working on his own little plot of farmland had never been easy ; he knew it wouldn’t be the moment he’d decided on it. waking up early, feeding the animals, trying to saddle train his colt, handpicking crops, what have you. it was exhausting. and sometimes dangerous, as it were, sitting in the emergency room waiting area with his shoulder black and bruise, and he suspected broken. it wasn’t the first time he’d had this happen, being tossed from a horse and landing poorly. it probably wouldn’t be the last -- he’d been in the emergency room just last week for a laceration on his calf due to his own clumsiness ( tripping over barbed wire like a dumbass ). it wasn’t until a shorter, very friendly looking nurse with a giant smile came to touch his unhurt shoulder that he was pulled from his thoughts, her hands beckoning him to follow. he wondered if she knew he had his hearing aids in.
rome was shown to his room, having a seat and going through some insurance paperwork before he was told someone named caelin would be his nurse, and that he’d be in shortly. the ice pack he was given initially is mostly water by this point, considering how busy the waiting room was, but he kept it against his shoulder anyway ; it felt better than nothing, and anything to dull the horrid thrumming ache was appreciated.
he hadn’t heard the door open, gently startled by the sudden intrusion, though not for long, not when oceanic eyes fell on the man dressed in navy blue that had just walked in. his heart jumped to the base of his throat, doing his best not to stare. who knew they pieces of the sun work in hospitals? after a small nod to confirm his name, he answers the typical next question : what brings you here today? a small smile before he speaks, voice slow and slurred, as if he has to concentrate on every word. “ my horse threw me, hurt my shoulder real bad. guess she doesn’t like me tryin’ to saddle break her colt. ”
