His phone vibrated next to the bed and he woke up and switched it off. He checked the time and it was 05:00 am. Mike dragged himself to the kitchen and warmed up the soap from yesterday. He refilled Milo's bowls and cut up some bread. Once the soup was warm enough he poured into a bowl and grabbed a spoon. He went over to the couch and woke up the man.
Mike was tired but he needed to feed this man before he left. " Hey, I need to feed you before I go to work okay?".
The man just grunted to Mikes words so the boy took that as an okay sign. He cooled the soup and fed the man. The man was able to finish the whole bowl so he gave him painkillers.
He prepared the water solution and grabbed more bandages. He undressed the wound, cleaned it and redressed it. He wiped the sweat off the men and covered him up again. He poured a glass of water and took some painkillers and put them beside the man.
The time was now 06:00am and he needed to prepare for work. As Mike went about his routine he couldn't help but worry about everything happening around him. What if the people who injured the man came back? What if the man died on his couch? What then? He couldn't hide a dead body.
Mike quickly went out the shower and grabbed all the necessities.
His ride to work was uneventful and his day at work literally flew by. His thoughts were on the man on his couch and anyone around him could sense he really wasn't present.
"Mike, come here son", Mr Brown called Mike to the side
"Are you okay son? Everything well at home?" The older man looked down with worry
"Huh? Umm , I'm fine sir? Is there a problem? Did I get an order wrong?" Mike asked worriedly
"No, no,no. You not in trouble but you not here & you might harm yourself and everyone around you" Mr Brown hurriedly said. "How about you go home now? The diner is full, so we'll manage"
"But my sh-"
"Hey, just go home and relax. I won't reduce your pay just go home".
Mike slowly nodded and went to grab his things. Luckily there was a bus around, so he left quickly.
He passed the pharmacy for more bandages and went home. Mike nervously took out he key to open the door but dropped it. He took a breath to calm his nerves. He finally open and once he set his eyes on the couch and didn't see anyone.
Mike hurriedly closed the door and tried rushing forward when he felt something cold on his neck.
Mike was about the scream and a large hand covered his mouth and he heard a cold voice, "don't make a noise or I'll make a blood bath right here".
The poor boy nervously nodded but kept still. The hand was removed and Mike swallowed deeply.
"Who are you and who do you work for?" asked the bold voice.
Mike was confused but answered anyway , "I'm Mike, uumm I-I work fo-for Mr Br-Brown at the diner. I ha-have a dog Mi-Milo. I-I..."
"Okay enough talking. Turn around"
Mike nervously shifted between his feet and weighed his options but slowly turned ready to die .
"You? Why? Why did you do that? I almost peed my pants! Where's my dog? Who even are you? I am gonna die? "
The man watched the boy rant and rolled his eyes. "The dog is sleeping on your bed"
Mikes mouth opened and closed trying to grasp onto his sanity. He concluded that he had lost his mind. Mike took a calming breath and looked at the man.
"Who are you?"
The man had moved from the door and was setted on the couch.
"Can you please change my bandages?"
The younger immediately fumed. "Listen here mister. I'm not a nurse and my apartment is not a hospital. Atleast answer my question"
The man stared at the boy and sighed. "I'm Dave, short for David. Now, will you change my bandages?"
Mike huffed and walked to the kitchen. He downed a glass of water and wondered what his life had come to. Here he was stuck with a self-absorbed prick who didn't even know anything about common decency. He rolled his eyes and washed his hands and returned to the couch.
He quietly removed the bandages, cleaned the wound and dressed it. After he was done, he cleaned up.
"You need to leave".
The man chuckled and looked at the younger man. For a tanned man he sure was turning red and the older couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'll be out of your hair soon. After you tell me why you saved me. That's not say by the way"
"What?".
"Bringing strangers to your place. Half to death might I add", the man said in a duh tone
"I'll keep that in mind next time. When I come back, you better be gone"
Mike moved to his bedroom and pulled his hair. If he ever wondered when was the time to die, it was now.
