Memories of Life

24. Patience.

24. Patience.

Robert sat in the kitchen of the old farmhouse alone. The windows were boarded shut, and there was silence. "What are you going to do now boy!"

Robert looked up to see Pop sitting at the opposite end of the table, his face etched with an unfamiliar harshness'. Leaning forward Robert whispered "They're gone Pop."

Pops face quivered with rage. "Then stop feeling sorry for yourself, and do something about it boy!" He yelled, slamming his fist on the table.

Robert blinked trying to clear the fog from his eye's with Pop's voice still echoing in his ears. Rubbing them, he grimaced slightly feeling the discomfort of the bruising from a wound on his cheek, when eventually the light from a window illuminated the room bringing it into focus. It was his own bedroom, recognizable from the light fitting and portrait of his children hanging on the wall near the window. Lifting his head Robert went to sit up, but a pain in his chest and stomach made him feel like he was being crushed, and he collapsed back on the bed. Grabbing his chest, Robert felt it bandaged tightly, and ran his hand down to his belly gently pressing where he felt the pain, making him wince. It was then he noticed something attached to his arm. A clear tube ran from it, to the curtain rod above the window where an empty bag of fluid hung from a coat-hanger. Briefly he thought of yelling out to whoever it was that had put the IV in him, but decided against it. Taking a few quick breathes before holding it, he tried to sit up again this time ready for the pain in his chest and stomach. Exhaling Robert managed to prop himself up with one arm to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. His head spun, momentarily making him feel like vomiting until the blood circulated its way to his brain. The effort, and temporary nausea made him breath deeply with exhaustion, and the bandage which splinted his chest felt like it was crushing him, causing even more pain. Looking down, he found the tape which secured it in place and removed the support. The pain was still there when he breathed, but it felt better without the confinement. Robert now noticed he was naked as he looked down at the bruising on his abdomen, chest and thighs. He remembered how it had happened, and took some relief that he still had his memory. Though who had tended to him, and how long he'd been like this, he could not recall.

Robert removed the IV from his arm stemming the blood with the bed-sheet momentarily, then looked around the room seeing his clothes sitting on a chair at the end of the bed. Standing felt slightly easier then sitting up as he struggled to put his jeans and shirt on, with every bending motion and elevation of his arm making some place different ache. When finally accomplished he sighted himself in the reflection of the dressers mirror. Shuffling closer to examine his face Robert barely recognized himself. He had a full beard, and both his eyes were still dark with bruising, accompanied by several lacerations to his face which had been neatly stitched. There was little swelling, and he covered each eye in turn to assess his vision which was still cloudy, though not enough to hide the deep lines which sat at the corners of them. Lifting his shirt to examine his chest more closely, he could see his ribs sticking out except for an area of swelling to his right side where they'd been broken.

The sound of laughter then echoed from the hallway outside the bedroom, refocusing Roberts' attention from how different he had remembered himself. Glancing around the room he looked for something to arm himself, though there was nothing suitable apart from the coat-hanger. Which in his current condition he would barely be able to poke in someone's eye. Deciding whatever they wanted it would make no difference now, Robert shuffled cautiously out into the hallway. The low tones of men's voices could be heard coming from the lounge accompanied by more laughter from just one of them. Holding the wall Robert inched his way down the hall towards them hearing one say "You're not smart enough Bat." With which the other responded "Bullshit!"