After a long luke warm shower, Sarah wondered out to the little alley where the cars joined, setting on the steps watching endless miles of gravel go past. The comment the porter said rolled through her mind, ‘I’ve watched junkies act like this.’ Detoxing. He acted like one of her patients that was detoxing. What drug would affect a body like this one had? And for 12 years?
Orion really bothered her. Why had this affected her so? Time had allowed her to watch patience die but nothing compared to this. The youngest patient that she ever had to die was a three year old child. Though, she was sad that so young of a life was taken. She found consolation in the fact that the child hadn’t gotten too know life. Her heart bled for the parents. They gave life only to have it snatched away. But here was a life that needed to live. Outwardly he wanted to die; inwardly he struggled to live, as evident by the fight in her arms.
She didn’t feel a blanket being draped over her shoulders.
“You will catch your death sitting here.” The porter remarked kindly. He sat down beside of her.
“This wasn’t enclosed when I got on board.”
“No, they are retractable doors. They cut down on the noise.”
“Oh.”
“He’s still asleep.” The porter handed her a steaming mug. “Here.”
She held the warm mug in her trembling hands. “Hot chocolate,” she sipped.
“You don’t strike me as a coffee drinker.”
“Thank you.”
“You are most welcome.”
“What’s your name?”
“Josh.” There was a moment of silence between them. “No one has ever asked me my name before.”
“That is their loss.”
“I will gather your effects and have them cleaned.”
“There is no need for that.”
“It will be my pleasure.”
Josh smiled to himself. He looked up to see Orion standing in the door of the car, holding his finger over his mouth. Josh quietly got up. Orion took his seat.
Sarah was still lost. She leaned her head against the cold hard metal side of the train car.
“You will get your brains knocked out like that.”
“How do you feel?”
“Sore all over.”
The cup fell from her hands. She spun around standing up at the same time. “You scared the life out of me. I have never watched anyone in my care do that.” She was pointing into the car. The blanket was hanging from one shoulder, soaking up the liquid off the stairs. Anger flashed across her face, lingering in her eyes. “What was that? That scared the wits out of me. I have had patients die in my care before. I have had patients detox in my presents before. Nothing has affected me like that. What was that?” She screamed.
“That was me Sarah. That was me.”
“Well it scared me.”
“It scares me too.” He tried to smile, “you’re caring for me?”
“Whether you want me to or not; you’re ill and I’m a doctor. It’s what I do.”
He wouldn’t look at her. Couldn’t.
“You need rest,” she encouraged.
“Come with me.” His voice was pleading.
They went back inside the car. She covered him up, watching over him as he soon fell asleep.
Poetry & More 