The phone sounded with a low buzz as it lay on the bed cover. I flipped it over so it wouldn’t light up the darkening hospital room too much. It was Isobel and she hadn’t been to see me in nearly two weeks. I flipped it into my hand and answered the call.

“Galway home for the criminally insane, how may I direct your call?”

I heard a girlish snigger.

“I’m sorry but my voice recognition software doesn’t work properly with laughter,” I said.

“You know it’s me, Isobel,” she said.

“Yes, I do. Where have you been? Is everything ok?”

“Yes, I’m good, there’s been a bit of an upheaval at home that I had to try and navigate.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound good,” I said. “Can I do anything to help?”

“Not really, my sister caught her husband with another woman.”

“At least it wasn’t another man, that’d be awkward.”

“Yeah, maybe I should mention that to her.”

“Sorry for the flippancy, Isobel; gallows humor. So what’s the story?”

”I just came back here to collect my stuff. I have to go home, everyone’s in a tizzy.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, “I was looking forward to getting out of here this week. What about your job?”

“I’m going back to work so I can be close to home. My Mam is taking it hard and I want to make sure she’s ok.”

“I understand.”

“When are you getting out?”

“The doctor is coming around tomorrow, so I hope it’s in the next few days at least.”

“Will you call me when you get out? I’d love to see you.”

“I’ll text you when I get the all clear,” I said.

“Thanks, I’ve missed our little meetings,” she said.

“Me too, but your mother is more important at the moment.”

“Yeah. Hopefully I’ll see you again,” she said and the line went dead.

I returned the phone to its place on the bed and pulled a file folder out of my locker. I took out two documents that Peter had given me and read them both thoroughly. I’d need my wits about me to pull this off. I was about to return them to the folder when Críona stuck her head around the door after opening it silently.

“Hey, Babe,” I said.

She nodded at the papers and the file folder. “What have you got there?”

“Just some stuff that Peter gave me.”

I closed the file and put it under my pillow.

“I’ll be finishing work soon. Can I get you anything before I leave?

“What have you got?”

“Water, tea, coffee …”

“Why don’t you take that uniform off and slip in here beside me.”

“Tony! You know I can’t.”

“Ok, it was worth a shot I suppose.”

“So do you want anything besides that?” she asked, her arms folded across her breasts.

“No thanks, I’m good, love. I think I’ll run down and have a smoke outside, it’s too early to shut down for the night.”

“Ok, well good luck in the morning, I’ll see you before rounds.”

“Can I have a kiss goodnight then?”

She laughed, walked over to me and leaned her face towards mine. “Do you ever stop?”

“No,” I smiled as I pulled her lips closer.

She shook herself free and straightened her hair. “Will I wheel you to the door?”

“I’ll wheel you, Críona, I need the exercise.”