The Kiss of Death

~1

My name is Victoria Lewis but everyone calls me Tori. I am 32 years old and I live in an apartment next to my long time friend, Hazel Walker. I am not married nor dating anyone. It is difficult for me to find a guy interested in someone who drinks poison to survive. I know what you're thinking. Poison? What do you mean? Have you ever watched a Disney movie or read any fairy-tale book? You know the kind where she eats the poisonous apple and sleeps forever or dies? Yeah that kind of poison. The kind of poison that kills people. I consume that kind to live.

I have lived in Seattle, Washington my entire life. Went to college at the U of Washington. I majored in Journalism in college but currently work as a waitress at Lola. It is hard finding a job in Journalism when you can't explain to your coworkers why you need to consume poison to survive. No one understands me. I've been to the doctor countless times trying to understand my condition. My doctor once told me about support groups but in my 32 years of life, I have never encountered another person who consumes something that was made to kill you, as a life-line.

"Hey Tori do you work tonight?" asked Hazel as I walked through the door of my small apartment; Hazel and I had copies of our keys done so we could come over any time. I had just gotten home from work. I work double shifts a lot at Lola. Hazel lived next door to me with her boyfriend of 6 years, Isaac Matthews. Issac doesn't want to get married because he thinks it's pointless. Hazel's biggest dream in life is to get married so that's a sore subject between the two of them.

"No, I asked Audrey to work for me tonight," I said as I took off my shoes. Audrey Hamilton is my only friend at work. Although she doesn't understand my poisonous life, she doesn't criticize me like everyone else. Audrey is 34 and has two kids with her husband, Charlie Hamilton. Her son William is 12 and her daughter Madison is 5. 

"Do you want to go to the Theater?" asked Hazel as she put down the magazine she had been reading.

"Sure why not!" I said as I walked into the living room. Hazel and I loved going to see plays. "What are we doing for supper?" I asked as I sat down on the couch.

"Isaac doesn't get home for another 3 hours so we're going to make grilled cheese," laughed Hazel as she walked to the kitchen.

"Sounds good to me!" I chuckled.

We ended up getting a taxi to drive us to the theater because Hazel didn't want to drive and I always take a taxi. I don't see the point of driving in a huge city when you don't have to. As we sat in the back of the cab, I took some of my poison out of my purse. I unscrewed the lid and sipped a tiny swig. 

"Really?" asked Hazel, annoyance in her voice.

"I'm sorry, I was getting sick. I won't take any more," I said as I shoved the rest into my purse.

"Good because the cab driver is going to think you're weird," laughed Hazel. We arrived at the theater and sat in our seats. The play was very good. It was about a man coming home from war to his impregnated wife. It wasn't his baby. As we were walking out of the theater, Hazel left me to try to wave down a taxi. 

"Oops I'm so sorry," said a guy as he bumped into my shoulder.

"No it's fine," I said as I took a step back.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asked the guy as he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fi.." was all I could get out before the guy grabbed my purse and ran.

"MY PURSE!" I screamed as I watched the guy run across the heavy traffic street. I tried to run after him but was soon captured into darkness.

I woke up in a hospital bed. Bright lights disturbing my vision.

"Well hello there," said a male voice. I looked over to see a doctor. My doctor. Oh great.

"What happened?" I asked as I looked around.

"You fainted because you were dehydrated. Have you had anything to drink today?" asked my doctor.

"Other than my medicine, not really," I said feeling the guilt spread over me. I don't regularly call my poison 'poison'. My doctor and I agreed it would sound a lot better in public if I called it 'my medicine'.

"Now Tori, I told you, if you want your medicine to help you, you have to keep hydrated."

"Are you okay?" asked a familiar voice.

"I'm fine Hazel. Hey did you get my purse back?" I asked looking over at her as she sat down in the chair next to the bed I was in.

"No I couldn't catch him but I did call the police. You can get more of your medicine at the store tomorrow."

"Okay," I said as I struggled to sit up.

"Don't scare me like that again," warned Hazel.

"I won't."