Point of Retreat

up. I told her everything that happened after I performed. For the most part I was honest, but I may have thrown in a more climactic make-out scene for added emphasis.
     
    ***
     
    It’s Sunday and the fact that she’s in the hospital doesn’t deter her from her routine. I walk into her hospital room and set the bags of movies and junk food down in the chair. Lake is sitting up on the side of the bed and the nurse is working with the IV.
     
    “Oh, good. You’re right in time,” the nurse says. “She doesn’t want a sponge bath, she wants a standard bath. I was about to assist her in the bathroom, but if you’d rather do it you can.” She unhooks the IV and clamps it, then tapes the end of it to Lake’s hand.
     
    Lake and I look at each other. It's not like I've never seen her naked…just not for prolonged periods of time. And with the lights on .
     
    “I….I don’t know,” I mutter. “Do you want me to help you?” I ask Lake.
     
    Lake shrugs her shoulders. "It wouldn't be the first time you've put me in a shower. Although, I hope you help me take my clothes off this time." She laughs at her own joke. She regrets the laugh as soon as she does it, though. Her hand goes up to her head and she winces.
     
    The nurse can sense the slight awkwardness between us. “I’m sorry. I thought you guys were married. It said on her chart that you were her husband.”
     
    “Yeah…about that,” I say. “Not quite yet.”
     
    “It’s fine,” the nurse says. “If you’ll just go back to the waiting room I’ll let you know when we’re finished.”
     
    “No,” Lake says. “He’ll help me.” Lake looks up at me. “You’ll help me." The nurse looks up at me and I nod. She takes a few items off the tray next to Lake’s bed and walks out of the room.
     
    “Have you walked any more today?” I take her arm and help lift her off the bed.
     
    She nods. “Yeah. They had me walk down the hall between visits again. I feel better than yesterday, just dizzy.”
     
    The nurse walks back into the room with a towel. “Just don’t let her get her head wet. There’s a handheld shower head in the shower or she can use the bathtub. The tub may be better for her so she can lay down.” The nurse leaves the towel in the chair and walks back out.
     
    Lake slowly stands up and I assist her into the bathroom. Once we’re inside, I close the door behind us.
     
    “This is so embarrassing,” she says.
     
    “Lake, you asked me to stay. If you want, I’ll go back and get the nurse.”
     
    “No. I just mean because I need to pee.”
     
    “Oh. Here.” I walk around her and grab her other arm as she backs up. She grabs hold of the metal bar attached to the wall and pauses.
     
    “Turn around,” she says.
     
    I turn around and face the opposite direction. "Babe, if you’re already making me look away it’ll be kind of hard for me to help you in the shower. You aren’t even naked yet.”
     
    “That’s different. I just don’t want you to watch me pee.”
     
    I laugh. And I wait. And I wait some more. Nothing happens.
     
    “Maybe you need to leave for a minute,” she says.
     
    I shake my head and walk out of the bathroom. “Don’t try to stand up without me.” I leave the door open a few inches so I can hear her if she needs me. When she’s finished, I walk back into the bathroom and help her stand up.
     
    “Shower or bath?” I say.
     
    “Bath. I don’t think I can stand up long enough for a shower.”
     
    I make sure she’s holding onto the bar before I let go of her arm. I adjust the faucet on the bathtub until the water turns warm. I grab the washcloth and get it wet, then set it on the side of the tub. It’s a larger tub with two steps leading up to it to make it easier to walk down into. When I stand up, I take Lake’s arm again and lead her to the bathtub. I stand behind her and brush her hair over her shoulder and untie the top of her gown. When it drapes open, I have to suppress a gasp. She’s got bruises all over her back. There’s one more tie on her gown, so I pull the string until the gown separates.
     
    She slides the gown forward and down her arms. I run my fingers under the stream of water to check the temperature, then reach for her arm and help her up the steps and into the bathtub. Once she’s seated, she pulls her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them, then rests her head on them.
     
    “Thank you,” she says. “For not trying to put