SMOKE -------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Mike Daryl Ormond
Chapter 8: Changes
Blood. I always thought I would panic at the sight of it but now looking at it I was calm and unperturbed. I touched my brow and found more of it trickling down my forehead. The noisy street where I lay all of a sudden became silent. Everything went dark.
I guess this it.
2:21 pm, Mike's apartment
Duncan flipped on the TV as he put Artee on the recliner. He tried to call mike on his mobile phone several times to tell him about his couch but could not seem to get through. Duncan was tired. What should have been a 30 minute drive back became an hour because, apparently, somebody decided to get run over by a taxi cab.
Duncan never liked accidents. Passing by one, he never slows down. He never looks. He lost his father and younger sister to a freeway drunk driver when he was 16. His father picked up his sister from a birthday party in a nearby town. Both died in the hospital after hours in the emergency room. His mother never really recovered from it. She still cries everytime they talk about the accident. He cried the first time he told me the story too.
He blames his father for what happened. His father had poor eysight at night and there was still ice on the road from the day's snow. Duncan offered to pick up his sister. His father drove the truck. His father got himself and his sister killed.
I love Ducnan but I never really understood the hatred he had for his father.
From the kitchen, Duncan heard the channel change as Artee accidentally nudged the remote off the recliner when he ran after his master.
The music from the TV set became extremely loud. MTV was nearly done playing Nine Inch Nails. Ducan quick picked up the remote and slowly turned down the volume. As he did this, he noticed a familar name flash on the news bulliten below the video. His gaze froze. A picture followed.
Duncan looked away.
4:46 pm, Columbus Grace Hospital
Andrea sat outside one of the garden benches of the south of the east wing. She was into her last cigarrette and it was almost dark outside. She doesn't want to go back in.
"You better get inside." A stranger sat beside Andrea. "It's getting cold out."
Andrea turned and saw Duncan looking up into the sky beside her.
"So he changed his emergency contact person." Duncan said keeping his head up. "It used to be me you know."
"It was still you. I saw they just had your apartment number listed."
"What was he doing there?"
Andrea paused. "He went after Bailey. He felt he needed to explain to the kid. I dont know. He grew attached to him you know."
"I think it's stupid. What does he need to explain?"
Andrea fell silent then threw her cigarette to the side. Andrea is a great friend but I know she felt this was something I need to explain to Duncan myself.
"Ms. Thompsom." A young nurse called holding the door to the side entrance. "You can see him now."
I awoke with a start. My vision was blurry and I began to roll my head to the right when a hand touched mine.
"You better not move a lot buddy." It was Duncan. His face was bit blurred but I could tell by his low voice. "Here, have some water. It will help clear your throat."
I sipped a little. The effort of lifting my head combined with the bright light in the room made my head spinn a little. "Where.. where am I?"
"You're in a hospital dude." Duncan placed the plastic cup away. "Do you remember what happened?"
I searched for the memory for a few seconds. "I was with..."
A knock at the door quickly followed by a hurried entrance interupted my chain of thought. It was Bailey.
"Mike, I... I tried to look for you." Bailey spoke quickly came close. "I went to your apartment but you weren't there..."
"What are you doing evenhere!?" Duncan stood up angrily.
"Duncan..." I breathed out loudly. "I was..."
"He was with me." Bailey stood in front of Duncan. He stared at him while he continued. "I was to meet him in his car after I cleaned up from work. We were to see a movie."
"Fuck that!" Duncan pushed Bailey. "Dude! You're crazy! You snag kisses from a straight guys then you go around telling people you're dating them?! Get out of hear before I kick your gay ass!"
"Duncan." I grabbed his arm. He turned around with eyes full rage. I have never seen him this angry. I was short of breath. I felt darkness reclaiming me. I spoke in quiet urgency.
"It's okay." I continued. "I'm gay."
Next...
Chapter 9: Secret Santa
For any comments or suggestions: mikedarylormond@yahoo.com