A Weeping Paladin

Fading Murkiness

Narrator

     “…fractured forearm, and um… internal bleeding and genital bruising and injury; signs of s****l assault. Your heart failed twice during the procedure. Despite that, your tests came back negative. No STDs or STIs…” The doctor continued to go through what took place for the patient on the bed. Even the doctors in the Emergency Room who are trained to deal with unexpected and gory situations had to voluntarily get a hold of themselves as to not bolt away from the scene. The pile of human that was thrown in the parking lot sometime during early morning hours could have been nothing but the remnants of a prey an animal toyed with as food. Had it not been the faint wheezing in the quiet place and the resident doctor getting to his car, who just so happened to be held back for two hours after his shift, that unfortunate soul would have met its end in the cold deserted parking lot like nothing more than roadkill.

     The victim was determined to be a dark-skinned male in late teens. His heart line flattened twice in the Operation Room due to the severe internal bleeding and shock. Not only was the damage internal ranging from concussions to deteriorated insides, but the external harm was nauseous. Slashes and cuts marred his chest, stomach, and thigh, his face received quite the blows and his jaw was dislocated and his neck was contused due to intense asphyxiation which injured the trachea and the vocal cords. The odds of the victim to wake up were minimal and recovery was left for his survival will at some point. Five days after, he did wake up but wished he did not. What would it take for him to just lay in bed and drift to eternal slumber? After hearing the doctor and only managing to respond with blinks, he recalled what happened and went numb for some time. Numbness cocooned his entire being: body and mind. His heart was squeezing and his soul was tired but he felt no pain and had no thought. When his eyes fluttered shut, words echoed in his mind with resonance: “there is luck in the last helping”. Tears connected on his cheeks, burning, and cleansing until he fell into a deep sleep. Not yet, just not yet. He still can stand, so not yet.

Adam

     “I don’t get it? I don’t need to pay anything? You sure, ma’am?” I ask the nurse for the third time but she is not flipping or condescending and I simply cannot wrap my head around it. A surgery, medications and being hospitalized for close to three weeks but when I am about to be discharged, I am informed that I am expected to pay for anything?… Nothing?. There is no such benevolence in the system; absolutely none. “Yes, young man. This hospital is privately owned. That is, it operates according to the system but with plenty of small windows for help and you benefit from one” She smiled at me and continued explaining, “Besides, you said that you have no one and are working without a contract. So, even if we charge you, you won’t be able to pay. Just take it, kid. Someone out there must be watching over you” I snort at that and try to pass it as a cough but it does not fool her. “Do you, I hope I’m not being nosy even though I know I am but, do you want me to introduce to a job?” She asked me with reluctance and caution. I bet she had a theory of her own on why I ended up on the verge of death in their parking lot. She flusteredly added, “It’s a very legal program that offers proper jobs for anyone. A lot of patients who were in your shoe once joined it and they are doing well!” I looked at her and she seemed very eager. “Maybe” I answered with a blank face not really willing to get her hopes up because she has been very kind to me – the entire staff has for that matter. I still have no clue what to do or where to start. My answer though had a smile shine on her face and she pulled a business card from her scrub and handed it to me. “Here! There is the address of the main company and the name of the woman you need to find. Just tell her that the head nurse Katrina sent you under the Metanoia Program. She will take care of you” I nod at that and put the card in the pocket of the pants they gave me. It is a very comfortable outfit, especially in my state. I grab the bag she has been stuffing with meds and food containers. This woman has done more for me, a stranger, than anyone that I have ever met. “Thank you very much, Katrina, I’ll never forget your kindness; ever” I say to her and I know that even though I do not smile at her, she can see it in my eyes that I am not a wreck because she approaches me and puts her hand on my cheek and says, “May you find solace in what’s ahead” and pat me on the head ever so gently as she has done for the past weeks. I close my eyes and find comfort in her touch, “I will” came my whispered vow.

After thanking the rest of the staff, I left the hospital not knowing where to go. First things first, I need to go back to my room and get all the money I have stashed in there. I doubt Dan or the rest think I lived through that but I do not need to push my luck any further. I zip up the jacket I was given and put the hood over to cover as much of my face as possible. I need to scout the area first, I can walk or even speed walk but I will not be able to run if I am chased. Mrs. Chin is definitely worried. I will swing by her store first. Maybe, they looked for me there. Getting some information is always better than charging in blindly like a fool. Then what? What can I do? Where am I going to go? I do not have enough to move away yet and I am in no condition to work with my broken arm and no one will hire a battered worker. My hand brushed over the card Katrina gave me. Should I after all give it a try? I pulled the card and inspected the address. That is the fancy and safer side of the city. “The Romano Group” that definitely rings a bell. I have to remember to ask Mrs. Chin about it. She always liked to keep up with the business around. That maybe  I gave Katrina may turn into a yes if all fall into the right place. I return the card to my pocket and set forward on my journey. I can do this; There is luck in the last helping ...