Nancy (part 2 of 3)

Nancy

“It’s like we’ve forgotten what it’s like to hurt and be in such pain. I haven’t.”

Sumeet 

The paper gave the address of their old friend but also much more.  A brief summary of Sumeet’s health issues were scribbled below.  The diagnosis was cirrhosis of the liver. “How?” Ador had asked when they first read the file on the bus ride over. 

“You didn’t know him like I did,” Nancy said thinking back to him as a friend and fellow student. “He didn’t let you know how he really was but he didn’t just drink.  There were pills too.  A family doctor in Gibraltar prescribed him anything he wanted.  It got bad.”

When the two girls got to the end of the dead-end, hilly street Sumeet’s house loomed in front of them.  It was the only one that embraced the surrounding wildlife.  The ivy crawled up two large pillars. Clippings on the right suggested it was recently trimmed off of the side of the house.  Patches of wild grass grew tall and segregated from each other species of grass. 

After a brief moment that held the girls in place Nancy rang the doorbell and stepped back to where Ador stood.  A shutter of a nearby curtain suggested someone had the drop on them.  Two latches made noise as they were forced open and a dead bolt squeaked its own whine of protest and friction.  The large green wooden door opened noiselessly though except for the sweeping of its rubber skirt against the wood floor.  A woman asked them to enter when they introduced themselves as old friends of Sumeet’s.  “He will be pleased to see you both,” she said in exhausted courtesy. “Please,” she gestured towards the stairs, “Up and to the right.”

When they walked into Sumeet’s room the odor was the first thing Nancy noticed.  What is that smell?  The laminate oak floor stretched from where they entered to the foot of Sumeet’s bed and beyond.  Tall wood posts stood up from each corner of the bed and held a thin sheet high above.  Next to the head of the bed was a lone chair.  Is it the floor? The room was so large that even the thin nylon shoes that were general issued from Water echoed a quiet slap as they walked to the bed. Maybe it’s the old house. 

Sumeet lay face up staring at their entrance with wide eyes.  His hand shook as he gestured them to sit down.  Nancy chose the bed and let Ador take the single seat.  “You look like crap,” Nancy said grabbing his hand which was cold to the touch.  He opened his mouth to speak but a low noise came from his stomach and then he coughed.  He fumbled to a small pan that Nancy hadn’t noticed until then.  That must be what the smell is, Nancy figured.  The contents of the pan had pooled and begun to dry at one end.  Blood and phlegm swam from one end to the other and back when Sumeet pulled it towards him.  He tilted it towards him and spat over the slime and blood.  It landed on an empty spot along the tray wall. 

He licked his lips and pushed it away to the other side of the large bed. “The key is to spit so that-“ he looked and saw Ador’s pale face and Nancy’s own, to her embarrassment, which was bent in sudden horror and disgust. “I’m so sorry,” he said.

“No, don’t be,” Nancy said stroking his arm fiercely as if to warm it. She looked down at it intentionally avoiding eye contact. No one said anything for a moment.

“We were just kids,” Sumeet said and both girls looked up.  “And then we started a revolution and for what?”  Sumeet said bitterly, “It’s like we’ve forgotten what it’s like to hurt and be in such pain. I haven’t.”

Nancy wondered if Sumeet had felt bitter towards her for leaving.  She felt embarrassed again. I shouldn’t have left them.  “But you’re forced to though, feel pain, you didn’t choose it,” Ador said softy, defiantly. 

He nodded, “I could never have guessed what it would take to live with Cirrhosis.  It’s my own fault.”  Sumeet choked again as he sat up and grabbed for the pan again.  Nancy’s attempt to disagree with his pitiful self-accusation was stuttered by her own mucus that accompanied tears edging out from her eyes.  “Don’t, Hope, don’t cry for me.” That only made it harder to hold back tears.  With Nancy chocking back tears and Ador cold and silent next to him Sumeet asked, “Why are you here? Why now?”

Maple Sub With Child Overseeing Scythe Painting by Steve Roll see www.steverollart.com