The Desire for a Simple Life

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-SEVEN

Grant

- 4:00 pm -

Right at four, Peter Smith knocks on the door. I walk away into the kitchen and out of sight. I've known of Peter Smith for a while. He is a good man. My mother used to know him, before she died.

My mother got really sick and only a few months after her diagnosis she passed away. She would spend hours crocheting because that's all she could do to pass the time. I would visit her when I could. After she passed away I went in and worked full time for Atticus, not too long after I was assigned in the Brewer mission. The mission took over my thoughts, and all hours of the day. It distracted me from the grief of my mother.

What Natalia found that blanket, I was reminded of her for the first time in months. It disgusts me how I had seemed to forget my own mother. I do really miss her. She was my everything, all I had for the longest time. My father died when I was ten so I grew up with my mother who would get all these mean, smelly, abusive boyfriends just so we can stay afloat financially. I have no higher respect upon anyone else.

As soon as I was fourteen, I ran with the wrong crowd and began fighting for money. I was noticed by many people and became a spy, bodyguard, or wherever else I was wanted. I could and can do it all.

While Natalia meets with Peter Smith, I stay in the kitchen. I don't know how long this meeting will take, but I am willing to wait until they are finished. This is what Natalia has wanted to do for the longest time. I expect it would take hours though, so I won't start dinner just yet. Instead I walk around the house. I don't have anything to do, so I just walk around. I so badly want to stand outside the room they are in so I can listen in- but I won't because it is none of my business. So instead I continue to stroll through the house, bored out of my mind.

- 9:23 pm -

It's beginning to get late, they haven't even left the room for food.

- 10:39 pm -

I don't think I can take it anymore. They've been in there for hours. How much longer is this going to take? I sit in the dining hall, looking at my hands. Suddenly I hear a door open.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Smith. I couldn't have done this without you." Natalia's voice echoes through the halls.

"Of course. I am happy that this is over with." Peter Smith replies.

"Here. This is for helping me." Natalia says. I watch as she hands him a check, most likely for a large amount.

"Thank you. Have a good night now." He says before walking outside.

I walk out of the shadows and meet Natalia's eyes. She smiles and I walk over to her. "Did you take your meds?" She asks leaning onto my chest.

"No, did you?" I smile down at her.

"No. Let's get that done. I am really tired." She says.

We make our way toward the elevator. We get inside, then to the bedroom into the bathroom where the supplies are. I take off my shirt so Natalia can replace the bandage on my torso. She cleans the area and puts a new bandage down. Once she is done, she hands me my pills and I take them.

"I need to fix mine." She states.

"Do you need help?" I offer.

"Yes. Just give me a second." She crutches into the bedroom and comes back changed into pajama shorts and a hoodie. "Okay, the stuff for it is right here," She points to a mound of supplies on the counter. "I will tell you what to do."

She turns around and shows me the wound. I kneel down and gently take off the bandage. I pick up the wipe from the counter and gently wipe the area until fully clean. "It looks like it is irritated."

"Well I've been sitting on it for six hours." She explains.