happen.

Instead she positioned herself at the foot of my bed and wanted to discuss…(are you ready for this?)… my bowel movements. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse. If I were seriously trying to make up questions about bowel movements, I could never have come up with as many as she threw at me. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally left.

A long pause followed. I pretended to watch TV. Dave eventually stood and said, "Well, I'd better be going now. Oh, who gave you the flowers?"


Ava's website (www.edatinginsight.com)