CHAPTER NINE

Anger crept into her as she returned his file back to him, she got the virus from him, he had AIDS and it wasn’t specified the duration of the infection, maybe it was long term or short term.

It had to be long term for the depreciation to be so acute.

She felt her breakfast coming back up, feeling queasy all of a sudden, he did this to her.

She eyed the ball-pen on her desk, thinking of burying it in his eyes. She was so mad, that her shoulders were quaking with the effort to remain in control.

“I have been rejected by all hospitals and doctors, I do not want to die Essa, please help me live,” He cried still on his knees. “You are my last hope and resort.”

“You are going to die Henry and I hope every last moment you spend on earth is filled with agony and pain that you wish God will take your life,” She spat, “Then you will rot in hell.”

She didn’t say this though.

“Why didn’t you reduce your intake of cigars?” She chewed her gum to rein back the bad words she wanted to spit at him, “When we were together, I have always warned you and complained that you should quit.”

“I quit smoking while we were together and I went back after you jilted me”. He said tearfully.

“Don’t you fucking say I jilted you! You made me leave!” She yelled.

“No Essa, you just upped and left me.” He hiccupped, “Without any reason, we were so in love. I tried your number for months and it either went straight through to voicemail or your phone was switched off.” He explained tears freely flowing down his hollowed cheeks.

“What went wrong with us, we used to be so happy.” His voice was so sad that it broke Vanessa’s heart.

It was true. She had been head over heels with him.

Vanessa joined him in crying, the pain spreading from her heart to every cell in her body.

Moments passed and two of them were lost in the past, tears cascading down from their eyes, crying out their pain from the betrayal and lost love. The air was so sad and thick and they wept till Vanessa smiled through her tear stained face and said.

“Eat shit Henry. Get out and leave.” She said calmly pointing at the door, her heart still contracting helplessly. “I can’t be help of to you”.

“Please Vanessa; help me, for the sake of our love”. He wailed, clutching his file to his thin chest, his veins bluish and visible from beneath the papery skin on his bony wrist.

“What love? Just leave and never come back, I fucking hate you Henry”. She said with vehemence leaving no room for arguments.

He slid across the room, and held on to the hospital bed there. Then he hoisted himself up and walked to the door, sparing a last glance at Vanessa.

He walked out of the office, the hospital and hopefully her life.

The spent Vanessa placed her head on the desk and cried herself to a short nap, waking up about an hour later. She headed into the cafeteria at the hospital and helped herself to a cup of coffee sweetened by lots of milk and sugar.