the hospital

The screeching of slipping feet against the linoleum struck him out of a peaceful slumber. He tossed over and put his hands over his ears to block out the sound. But alas, it was futile. He sat up as he saw his maid vacuuming the floor outside. She looked started and immediately stopped.

In the mirror opposite, Henry could see his disheveled hair was sticking up in odd places and his bloodshot eyes made him faintly look like a character from a teen vampire chick flick.

"Sir, I apologize for disturbing. I thought you had already--"

Henry stopped her in his tracks as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stretched with a magnificent yawn, "Eh, it's nine. I probably should already be at the hospital as visiting hours start at ten. You woke me up at the right time, Manu."

His silk pajamas chafed against the warm cocoon his comforter had created as he got out. He closed his door and waited for the cleaning to continue before he began to get ready for the day.

=//=

He'd picked a snug beige sweater and simple jeans to wear today. In one of his hands was a bouquet of yellow tulips that the lady at the gift shop had reassured him was appropriate to give an older man. She had tried to explain the significance of flower colors before he had quickly paid and exit the shop.

He got into the elevator and closed his eyes as a nurse entered behind him.

"Who are you here for?"

"I'm looking for the ICU."

"That's the third floor" The nurse hit the button for him before pressing one above his. She surveyed the level change as they were in the tight space.

"A handsome man like you is probably here to visit a beautiful young lady now are you with those beautiful tulips."

Henry sheepishly looked at the bouquet in his hands. "I asked that they wouldn't look so feminine."

"Oh my goodness, excuse me, are you here to see your father?"

Henry knew he could correct her and have her give him a look of sympathy. It was the same empty apology everyone gave him when they found out his father's fate. Instead he gave her an easy smile, "Father figure, I guess. So you are correct."

Just as he said this the elevator to his floor opened and he stepped out. Behind him the nurse bellowed, "Well I'll pray for you, honey. I hope he gets out of here soon."

Henry nodded and waved at the nurse before turning back to survey the signs in front of him. He found a long empty corridor with numbering. The system didn't really make sense to him as it was numbered strangely. He saw a older gentlemen with a breathing tube who had appeared with a walker from one of the rooms. Henry remembered that patients often would take daily laps around the hospitals so he assumed the gentlemen would know his way around. He asked, "Hello sir, I'm looking for the ICU could you direct me? Am I on the right floor?"

The patient nodded as the air was pumped up his nose. His hands shook as he pointed down the hall. He didn't seem to be capable of more refined speech so Henry decided he would be better off figuring it out on his own.

He walked down to the next hallway and found a bright sign that blared the destination. He set his bouquet down on the nurses station and waited for one to finish her call.

"Yes I know Patient 43 peed himself and his sheets need to be changed, but that is not my department. I changed beds for him, but we're still waiting for housekeeping to clean everything up. We have patients waiting to occupy that bed. You're stalling us." She angrily put the phone back on it's hook as she put her hands on her forehead and pulled the skin in little circles.

Henry cleared his throat, "Hello."

The nurse looked up at him in irritation, "What do you want?"

"I was wondering if you could help me find a patient?"

The nurse lifted an eyebrow.

"Go Jo Duel?"