"Hi there. Can I help you?" A young voice spoke, bringing my attention to the young nurse hidden to the side. A nurse who appeared to be in his mid-twenties with short brown hair and a cheery smile.
"Yeah, I'm just here to pick up some medicine." I answered, thankful that my prayers seemed to have been answered.
"No worries, can I just get a name?" He asked.
"Yeah, it's Adam Collins."
"Okay, just give me one moment." He turned to his computer that sat at his side before typing away. During the wait, I looked around at the space behind him, which was filled with shelves upon shelves of different medicines that lined the floor to ceiling, seeming to encompass the entire room he was in.
While I continued looking, I noticed the man look up from his computer, his smile no longer as wide nor his voice as cheery. " I think I found it. Was this medicine for COPD?"
"Yeah, I think that's the one. Why? Are there any issues?" I asked, confused with his sudden change in expression, afraid there was an issue with the medicine. Medicine I sorely needed as the pain in my chest became more and more uncomfortable.
"No, no. everything's fine. I'll go get it now." With that, he headed through the jam-packed aisles and out of sight. Only the sound of the muted shuffling of containers and boxes as well as the billowing of his coat was able to be heard. I wondered what had caused his sudden change in attitude. However, before I could figure it out, he popped back into view. Carrying with him a small container that rattled with every step he took.
"Here you go." He said, handing me the small container. "Now, this is only a month's worth of pills, so you're going to need to come back in a month's time. When it comes to the pills, you're going to need to take two pills a day. One in the morning and one at night. Also, make sure not to eat anything two hours before and nothing thirty minutes after taking the pills. In case you forget, the instructions are also written on the box." He said, pointing to the long label attached to the box.
I nodded along, despite having already forgotten the bulk of what he had just said. "Alright. Well, thank you." And with that, I turned around to leave.
"Bye, have a good rest of your day." I heard him say from behind, his voice once again strained, sounding almost sad.
As I left the hospital, staring daggers at the receptionist while I did so, which she saw none of, being too focused on her screen, I wondered what else I could do for the rest of the day. That was when the loud rumbling of my stomach reminded me of my need for some food, as well as the twenty dollars currently in my pocket. So with a skip in my step, I headed off to Top's Cafe, the cheap cafe I had visited last time.
Before I did so, however, I remembered the instructions the nurse had given me in regard to food and the pills. Knowing the walk to the cafe would be longer than thirty minutes, I tore open the box, revealing a see-through container, filled to the brim with small oval shaped, muted pink tablets. I forced open the container, grabbing one of the tablets before proceeding to choke it down. A difficult task with the lack of water I had on hand, but one I managed to accomplish. Not, however, without scratching my raw throat further in the process on its way down. I proceeded to place the container into my pocket, placing my hand on top to keep it safe from falling out, knowing how important it was.
The walk to the cafe was slow and peaceful. I took my time, appreciating the fresh, clean air around me. Air that no longer burnt my lungs with every breath, the pill having already gotten to work in such a short period of time. Close to forty minutes later, I stepped through the door of the cafe, the familiar ringing of the bell above declaring my entrance. I immediately moved to the same open booth near the window as last time, manoeuvring around the few busy tables scattered across the room.
"Why in the hell are ya back 'ere kid when ya should be at school?" Eileen's raspy voice spoke as she appeared out of thin air once again the moment I sat down.
"What's this? I thought you would have wanted my company. I just know how much you adore me." I said while batting my eyes. A technique which had no effect on Eileen.
"Not this time punk." she huffed, crossing her scrawny arms along her chest. "No answer, no food."
Seeing the stern stare she was giving me and really wanting some food to eat, I told her what happened. Albeit with a few details left out. Such as the attempt I made to attack Matthew's father.
"Ya bloody idiot!" she yelled, slapping me over the head, injuring both my ears and my head at the same time. "Why in god's sakes would ya do tha'?"
"Look, it's fine. I just really don't want to talk about it right now, alright." I mumbled, absently rubbing the spot where she had hit me.
"Fine." she reluctantly huffed, making it clear despite her agreement how she wanted to say much more. "What do ya wan'? The usual?"
Glad she decided to stop her interrogation, I went to say yes. Yet before I did, my eyes landed onto the menu, where I saw a multitude of options I had never been able to afford before, options that I realised with the twenty dollars in my pocket I could.
"Actually, this time I'll have a full English breakfast, please. No mushrooms though." The moment the words left my mouth, I could already feel my mouth start to water at just the thought.
"Full English, no mushrooms coming up," she stated, turning around to leave. But just before she did, her voice drifted over once more. "Kid, if ya ever need help, no matter what, ya can always come to me."
Before I could even respond, she proceeded to rush off towards the kitchen. Immediately, a feeling of warmth that I sorely needed after the past day filled me, causing a carefree smile to appear on my face as I waited for the food. Food which thankfully came only a few minutes later as Eileen came back into view carrying the massive pile of food.
"Thank you Eileen." I said, both for the food and for what she said before, leading to a small blush forming on her face as she quickly left, grumbling under her breath.
As I sat there enjoying the mountain of food in front of me, relishing each bite, I pondered what I would do for the rest of the day. Drawing a total blank, I pulled out my phone, hoping it would help in producing an idea. Yet all it did was leave me face to face with the two blinking unanswered messages from Sam and Helen I had ignored the night before.
I knew I should respond, that they were probably worried about what happened to me after I got dragged away from the cafeteria. But every time I thought about doing so, the image of Sam and Helen's shocked and horrified faces came to mind. Faces I didn't want to have to confront and figure out what they meant. To know whether they were going to start treating me differently after what I did, especially Helen. I knew it was stupid and completely irrational, but it didn't change the thoughts that were constantly plaguing my mind. So I left the messages on read once more, deciding it was far easier to just ignore them, at least for now.
Still with no idea of what to do, I continued scrolling on my phone, coming face to face with a contact I did not expect, despite its recent history. I had completely forgotten about what had happened with Clark the day before yesterday, although for a good reason, I suppose, with how hectic the last twenty-four hours had been. Seeing his name on screen, I considered messaging him, with it making more and more sense the longer I considered it. We had gotten along well, and he seemed down to hang out again. Not only that, I realised that when we had first met it had been a Wednesday morning. Yet, just like myself, he hadn't been at school, meaning he might have been available to hang out once again despite it being a Friday. And so, coming to a decision, I shot him a quick message asking if he would want to hang out later before turning my attention back to the still large amount of food in front of me. Food which I devoured with an insatiable hunger.
Just as I finished scarfing down the last of my breakfast, lying back against the booth in extreme bliss with my stomach bulging forward, the familial buzz of my phone rang from my pocket. As I went to check, I released a sigh of relief I hadn't known I was holding when I saw that Clark responded saying he would love to hang out, asking if I would want to meet up in an hour or so.
While I was delighted by this, I saw a potential issue in his message. Primarily how he mentioned how his other friends would be there as well, something which made me slightly cautious. Yet not having any other plans for the rest of the day and wanting to escape from my thoughts, I sent a quick reply saying I would see him then. Thinking that in the worst-case scenario, I could always just leave.
Now with an hour to kill, I heaved myself up out of the booth and waddled over to pay for my food, saying goodbye to Eileen as I did so. Once done, I left the cafe, letting the now risen sun's warmth wash over me as I began meandering around with no destination. Knowing that the place Clark wanted to meet up at was only a five-minute walk away.
Time passed quickly as I walked around the city centre, watching the hustle and bustle of it all. Before I knew it, the hour had almost passed, and I started to head to the small corner shop mentioned in Clark's message, wandering down the narrow and desolate alleyways and passages needed to get there.