This story is by Stephanie Newbern and was part of our 2024 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Aileen stared out the window of her room, eyes wide open. She recognized the backs of the two people bursting into the hallway. It was the middle of the night, and even though Aileen squints when it’s dark, she would recognize their figures anywhere. She placed a hand to her mouth to keep from waking her fellow residents, even though she could barely make a sound.
The man, out of breath, pounded on the desk bell. “Nurse, nurse! Anyone around? Hello!” A woman, standing next to him, rubbed her belly with nervous hands.
The nurse, sleepily walked out to the desk, from behind a door. She let out a low sigh when she saw the man and woman but managed a professional smile. “Yes, I’m Nurse Callahan. How can I help?”
“Cut the crap,” retorted the man. “You know damn well who we are, and why. Cedric, and my daughter Bitsy, remember? I think my wife was trying to hurt herself again. What do you know about it?”
Nurse Callahan wanted to roll her eyes but didn’t dare. “Nope, don’t know nothin’. Been quiet all evening. And you know Aileen’s just trying to cause trouble again.”
Aileen’s room was about three doors down from the front entrance and main hallway.
Oh, my dear Cedric, please get me out of here! Clutching her wedding ring and wringing her hands, she pressed her head against the locked door, straining to hear the voices. How I wish you could hear how badly I want to leave!
Cedric side-eyed the nurse. “Not sure if I believe you, but that figures. She’s always wanted the spotlight, but why couldn’t she get attention just by being a decent mother to Bitsy?” Cedric made air quotes with his hands.
Bitsy grabbed Cedric’s arm and doubled over from the stress. “Dad, the baby’s kicking again. I wish Mom was here to help.”
“Oh, hon, I’m sorry for all this,” Cedric cuddled Bitsy in his arms. “Please, please keep an eye on Aileen. We didn’t want to send her here, but we had no choice. She was a crappy mom to Bitsy, but maybe Aileen can be a good grandma one day. If she gets well enough to get outta here, that is.”
Aileen could feel her heart skip a beat. Oh my goodness, I’m going to be a grandma?! Why didn’t anyone tell me? She wanted to scold her husband and daughter, but she knew it wasn’t their fault. Aileen recalled what a failure she was as a mother but allowed herself to picture one day holding her soon-to-be grandbaby in her arms. One day soon! I wonder if it’s a boy or girl.
“Yep, will do,” Nurse Callahan tried to keep her exasperation unnoticed, as she hurried and escorted Cedric and Bitsy out the door. Why don’t these people just stay away and leave me alone, the nurse wondered. “Sorry, it’s very late, and I gotta do my night runs. Drive home safe before the storm comes,” she waved.
Aileen mouthed the words, No, don’t leave! Come back, come back! The locking of the front doors seemed louder than anything she heard before. It’s too quiet. I can hear a pin drop in this icky place! She closed her eyes hard to fight back the tears and forced herself to turn away from the door. Aileen shook her head, trying to forget she watched her family leave yet again, defeated.
Aileen’s hands wrung tighter. Why was I so stupid? If only I’d gotten myself together and focused harder on raising Bitsy. Dear God, please let me be able to talk again!
A key unlocked in the door. This time it wasn’t in the hallway; it was much closer. And louder. Aileen’s legs nearly buckled underneath her from the dread overcoming her. She was too petrified to move.
“So! You think you’re smart, eh? You called them, didn’t you? Well, I’ll fix that right now.” Nurse Callahan reeked of cigarettes. Aileen suspected she smoked whenever she was caught off guard by visitors.
The nurse stormed into the room, to Aileen’s locked treasure chest she kept hidden under her bed. Nurse Callahan pulled at the lock with such force that it struck the outside window of her room with a clunk. When she found Aileen’s smartphone, she cackled.
“You will never call them again,” the nurse seethed, thrusting the phone in Aileen’s face. “You are MY responsibility now.”
Aileen could only shiver. She continued to try and steady her legs.
