Her eyes widen when she sees me, and for a horrifying moment, I think she's going to scream for security.Instead, her face contorts with fury.
"You," she hisses, jabbing a finger at my chest."You have some nerve showing your face here."
I raise my hands in surrender, aware of how this must look—the disheveled priest just released from jail, rushing to the bedside of his alleged victim.
"Mrs.Abbot, please.I just need to know he's okay."
"Okay?"Her voice rises, drawing glances from a passing nurse."My son is lying in there because of you, and you want to know if he's okay?"
"I didn't poison Cole," I say, my voice cracking."I would never hurt him.You have to believe me."Her eyes narrow just as the double doors open.
“I’m sorry.”I shout as I rush past her and slip through the double doors.
I try to slow my pace so I don’t look suspicious as I peer into the small window on each door.Then I finally see him and I’ve never been so relieved in my life.His hair is disheveled and dirty but he’s awake.I slip inside without a second thought.
Forty-Three
Cole
Familiar Taste of Poison - Halestorm
C
aleb poisoned me?The thought keeps playing in my head.When I woke up yesterday to my Mothers tear stained face, I think I was more concerned for her than myself.When she told me everything, ice ran through my veins.It is nearly impossible to reconcile the man I know, Fuck, the man I love with the villain I am being told that he is.
But then my broken heart reminds me of him and Charlotte, maybe he wanted me out of the way.But…I shake my head.I have to stop this merry-go-round.Just then a gentle knock sounds at the door and my nurse walks in.“How are you feeling today young man?”Vera, my nurse, is a heavy set, older African American woman with kind eyes and a sassy mouth, she reminds me of my Grandma Dotty.
“Vera, come to check on your favorite patient?”I grin and she rolls her eyes.
“Favorite headache is more like it.”
“What's on the menu today?”I ask as she sets the tray in front of me.I sigh, another day of liquids and soft shit jello that tastes like stinky socks; coffee, apple juice, a bowl of broth and a protein supplement.No matter how much I butter her up, convincing her to get me a burger never works.
“C’mon Vera this is nasty.I'm a growing boy, I need real food.”I whine.
“Keep it up and you’ll get a real feeding tube, now eat.”I smirk.
“Don't you mean slurp?”She huffs and leaves right as Mason enters the room.
“Good morning, Vera,” he says, then points over his shoulder “What’d you do to her now?”
“Me?!Do you see the crap they are making me eat?I’m the victim here.”His eyes darken and I know what he is thinking, so I chuckle to lighten the mood.
I don't want to talk about my poisoning anymore, I just want life to be normal again.But even with that thought I know it will never happen.My life has been irrevocably altered.
Mason looks at me seriously “How you feelin’ man?”
“Like pac-man.”I deadpan and despite himself Mason breaks out laughing.He’s been razzing me about the yellow color of my skin and I admit it looks hilarious.But the poison affected my liver and that is the not so funny part.The doctor assured me it will pass as my liver heals but I might be stuck like this for a little bit.
Mason swipes my Jello off the tray and pulls the tab slurping it like a jello shot.“Asshole.”I grumble.
“What?You don't like it anyways.”He goes to reach for the apple juice cup and I slap his hand.
“That's where I draw the line my friend.”He glowers at me.
“Fine cousin of an Oompa Loompa.”I mock gasp.
"Fuck off, Willy Wonka," I quip back with a smirk.Mason's cheeks flush slightly at the mention of the nickname I gave him when we were nine.Mason loved chocolate so much so that he snuck into his Halloween candy and gorged himself on it causing him to shit his pants.After I knew he was okay, I died laughing.
