Chapter 3: Cast

It was a long waiting until James was allowed to visit her. The nurse pulled a face as he told her that he was not a relative, then let him in and disappeared down the corridor.

Patty Wilkins looked different, very different than before. She looked like a person who had suffered a serious injury. Her face was drawn and pale, her eyes a bit unfocused. James was almost sure that she won't be able to recognize him. Then, suddenly, she smiled, her eyes clearing a bit.

"My savior," she uttered.

James felt blood rushing to his cheeks, and bashfully looked away.

"What a pathetic sight, isn't it?" she said.

He looked at her tortured body, feeling even more confused. She was placed in a huge plaster cast. For what he could see under the hospital gown, the cast covered her hips and waist, and ended just under her breasts. Her bottom was propped up on some kind of plastic device, which seemed to be supporting the cast. The lower part of the gown was barely covering her private parts. Patty's legs were in plaster, widely spread and elevated. There was a spreader bar between her ankles. The monstrosity of the cast made her feet look even smaller. They were bare. In fact, they were amazingly bare, contrasting with the whiteness of the plaster. He could see the padded edge of the cast, just above her delicate ankles.