Westbury - Contest Entry

Westbury

My name is Phillip Ripton. I didn't ask for very much from my life, I only wanted to be happy with my beloved wife, Lauren.  I was a stonemason, admittedly, because of this I wasn't often at home. I'd usually be finding odd jobs so I could guarantee my wife a happy life. 

I think back to the day when it all started - the sudden change of pace in my life. Lauren and I were enjoying each others company in the safety of our home when she looked at me with such tired eyes.

I noticed her holding a tea caddy. Her eyes seemed mystified by it, as she stroked the sides and the markings written all over it.

"What is that, Lauren?" I ask, making conversation with my wife.

"I'm not quite sure." She laughs, peering at it with her beautiful curious eyes. "It was left for us, it looks to be a tea caddy of some sort."

Lauren places the tea caddy into a box, which contained a mirror I had given her. "I suppose it makes a good keepsake." She says with a grin.

I remember a few days later, returning home to see a horrible sight. My wife was braced up against the kitchen banister, she didn't look very well. I insisted on taking her to the doctor, but she refused my offer.

I didn't believe her.

Her once vibrant skin was now paler than the parchment I wrote on. Her eyes seemed so dull, as if almost lifeless.  I became desperate. I needed to find a way to cure her, to save my poor wife.

I had started to keep a journal, a recollection of all the events that were to happen to me. It was a small book, Lauren had given it to me, so I made sure to cherish it. As we stayed hidden on the boat I made small entries into the diary, perhaps for my future generations to read. 

As we sat in silence in the dead of night, I felt our home start to shake. I remember the fear I felt as I looked over to my dear wife, to see her collapse, choking on her own breath. I ran to her, holding her tightly as I called her name.

She's getting worse.  The thought of losing my sweet, beautiful Lauren killed me. She stared at me with such pleading eyes, she was just as scared as I.

I grabbed her by the waist before I braced her well up against a soft chair, making sure she was comfortable. Then I ran out my door, swinging it so hard, it slammed against my walls causing a dent. I didn't look back, however. 

I knew the right men for the job - The Moran brothers.

The duo were claimed to be some of the best doctors in our town, always seeming to have a cure for all diseases.

I knocked on their front door furiously, knowing I didn't have much time to spare. The door swung open to reveal a thin miserable looking middle-aged man. "What do you want?" He growled, angry at me for presumably disturbing his slumber.

"My wife is horribly ill, I need some medicine to cure her." I plead, looking back down the hall, not knowing if my wife was alright.

"Sorry." He said dismissively. "I'm not working at the moment."

I peered behind him to see shelves and containers of different tonics, which could be used to help my dear Lauren. "I beg of you, sir!"

Mr. Moran didn't look much more convinced, but he knew I wasn't prepared to give up on my wife. He growls to himself before trudging over into his room, grabbing a bag filled with what I could presume to be bottles and starts following me back to my home.

When we arrived, Lauren's eyes were closed, sending a jolt of fear through my whole body. They flickered as we neared her, she was too weak.

Mr. Kyle Moran starts to examine her, checking her temperature and eyes.