The Iris Epidemic

The Decision

"Have you been in the town lately?" He asked calmly to start.

I remember looking to my wife before speaking.
"Why, no I have not. The wife has went to town just about a week ago to pick a few things we had miss from going to town for food and items."

"When I was there everyone seemed pleasant as usual. I usually go to certain local areas for our needs." Elisabeth added.

"Well..." the man started to speak. "There has been a threat that has entered this part of France..."

"Anything specific you mean as a threat?” She continued to speak as I listened.

"Just over a few weeks ago several towns in France have noticed a new illness going around. And it's something we have never seen before."
He cleared his throat before continuing. "Its spreading fairly quickly and we do not have enough doctors to treat the infected..."  

"Airborne illness?" I inquired.

"We aren't sure good sir. Could be easily airborne or through the act of human contact." He replied back. "Whatever is the case. I hope you folks have plenty of food and supplies to last you a while now. I wouldn't risk going back into the town." He said in concern.

I sat up forward a little and put my elbows and arms on the table leaning on them.

"What kind of information have you figured out about this illness?"

"Not much for now. The doctors we have say a infected patient will live between 5 to 7 days. We are looking for more to join us. Can you in anyway to find it in your heart to help us Mr Iris…? To help your fellow towns people?"

And that was it for me. That sentence was what brought me to where I am today.

The end… 

hah, unfortunately for you it actually continues, just not in the way I wanted life to go.

In no way in hell did I think I would make a difference because I knew this was bigger than any human in this era but something in me told me to just do it, no matter the cost of my life it would hold. Our town's people needed help..
Friends, family, basically everything I knew and loved. And to this day I wonder whether it was a good decision or not.

I stared blankly at him debating about what I was getting into. At that time I had no clue how it would end up but I knew I couldn't just sit here and hide the fact I had a little bit of medical training. It would be considered a sin and I would go to hell for it. But I'd risk my family's health if i helped… 

Elizabeth understood my silence and spoke up before I could reply. "That's an awfully big responsibility to put on his shoulders don't you think?"

"We need all the help we can get." He insisted.
"Experience, little experience. Hell, even no experience at all. It could be possible that an inexperienced man will have the intelligence to figure out the cure of this illness. This sickness. This Plague.."

I came back from being zoned out, the spiraling thoughts of my great decision and firmly stated my answer.

"I have recently been in practice and studies with the medical field..."

I got up and brought over the books I have been self studying and put them into the middle of the table for him to look at. The room was silent.

"I know a few people that may take the chances to help. But it won't be right away. They will have to think of it for abit..."
I trailed my sentence off and looked at my wife. The colour from her skin seemed to drain from her face as she just heard what I sentenced myself to.

"Renan Jeffrey Keen Iris, what on earth are you getting yourself into? We need you here as part of the family." Elizabeth said to me exasperatedly.

"You know me, my darling. I will help as best as I can. This could help bring in more money into the house and…"

"Renan, this is bigger than you. Are you sure this is even a real thing?? Everything was fine when i was in town." My wife interrupted me and spoke almost in a quiet stern whisper.

I remember sighing and trying to give her a small smile. 
"I will always let you know what is going on. Our town is at stake, if I can help in anyway it could help save us from this illness. Or what plague is going through this town" I reassured her. "I will always be here to protect you and our son."

I gently kissed the side of her temple before looking back over to the man
"What is first order of business?”

"Mr. Iris, I can't express how much I and most will be thankful for your service. Really. Now, Come into town to this shop. I will be around and you can come see me. I will explain things in more detail."

The sick to my stomach feeling was worse by this time but I nodded and sat back again and wrapped my arms around to comfort my wife. Lets just say she was not too happy with me that night but she always believed my judgment was pure.

God... I wonder if she's looking down at me now... rethinking what she use to think of me. I use to be able to get dressed and fix the clothing on my back by looking in a mirror. But I've seen and broken too many of them I haven't once look at who I have turn out to be for a very long time. I use to sit on the foot of the bed and watch as Elisabeth would twirll around in her formal dresses in the mirror as she would hum songs we both known and grown up with. She was always a calm, enjoyable presences to have around.

She would always come over and pull me up by lightly tugging my hands to make me get up. She would get me up and we would casually and slowly dance around our room.  I was very comfortable and happy with my life. We dance and I would spin her around gentally. Couldn't ask for much else back then, I was lucky with what I had. Thought I never gave up certain things I have now either. It's one confusing cycle that only gives me more questions than answers.

Later that evening I followed the man back to the front porch and closed the door. I spoke to him for abit longer while Elisabeth put our son to bed. I can say I know most of what was said but we briefly talked about risks and family life to each other before we said our goodbyes and he headed off walking down the dark pathway away from our farm house. I took out my father's pipe that was given to me and I started to take puffs and I decided to lean on the side of the house for a bit before going back inside.