The Other Side

CHAPTER [3]

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¬¬CHAPTER 3¬¬

¬¬*A HOME ONCE AGAIN*¬¬

After a prolonged moment, his cigarette was bitterly put to ashes as he sat in the veranda with his eyes fixed on the drive way. He rocked back and forth on a well decorated but long in tooth chair, his legs made to relax on a stool as he made the ascending smoke his companion for comfort. He was waiting for Poshia to return. When the zeal in the burning cigarette began to subside and flicker; that concluded his blissful event, introducing a new one on Pashia's arrival.

"So you put him in a place of the weak huh?" George calmly asked. Not expecting an answer, he stared at her. He stood up from his chair, walked to lean on a pillar at the entrance of the veranda while he reached for another cigarette from his back pocket. His lips griped onto the cigarette as he clutched his pockets in search of a lighter.

"Next to the ashtray," Vincent said.

"What? How you have grown boy," George replied in awe.

Vincent was never a fan of how most people recognised his evolution from a toddler to a young man he is now. He preferred them being quiet to them saying such words.

Following a sigh, Vincent acknowledged his presence. "Uncle George, it's nice to see you again," he said with very little enthusiasm as he walked up to him for a hug. Even though Vincent wasn't in favour of his George's arrangement of words, it didn't alter the fact that he was his favourite uncle.

Meanwhile, Poshia remained in the same position outside the van. If one was to see her, they would think she was annoyed with how her son was having a blissful moment with his uncle but that wasn't the case. She was deeply troubled with a case completely contrary to what it seemed. Poshia was holding on to a recent memory. Her face showed worry and confusion. It was clear, Jacob was the reason she was sinking in deep meditation. Her past memories were haunting her. Memories she thought she had buried. At this point she felt she needed to rest to get her mind off these stressful thoughts. She slowly began to walk towards the house.

"Since none of you cared to tell me how my brother is doing, I shall find out myself." George made sure he said it a frustrating way possible as Poshia passed by on her way into the house. He wanted her to relive the moment of guilt. Poshia stopped at the stairs and looked directly into George's eyes for a moment. Her acrimony for him manifested itself with throwing the car keys fast enough to hit him. After replacing her wording with this action, she continued on her path into to the house. George and Vincent didn't see this moment approach. They were left in shock.

George felt the need to discontinue the state of shock the were left in. "Pick up the keys and take me to your father," he instructed. Without questioning, Vincent did as he was told and followed his uncle to the van.

When Poshia heard the sound of the rattling van engine, she knew it was time she had her peaceful sleep.

The two arrived an hour earlier prior to the end of twilight which was a time before the end of visiting hours. Before entering the hospital, George ran across the street to a lady who had a variety of flowers on sale. "How much are the flowers?" He inquired. "They are all going for seven dollars and fifty cents," the lady replied.

"A beautiful lady like you can sure help me select a beautiful combination of flowers," George said with the intention to flatter the lady. Her day had been brightened. She smiled and helped him out.

Before leaving George concluded saying, "thank you and keep that priceless smile on," then winked at her. He left the lady amazed with the kind of courage and confidence he had delivered.

"Hold these," George said as he handed Vincent the flowers he had bought so that he fixes himself.

George was one among the few. He handled himself as a man of gentle but not of noble birth. He was a character adorned with every fashion sense, moreover, the way he walked and his charm said it all.

Without wasting much time, Vincent led the way to his father's ward. Vincent wasn't really up for the visits but he had to do it for his uncle. Besides him being his favourite he had to do so because his mother and uncle never saw eye to eye. The reason behind it was, George always gave Poshia false supportive signals when they were alone but in Bernard's presence, he was the king's humble servant. He supported every word his brother lips moulded but against Poshia's. She always felt betrayed.

Upon entering the room, Vincent was shocked with what he encountered. He couldn't believe his eyes. His eyes were the only functional organs and the rest had ceased to comply with scenery. The flowers that were once in his hands, held loose in the air on their way to the floor. It was Lucia he had seen. She was on a night shift nursing patients in ward W07. Lucia too didn't expect to see Vincent.

"I will leave you two to have some time with him," Lucia said as she stepped out of the room. Vincent never had the strength to gather courage to say a word. Only his eyes followed her as she went out.

Slapping him out it, George put himself in an inclined position so as to whisper to Vincent. "Follow her," he said. Without hesitating he did likewise.

Left in the room with his unconscious brother, tears began to form trails as they rolled down his cheeks. Only the beeping sound from the heart monitor was the only thing to strengthen his faith that he would make it. George was deeply troubled and in great pain for he had never seen his brother so helpless. He had no words to say, only his tears spoke of it all.

During the time George was having his emotional moment with his brother, Vincent was chasing a pleasantly looking future.

"Lucia!" He shouted. She stopped and walked up to him. He was stunned by her beauty once more and couldn't say a word.

"Look, I don't have much time now but if you can meet me at seven Tuesday night at the coffee shop, 6th Avenue," she said and then departed from his presence.