Pinned Hopes

So, this is it.
The moment we've been waiting for - dreading.
We're here.
In this hospital again.
In this hospital again, on this floor, in this room, with these nurses, saturated in peculiar medical funk, for we hope, the 5th and final time.
Morning talk shows drone on from above.
Familiar nurses surround us.
Speaking.
"You know this will hurt David,"
He nods, and placidly looks on as they ease the blood engorged IV into his vein.
Weathered.
He knows the routine well, and does not cringe or move when they bobble and blunder.
He signs papers, answers questions while they take his vitals and rates his pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
"11?" She quips.
"6," he patiently replies.
"11?" she tries again, chuckling.
Unaffected, he sits. Calm. Reposed.
She checks his blood and frowns.
"What did you eat today?! Your sugar is high!" She scolds him.
"Nothing," he protests. I want to defend him and explain what she should already know.
The doctor stops by.
He explains that "this time it won't hurt so much since i''ll be sucking things out instead of applying pressure like last time."
He turns and asks good-naturedly, "is that okay with you?" I absently grin and nod too many times.
"Keep smiling!" he chimes as he departs and i wonder where he went to school, how well he studied and if he knows what he should know how to do.
And then it is just he and I.
Sitting.
Waiting.
Passing the final time.
Making tight jokes.
I trying not to cry.
Eventually, several years later though many days too soon,
the mint-green man appears and gives the sign.
He wheels my love away.
Who smiles.
"Bye! Have fun!" My final lame attempt at non-humorous ironic humor.
"Goodbye."