This is too weird.
I had no idea why I was going back down there. I mean yes, I thought Emily was nice--she was way to good for Slate but, that didn’t mean I wanted her but I felt like she should know. She seemed to want to know. Emily is kind and I need more friends in this part of town.
It was early and I knew there was no chance Slate would be there--he was probably back at the apartment with Darcy. I knocked on the door and was surprised by Slate opening it.
Again
“You keep doing this and we may have to invite you to join us,” Slate answered
Emily quickly ducked out from under him in a silk robe and house shoes. I wondered if she got fired.
“Come on in,” she said pushing Slate out of the way.
“No, I can’t I just wanted you to know I am going to see Stacy Green today--my dad. I’m on my way, I just wanted you to know,”
“Awww, I think he has a crush on you,” Slate said
“Shut the hell up,” she said, “I’m glad-- tell me how it goes, okay ?”
I agreed and went back out my car. It was a nice car but I wasn’t sure if between parking garages and meter if the money was ever going to be worth it.
As I made my way out of Jersey City I wondered about Slate and Emily. Were they back together now ? Had he gone back to Darcy ? Seeing how adamently he wanted her back I guess it was good they were back together.
As I got closer to the Morristown Adult Care Facility I wondered more about Stacy Greene. What if I did have any siblings ? No, if I did they would have said something.
I parked my car in visitor parking and headed for the front desk.
“I’m Elias Perry,” I said
“Oh, yes we talked on the phone,” a women wearing a white coat said coming from behind the desk. “You said Roger Greene is your biological father,”
I nodded my head
“Well, he is in a section that we have exclusively with Huntington’s Patients, he is in the advanced stages you know. Would you like to go in alone or with someone ?” she asked
“I’ll go alone,” I said as she attached a Visitors sticker to my shirt.
“Room 111,”
I walked through the maze of hallways and observed the ward. It was neat and clean and no one near as hospital like as I thought. I even saw a few people smiling and they looked genuinely happy and taken care of. When I got to door 111 my heart was beating out of my chest. I saw the curtain was open so I peaked in.
I saw someone lying in a bed their body was contorted and moving like he was being electrictured. I slowly opened the door.
“Who the hell are you ?” he yelled at me
“I'm Sorry ,” I stammered out unable to keep my eyes off the feeding tube in his throat,”I have Huntington’s too I—“
“DONT look at me FOR answers, boy,” he shouted out to me,
his voice changing volumes, "I don't have any,"
“I—Does it get better ?” I ventured to ask
He coughed and grunted pointing to the water bottle on his bedside. I quickly walked over and brought it to him and he cleared his throat.
“I’ve lost my wife, MY family my god . . . damn mind to THIS—it doesn’t get better. I’m just TRYING to find the best way to kill myself like my wife, Leslie.”
I had made a decisions right then.
“I have to go—sorry to bother you,” I said
And as I got ready to leave my face twitched sharply and I almost thought I saw a glimmer of recognition in his eye but, I left before I could be sure.
The closer I got to my car the more I realized something.
I couldn’t do this.
