Ty & Cinda, A Tale of Forbidden Love - S01 E17

1 week ago

Ty & Cinda, A Tale of Forbidden Love - S01 E17

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 17

I was on the gurney en route to the ambulance when an older gentleman in a grey suit and tie stopped the EMT's. "I'm Sheriff Barnham, Ty. I think you should press charges."

"For a basketball accident?"

"That was no accident. Everyone but you saw what happened. Take a look at the video on my phone." This game, because of its importance locally had been broadcast both on TV and radio. He held it up for me to see. I had just received the pass and turned when I saw the punch. My opponent had reared back and let me have it-a blind shot I'd never seen coming.

"It was deliberate, what a bastard! You bet I'll press charges on him. What do I have to do?"

"One of my deputies will bring the papers to you tomorrow morning. My men already have him in custody. He's eighteen, battery is big trouble and with your injuries it will be even worse." I laid back as they wheeled me out the door. Cinda waited there with my parents. She had tears in her eyes. I reached for her, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

She kissed my hand. "I don't think you'd say that if you saw your face." I hadn't. I'd gone straight to the shower once I had shed my bloody uniform. From there it was straight to where the doctor waited for me.

"What is it?"

"Your nose is swollen badly and you have one huge bruise covering both eyes and halfway down your cheek. Did the Sheriff speak with you?"

"Yes, he did. I'm pressing charges. I didn't realize it was a deliberate punch." I wanted to say more, but the EMT's chose that moment to whisk me away. It was my first time, and hopefully my last, in an ambulance. We tore down the country roads at an unsafe speed while my ECG was transmitted directly to the ER. They wheeled me out roughly twenty minutes later.

A young doctor came out to me, checking my pulse and breathing while I was wheeled in. "We need to wait for your parents, Ty. They need to sign the permission for treatment and possible surgery."

"No...I'm eighteen and I live with my wife in our own place. I can sign or my wife. She's with my folks."

"I think we should wait. That was one hell of a game you played. We had it on the radio. I have to hand it to you-you have a lot of guts. Orderly, put him into twelve." was moved from the ambulance gurney to a hospital bed. The orderly helped me out of my clothes, taking extraordinary care pulling my tee shirt over my head. I staggered up, my bare ass hanging out of the hospital gown to the bathroom. I was shocked-worse than shocked-when I saw my face in the mirror. I had to sit to take a leak. Cinda and my parents were there when I returned.

"Gee, Ty I can see your cute little butt. I think we should get some of these things for you to wear at home." I knew what Cinda was doing-putting up a brave front for me. The doctor explained what was needed-x-rays and possibly surgery. Did I have insurance? I already knew the answer to that-no! Cinda and I hadn't been sick for even an hour in the past ten years. Hell, neither of us had ever missed even a single day of school. Dad told the doctor he'd cover the cost. Cinda signed the form and I was sent in a wheelchair to X-ray. Ten minutes later the doctor showed us the results. My nose was clearly broken and there was a crack running down my cheek from my left eye to the side of my nose.

"There's nothing to be done with your cheek bone, Ty. That's just a matter of time. It'll heal on its own. Your nose, though, is another matter. I'll send in an orthopedic surgeon to speak with you."

He came in about fifteen minutes later. Looking at the x-ray he explained exactly what needed to be done. My septum needed to be straightened and several chips of bone and cartilage would be removed. "You'll be in a ton of pain any time someone touches your nose if they stay in there. Don't worry, this is routine surgery. I've done it probably two hundred times."

"What about playing ball, Doctor?" I could see Cinda cringe even as I asked the question. "Could I play with one of those masks, you know the kind I see college and NBA players use?"

"I could get you a mask, but probably not for another week to ten days once the swelling is down." He left us to deal with some other patients. I lay there holding Cinda's hand for almost an hour while the nurses prepped me. Then the orderlies came for me. I kissed her, told her how much I loved her and lay on the gurney while Mom kissed my cheek and Dad shook my hand. I could see how much they were shaken by what had happened. I was wheeled into the operating room. The last thing I recalled was one of the doctors talking to me, having me count down from a hundred and then I woke in what I was told was post-op. I was given a few sips of water and about a half hour later I was shown to a room, Cinda was there waiting along with my parents even though it was after one in the morning.

Cinda stayed even though Mom suggested she go home. She told me that Kenny had driven my truck to our home and would see to Fred tonight and tomorrow morning. I planned to be home later tomorrow aftemoon at the latest.

I was conscious, but weak when Mom and Dad left. "Cinda," I whispered, "Come in here with me...please."

"Ty, I'm afraid I'll hurt you and I'm sure it's against the rules."

"I know you won't and to hell with the rules. I love to have you close to me...please!" Shaking her head Cinda slowly and carefully climbed under the blanket. I wrapped my arm around her as she placed her head onto my shoulder. I faded into sleep moments later.

We were interrupted by a nurse at six. "May I ask what you think you're doing? Getting into bed with patients is strictly against the rules. Now get up before I throw you out of here."

"You'll do nothing of the sort. If she goes I'm going with her. It's a stupid rule. We sleep like this all the time at home. I asked her to do it because it makes me feel better. Isn't that the whole idea-to make me feel better? My wife is staying right where she is."

I pulled her back to me until she said, "I have to get up anyway unless you want me to pee on you." She was up a second later en route to the bathroom. I ate a really lousy breakfast, but I did learn that I was able to sit up fairly easily and without the raging headache I'd experienced last night. Cinda and I talked for more than an hour until the surgeon came to check on me around nine.

"I hear you're a terrible patient."

"No...I just don't see the need for some of these stupid rules.. Guess where my wife is going to sleep tonight. You are sending me home, aren't you?"

"Yes, there's no point in keeping you. I'll give you a prescription for painkillers. Be careful with them. They contain codeine. Ice on your face for fifteen minutes every hour for the next day, no driving and limited walking. Lean on your wife. I'll see you next Wednesday and we can talk about the mask. You going to remember all of

this."