yes
I can tell you what happened
yesterday
she took her clothes off
and started walking around
in the corridors
and past all the other residents
again
the senior nurse noticed
and asked me to do something about it
so I nicely took her by the hands
and led her to her room
she even smiled at me a little
though there’s not much expression
on her face
well
we entered the room
and oh
she was as quick as quick
and without any warning
she turned her hands over
and dug her nails into my wrist
really hard
I screamed
the pain was excruciating
and she forced me down to my knees
by digging harder
I thought she’d cut
right through
to an artery
it took all three of the other nurses
that I was on duty with
to prise her fingers out of me
oh
I was a hell of a mess afterwards
don’t worry about that
blood and tears
emotional trauma
gob-smacked
all last night I was nearly hysterical
and my husband got so angry
I think because he felt helpless
swore he wouldn’t let me go back
to work
the thing that stuck in my mind
was the way she stayed silent
showed nothing on her face
and yet I could tell she really meant it
really meant to hurt me
yes
I’m at work again today
I mean these people need care
don’t they
and someone has to do it
but enough of that
how is she doing in the acute unit
when is she likely to be discharged
we need to get ready
for when she comes back home
~