Ode to Aphrodite

Chapter Ⅷ

     

     Lifeless eyes gazed upon Barry, as if he had been more close to death than he was. Dean couldn't help but feel sorry for the old man, whose life seemed so miserable and so very lonely. If only he had met Barry earlier, he was a great person.

      Barry lay still on his bed. Eyes still closed and his chest slowly raised with every unconscious breath he took. Dean wondered what to do next. It was positively heartbreaking to tell Barry about his disposition.

      He decided to focus on his surroundings, trying to clear his head. The white walls, large windows, and beautiful mini paintings of flowers. I might be able to paint for the clinic in the future. Dean placed the thought in the back of his mind. His eyes wandered to the old wooden clock in the corner. The ticking noise was suddenly louder than it was.

     11:30 A.M

     Eleven, huh... Then, inside him, it was like a bomb fell, filling his mind with much panic. Immediately, he got up and without thinking, he started shaking Barry out of his sleep. Telling him to wake up over and over again. Dean's eyes never left each minute that went by.

     11:32 A.M

     When Barry's eyes started to light up with awakening, Dean couldn't help himself but say,

     "Barry! Sir! It's eleven thirty! We must head to the tower right away!"

     As if something switched on inside him, Barry sat up from his slumber and looked at Dean. His eyes no longer dazed, his mind alert as a fox.

     "You must go Dean boy, you must ring that bell. I cannot walk and the time might not be enough. Just grab the gold rope from the left, swing back and forth at least six times and-"

      "Oh screw it."

     Dean faced his back towards the man and placed his hands, ready to support him. "Hop on!"

      "Oh no my boy, I'm too heavy for you."

     "Please Sir, I want you to ring that bell with me today. I need you. Come with me."

     As the time still ticked, 11:38 A.M, Barry did not want to continue and argue. Immediately, he hopped on the young man's back and yelled, "Let's go my boy!"

     Dean sprung forward and started to run towards the open door. For manners' sake, he yelled,

     "Doc! I'm borrowing Barry for a bit!" hoping he had heard him.

     He did not seem to care. They exited the door. Warm wind whiffed against their faces, and yet Dean never stopped. Thankfully, the clinic was close to the centre, where the tower was.

     Dean never felt the weight on his back. Barry was light as a feather, and so he dashed as fast as he could. Straight to the tower where his sights were upon.

     Droplets fell against his cheeks, and as his sweat collided with the oncoming pour, Dean closed his eyes. Petrichor slowly filled the scene as he slipped by the busy crowd, now fully running to shelter.

     "Excuse me!" He yelled a couple of times as Barry fully held on tighter onto his shoulders.

     He pushed him up more as the tower doors finally came into a closer sight. Within minutes, they had arrived. Quickly, Barry had removed the ring of keys from his trousers and fumbled with the couple he had until his drowsy eyes landed on a slim, rusty, and silver key. He handed it weakly to Dean who then swiftly unlocked the large wooden entrance.