"Doctor Carter, I know what I'm talking about, so I urge you to be careful." I frowned as I listened to him. "most of the people who attended the event are corrupt. All this time I kept close just to protect myself, after all, the saying "keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer" is totally true. "I nodded slowly. The strange phone calls I had been receiving hit me hard, and I began to connect the dots. I needed to fix this before it got any worse. "Don't worry, Mr. Feldman. I will be cautious. I want you to focus on the day of the party and write down everything you can remember, every detail of every individual. What they did, what they said, everything. I'll be back in two weeks to collect the receipts and your notes, okay?""Okay. Thank you very much." we get up and shake hands."Let's go get whoever did this," I said firmly. "See you later, Mr. Feldman.""See you. " he replied and I gave a brief nod, passing the guards and walking out the door of the house. I ran
I got out of the car and decided not to go into the house. I went straight to the garden, the only place I could calm myself down. I grabbed a pack of cigarettes, took one out of it and lit it. I took a long drag as I walked among the plants, and the scene I saw when I reached my destination was almost like a rush, if it wasn't for the presence of my dog. Just as a few days ago, Helena was sitting on the bench. This time, she was hugging her legs that were curled up close to her body and her head rested on her knees. She didn't look well. I approached, drawing the attention of Benedict, who raised his head to look at me. The girl followed the gaze of the dog beside her and stopped at me, her vacant expression staring at me for a few seconds as I approached, then quickly looked forward again. Bento got down from the bench and lay there on the floor, leaving the place next to Helena empty. I sat there and she didn't even move.Silence.I took another drag on my cigarette, releasing
Friday, what a wonderful day. Even more wonderful was the fact that I would not have to go to work tomorrow, as it would be my day off since Mr. Jordan, the owner of the store, would be testing the new assistant he had hired to help me with my chores. I was more sleep-dead than usual and I knew exactly why: I had stayed up late talking to John the night before. Talking to him as if we were good friends surprised me, I never would have imagined that conversation would flow so naturally when talking to someone, especially when that someone is always so closed off. During the whole day I felt idiotically happy and I abhorred myself for it, I abhorred these feelings that never completely go away.As soon as I entered the house, I saw that my mother was folding some clothes and putting them into a small suitcase."Mom, what's all this for?" I asked, seeing some blouses on top of the couch."I'm going on a trip with Miss Kyara, daughter. We'll be leaving soon," she answered, placing the la
"First, check for me if he is warm" I did as I was asked and gently placed my free hand on his forehead."No, Doctor. He's breaking out in a cold sweat, only.""Okay. Now, close the curtain. Keep it dark, all right?" I hurried around the room, closing the curtain that covered the huge window in John's room. I looked at him, who still had his hands on his head and his eyes closed.He grunted again, turning over in his bed, and I felt my heart squeeze."There. Now what?" I questioned, sitting up in the vacant space on the bed, not taking my eyes off the man in front of me. "Take a bag of water or a cloth and soak it in the cold water. Once that's done, put it on his forehead. I'm on my way.""Okay. Thank you, Doctor" I spoke, already walking down the stairs, almost tripping over my own feet.I ended the call and, without the patience to look for the water bag, grabbed a clean cloth from a drawer and soaked it in the cold water. I returned to the room like a hurricane, sat down next to
Well, I should call someone close to John.The problem was that I didn't have anyone's phone number.Did Sophie know Cassie's number? Surely it would be more appropriate if she stayed with him.I picked up my cell phone and dialed my friend's number. A few "tu's" later, she answered."Hi, sweetie!" she said in her typical excited tone."Hi, mi amor! What's up?" "Everything great! And you, how are you? Missing me already?" she asked smugly, and I laughed."Yeah, I need to hear your voice to brighten up my Saturday." Sophie laughed and I continued, "Actually, what I really need to know is if you have Cassie's phone number."Hello? What do you want her phone number for?""John had an extremely bad migraine attack and everyone traveled. I called the condo doctor, who attended to him, but I'm not the best person to be here, you see. I wanted to warn Cassie.""Geez, Lena! But is everything okay?""Yes, it is now.""Unfortunately I don't have her phone number, sorry," her voice sounded ruef
John's POV"What's up?" greeted Bryan, making room for him to enter."Holy shit, you look awful. Are you sure you've improved?" he said, analyzing me in an exaggerated way."Fuck you" I laughed and sat down on the couch, paying attention to some game playing on the TV, and my friend unceremoniously plopped himself down in the chair in front of me, interlacing his hands behind his head in his usual nonchalant manner."Seriously, tell me straight what's gotten into you.""I don't even know. I woke up feeling a little sick and it got worse as I packed my things for the trip.""And how did you handle the meeting your dad told you to go to? Bryan asked and I ran my hands over my face in exhaustion, already anticipating the reaction Mister Henrico would have when he found out I didn't go on the trip."Dude, I sent a lawyer from my office to go in my place.""Being the boss's son has several advantages, my friend," he joked and I nodded with a certain disgust. The truth is that I hated this
"Have they worked it out?""No.""Did you tell her you were bad?" "Neither did I. Fuck you, man. What relevance does that have? Honestly, I don't see much of a future for both of us," I replied tiredly. "Are you going to break up with her?" he questioned startled. "I don't know. Staying in this war is exhausting, I'm tired of arguing. The problem is all this shit, everything to her is a reason to fight.""Good luck with that, my dear. You'll need it. Well, I'll drop by the party Suzi's cat is at, after all, the work won't start by itself." my friend gave a dirty smile and I laughed, nodding."Go on, man. Thanks for coming" I greeted him with a half hug."Relax. Do I say anything to Cassie in case I run into her?""No, leave it alone.""Okay. See you, big John." he said his last goodbye and left. I continued leaning on the balcony, enjoying the balmy evening and trying not to think of any problems - and there were many. I looked to the side and caught sight of the house at the bac
"I'm drying a floor, not running a marathon." Helena frowned in outrage at my response. "I don't think it's appropriate for you to do that.""May I know why?" I questioned critically, already imagining what would come next. "Because... You don't do these things." she explained awkwardly, gesturing toward the cloths and the floor. I frowned, almost offended by her statement."As far as I know, I have hands and all the limbs that enable me to perform any kind of task, Helena. I don't understand your point." I acidly rebutted. She sighed and touched her temples for a few seconds, then looked at me again. "You understood what I meant.""No, I don't. Why don't I do 'those things'? "I insisted. Helena huffed impatiently. "Do you really want me to clarify? I thought just the place you live in already made it implied." She retorted, tipping her head slightly to the side with a smile at the corners of her lips.I remained with a displeased and closed expression."Did you assume a character