Jenny

I think it was love. The first time I laid eyes on her. She was quietly sitting in front of the nurses’ station, barely making a move. And as if cupid told me to be brash and pushed me out of my reverie, I folded the medication sheet on one of our patient’s chart. I went up to her.

“Hello, miss. How may I help you?” I asked.

No response. However, she shook her head slowly.

I went back to resume my undone work, feeling slightly dejected.

“Her name’s Jenny. Ayiii !” Tony teasingly answered my curiosity as he nudged my elbow. “She’s an S.O. of Mr. Delamar. Remember the one who went to coma right after that car accident?”

Jenny, I thought to myself. What a beautiful name! Common yet sweet. Her presence is an irony to the gloom that has pervaded our little city for three months now.

It started with a gruesome murder of a young boy followed by numerous incidents of the same kind. It would have seemed to have been a normal crime if the culprit preferred to leave the internal organs intact.

The police force would like to think that it’s a typical doing of a psychotic killer. However, the locals knew better.

“I believe a monster did it,” Dr. Yutangco absentmindedly said as he was fiddling with new orders.

I couldn’t help but agree no matter how crazy it sounds. But as I look at Jenny with her dishevelled hair and careworn clothes, the whole matter seemed pointless.

The days seemed to fly like dried leaves as the murders continued and my love for Jenny has grown stronger.

“Are you sure about her? Just look at her! She’s been corpse-like lately.”

“What are you doing here, Lexy? You have patients back in your ward.”

“Tony mentioned you’re in love. I’m only here to judge. She should take a shower or a bath. A little make-up will do. Bye, Anton.” Lexy went away without hearing my retort.

She may be right. Her eyes looked sunken, hair splayed in disarray, lips pale...

Stop it, Anton. She’s still beautiful no matter what. She may be having problems with her uncle’s hospital fees. I don’t know. My mind may be playing tricks on me.

It’s been almost a month now and all I did during my shifts were saying hello, offering her a cup of coffee and letting her feel I’m there for her. I’ve no idea what she likes and what she wants to do. I guess I’ll have to accept that she’s a woman with few words.

Half past eleven says my watch and the rain has no plans of stopping yet. Our shift ended and we parted ways with my colleagues.

As the rain poured, Jenny kept crossing my mind like an indelible image. Tony made a remark about my sudden weight loss associating it with my newfound love. Sometimes I forgot to eat because of her. Nevertheless, I’m terribly hungry now.

Jenny. Jenny. Jenny. Why...

An unknown figure is approaching my position under the waiting shed only to be vaguely illuminated by the streetlight.

“Jenny..” I started. She was soaking wet and shivering.

She looked up at me and her face was pallid and wild. She smiled with uncertainty. So beautiful, regardless of her condition. I felt a lump on my throat that I had to swallow hard.

It must have been a split-second when I felt and saw Jenny transformed into something I can’t describe. I felt her skin on me, warm and insatiable. I lost consciousness all of a sudden.

It was like horniness and love at the same time. I tasted her lips, her tongue, her blood, her body, her totality. I felt her heart.. NO! I tasted her heart. It was beautiful and so alive... NO! It was delicious like sugar rush. Her body is screaming for me. Give me more, Jenny.

I’ve loved you Jenny. I just couldn’t help myself. I’m so sorry.

Did you love me, too,  Jenny?

Cristan Ian Insong Catembung