Bombshell

1

     A group of people watched me and pointed in between small whispers as I sat outside the president's office. He had been having a meeting but what I had to say couldn't wait. I brushed my suit off and straightened my tie, trying to look more professional. I was wearing a white shirt underneath my suit jacket and matching black khaki pants. I was also wearing a red tie that was slightly wrinkled toward the bottom.

     As I waited for the president to walk out, I went over what I would say in my head. I had already been there for more than an hour and I was starting to get impatient. People continued to walk past me and the light outside started to get dimmer. I glanced down at my watch. 6:23. I got there at 4:45. I started to lose hope and got up right when the meeting ended and the office cleared. I waited until the president walked out and went up to him.

     "Mr.President! May I please talk to you? It's important." He shook his head and continued walking. I followed him and continued talking. "It's my wife. She's dying and someone told me that you have the money to put towards faster research for the cure to cancer. Please, I need your help. I can't lose her, sir." He stopped for a second and sighed. "I already have people researching. I am sorry, but I cannot help you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have another meeting to attend," he said and walked away while I just stood there. A rush of adrenaline kicked in and I yelled at him. "My name is Frederick Dolson and you will soon wish you would have helped me!" People were staring and I kicked over a table holding business cards and cups of coffee. More people stopped what they were doing and stared at me, but I didn't care. I ran out of the building and to the city where I lived.

     Well, I didn't live in the city. I lived in an apartment, of course.

     As I walked into my apartment, Tilly, my Pomeranian husky mix, came up to me and jumped up, wanting me to pet her. "Hey girl," I said and leaned down to pet her. My apartment smelled like a doctor's office. Latex gloves and special equipment were scattered around on the dining table.

     "Charlotte! I'm home!" I yelled and threw my shoes off onto the floor. My wife, Charlotte, didn't reply. She was probably asleep. It was good for her to rest because her cancer made her very weak. I walked upstairs and into her room where she was lying on the floor, her pill bottle beside her with the pills scattered everywhere. "Oh my god!" I yelled again and went to help her up. I lifted her up onto the bed and untangled her breathing tube. She watched me with her big blue eyes as I picked up every pill. "Are you alright?" She nodded and turned her head towards the door where Tilly was standing. I had forgotten to close the door and Charlotte was allergic to dogs. So I shooed Tilly out the room and shut the door, also flicking the lights on. I hadn't even realized how dark it was.

     "What happened?" No response. "Char?" She looked at me with tears in her eyes, a few falling down her cheek. "I needed to use the restroom," she said and another tear fell. That's when I noticed the smell of urine and a stain on the floor where she had fallen. "Oh Char.. It's alright. Did you get hurt?" She shook her head again and looked away, embarrassed. "How about we get you cleaned up? I'll help you. Don't worry. I won't let you fall again." I helped her up and realized how weak she had gotten. It made me angry that I was watching her suffer and I couldn't do anything about it. I hooked her oxygen tank to some wheels and wheeled it behind us, taking small steps toward the bathroom. I let her sit on the toilet and get the last of her business done as I went and got a stool for the shower. "Fred!" She yelled. "Yeah?" I answered and quickly ran into the bathroom with the stool where she was holding the toilet paper. "Please help me." I sighed and nodded, helping her wipe. After that, I sat her in the shower and gently helped her clean up.

     When we were done with the shower, I laid her on the bed again and let her rest. It took almost two hours because of how weak she was, but I was glad that I could help her.

     I got a glass of water from the sink and took it to her to take her oral chemo. But she shook her head and refused the medicine. "I don't want it, Fred. I can't handle it." Tears formed in my eyes and I shook out a couple of pills. "Please Charlotte. I can't bear to see you suffer." I said and pushed them towards her and she pushed my hand away. "I'm already suffering by taking those pills, Frederick. You see how weak they make me. I can't even get up to use the restroom anymore. Please just let me go without them." I was hesitant but I finally put the pills back into the bottle. "Fine. It's your body. You know the consequences." She smiled and put her hand on mine. "Thank you honey. I love you so much." I said it back and we fell asleep together, her hand on mine.