Coffee & Blood

Chapter Two: Distractions

    "I would like to try a different set of medications for you..."

    I drown out Dr. Lenneth's voice as he discusses the possibility of changing my medicine for the third time. I shake the little yellow pill bottle in my hand and watch as the capsules bounce around and rattle as they collide into each other. Every since I woke up this morning my mind has been on the man from last night. After our short conversation he didn't say very much, and he left quickly after finishing his cup of coffee. He paid for the $3 drink with a $20 and before I could even walk back with his change he disappeared leaving behind nothing but the jingling of the bell above the door he exited from. Mr. Gerald came back to close out the register about 20 minutes after that but I kept the strange man out of the conversation. Mr. Gerald probably would've tried to stay longer in hopes to meet him. For some reason, I want the meetings to continue and I want it to only be me and him.

    "Are you listening Ms. Grant?" Dr. Lenneth voice snaps me out of my head. He sits at his desk through my computer screen. Piles of papers and random book sit on a bookshelf behind him and pictures of his family decorate the white sterile walls.

    "How's your family doing Dr. Lenneth?" I ask focusing on the small picture of a smiling little girl on a swing. "Did Julia win the talent show you were telling me about?"

    "Ms. Grant," He sits back in his chair. "let's not use my family matters as a distraction."

    "I mean it's hard to not get distracted by it when all the pictures of them look so beautiful." I put on a charming smile. "They all look so happy."

    "Maybe we should go back to having doctor appointments in person again then. That is supposed to be the reason you moved to this city."

    "No!" It took me an entire month to convince him that meeting in person to discuss my health was a waste of gas and time. I hated going to the hospital so often. I didn't like when the workers would call me by name whenever I entered and I didn't like the fact that I could walk through the building with my eyes closed. I wanted to be normal and knowing all the nurses in a department by first name was far from normal. "I'll focus now, I'm sorry."

    "As I was saying," he clears his throat and fixes the rectangular glasses on his face "the labs from your last visit show little to no change which is rather alarming to me."

    "Can I be honest?"

    "That would be best."

    "I stopped taking the last set of medication a few weeks ago." I play with a loc that rest on my shoulder. "The side effects made me feel worse than my actual illness did. I was always so tired and I couldn't even eat most of the time. I couldn't work in those conditions."

    "Ms. Grant." Dr. Lenneth groans as he runs a hand down his face. "Your body would have adjusted to the change in medication eventually and working isn't something you should prioritize at this moment. Why don't you move back home so you can focus on your health."

The last thing I want to focus on is my health.

    "Dr. Lenneth, what would you do if you were dying at 24?"

    There's a moment of silence through the screen. I know alarm bells are going off in his head right now. He's probably questioning if I'm gonna do something drastic, wondering if he should pull out my file and send someone to my address.

    "I would try to get better, of course." He says firmly. A basic answer. "I would at least try to by myself more time."

    "And if you know that you won't?"

    He adjusts awkwardly in his chair. "Maybe we should discuss some therapy options-"

    "That's my sign to scadattle," I put on another charming smile and move my mouse to the bright red leave button on the screen. "I'm not looking for more time Dr. Grant, I just want to enjoy the time I have now. Medication that'll hinder my goal will not work for me, I'm sorry."