Nurse inched closer to Aileen until their noses were only a few inches apart. “I am so damn sick of your family coming here all the damn time. Haven’t I taken care of you good enough?” She held her hands close to her chest. “You had your chance with them. I need a family now. And you’re the only one who will let me care for you. REALLY care for you.” Nurse grabbed Aileen in a bear hug, and running her hands through Aileen’s thinning, gray hair.
“I need you so much,” Nurse repeated, in a whisper. “Forget about them. You have me now.”
As Nurse brushed past Aileen, on her way out, she paused, turning back to face her. “And another thing. I got you to not talk, didn’t I? And I’ll fix you so you can’t make ANY sound at all, if you keep it up. You try again to call them, and I’ll tell everyone here, what you did.”
When the door slammed, Aileen finally fell to the floor, sobbing. She tried not to think about the past three years, but she recalled like a movie she couldn’t stop watching. She pounded her fists together in frustration.
One day I’m scolding my daughter. The next, I’m thrown into this snake pit! Oh, how that nurse scares the piss out of me. But what else could I do? She wouldn’t let me eat unless I gave her ‘what she wanted’. Why me? Why did she have to do it to me? Was I put on this Earth simply for her entertainment, just because she was lonely? Was I that bad of a mother to Bitsy, to deserve this treatment! I haven’t been able to say one word since…that night, that awful night with the nurse, that I’ll never forget, as long as I live. What she did to me was just… Aileen shook her head again, and this time, managed a scream. She clamped a hand over her mouth a second later.
Aileen heard voices again. Laughing voices. Are they laughing at me? She wondered.
“Did you hear what that nurse and Aileen did the other night…” the voices got louder. Maybe I’m becoming the laughing stock? Aileen wanted to call out but couldn’t. She could only think. No, that’s not me! It’s that damned nurse!
This is not me. It’s not who I am. I can still get back and be there for Bitsy. Aileen’s fists clenched. But still, that nurse…
A key turned in the door again. She can’t be coming back for me, Aileen jumped.
In her cheeriest voice, Nurse hooted while licking her lips, “So, you ready for another round…?”
Aileen managed to push Nurse into the wall, clutching her hands around her neck.
“What are you doing,” Nurse gasped, clawing Aileen’s face.
I won’t let you do this, Aileen thought, closing her eyes trying to sputter the words. But they wouldn’t come!
They continued to struggle. Aileen pushing Nurse harder into the wall, so that Nurse was completely overtaken. I need that phone! Aileen screamed in her head. I want my family back!
Nurse Callahan flailed her arms, attempting to push Aileen off. But Aileen fought back harder.
The commotion created quite a stir in the hallway.
Aileen’s hands around Nurse’s neck tightened. I WON’T let you do this, she repeated.
Everything went black.
Aileen found herself opening her eyes, as if coming out of a daze, and looking into bright lights. What happened? She wondered. Things were blurry. Several faces gazed at her, maybe her fellow residents. Aileen placed a hand over her face to keep the tears from flowing.
“Mom, mom! Aileen?” She heard voices, but was too dazed to decipher them.
She heard voices inching through the crowd.
Bitsy cried out, “Mom, what happened?”
“Nurse?” Cedric stood over them stunned.
Aileen turned her head to see Nurse curled up in a corner, rocking and whimpering.
“I’m sorry, so…very sorry,” the nurse whimpered.
“What the hell…? I’m calling the police,” Cedric said.
“Nooooooooo!!” Aileen bellowed. Everyone stopped in their tracks, startled. Did I just say that? She mused.
“Mom, your voice…” Bitsy began.
“Pl-pl-pl-please no police. Not now,” Aileen stammered, blinking back tears. “She needs…needs help. Needs someone to look after her.” Aileen turned to Bitsy. “Like I couldn’t look after you all those years.” They hugged.
Only then did the storm finally settle. For the first time in forever, Aileen could lay her eyes to rest.
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