Blindsided 2

“How did this happen?” the doctor asked, daring to shine a light in Cassandra’s eyes.  Cassandra’s involuntary flinch as she grabbed both sides of her head and rocked concerned her, indicating extreme light sensitivity. She continued her examination then said, “Be right back.”

Dr. Freeman walked to the phone and placed a call to another hospital down island.  A few moments passed.  Cassandra tried to eavesdrop on the one-sided conversation but only managed to catch a few words which indicated an immediate trip down island.

Walking back to where the two women waited, Dr.  Freeman said, “Cassandra, an excellent Ophthalmologist, Dr. Jamison, will meet you at emergency at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon at the Comox hospital.”

“Ok, good.”  Her answer was quiet and relieved.

“As he hasn’t seen you and can’t make a diagnosis, all I can do for the moment is give you something to ease the pain, so we don’t complicate or confuse what is.”

“Thank god for drugs!” she laughed. “Never thought I’d hear myself say that, since the Tylenol didn’t do much to help I’m afraid.  I guess once I exceed my pain threshold, nothing seems to help.”

“I believe there’s more to it than that Cassandra, but I’m not sure what. If anyone can come up with answers, he can.” She gently patted Cassy’s hand.

“Do you have a ride?”

Without hesitation, Maggy piped up, “She sure does, with me!

They left the emergency room after a shot of morphine was administered and, although it hadn’t yet taken effect, Cassandra desperately hoped it would and soon.

Maggy drove her home, unlocked the door and walked her inside.  “You going to be alright, or would you like me to grab a bag and come back?  It would make things less complicated in the morning.”

“Ordinarily, I’d say no worries, but tonight, I think it might be a really good idea.  The doctor did say that I could go back for another shot of morphine because once this and the Tylenol wear off, I’ll need one.  That way I can travel down island flying high and feeling no pain,” she joked.

Maggy touched her hand, “Ok, I’ll be 20 minutes tops, just have to grab an overnight bag and I’ll be back.  Can I get anything for you while I’m out?  Chocolates, food, Tom Cruise…you know, that little extra something to help take your mind off your problems?”

Cassandra laughed half-heartedly, ”Oh, Tom might help, but one look at me and he’d bolt I’m sure.”

“Well good, because I don’t know where he is today; the Bahamas, Sweden, Italy, it could be tough tracking him down….back a.s.a.p.” she promised closing and locking the door behind her.

Cassandra plopped down on the chesterfield, tears streaming down her face, and then she was sobbing….the pain was intolerable. “God what am I going to do?” She cried to an empty room.  “Please morphine, kick in, this is just so bad….so bad!”  For someone who rarely cried, she sobbed buckets and Maggy was shocked to find her weeping into her hands when she returned.

“Cassandra?”

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