With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty

Nurse Pam let go of Tiffany, putting her hands on Tiffany’s shoulders, examining her. “I’m fine! Have you got any of those delicious cupcakes you make?”

Tiffany laughed. “I didn’t make cupcakes. I’m sorry.”

“That’s fine, dear,” said Nurse Pam, quick to reassure. “Wow. I haven’t seen you in four years. A lot must have changed.”

Tiffany smiled, restraining herself from telling Nurse Pam just how much had changed. “Yeah, a lot has definitely changed. I’m still the same, though.”

Nurse Pam smiled. “You better be. Now, Eunice isn’t awake yet, but she’s bound to come here in a few minutes.”

“How has she been?” asked Tiffany, genuinely curious as to how her sister was.

Nurse Pam shook her head sadly, a frown suddenly appearing on her face. “She’s still the same. There hasn’t been much progress, I’m afraid.”

Tiffany was quick to give Nurse Pam a reassuring smile. It was sad, yes, but she knew from the very start that there wasn’t much they could do for her sister, and that there wasn’t much she could expect. She was clinging to false hope, and to continue on doing so would only make her a fool. “It’s okay,” said Tiffany, her voice soft and calm, trying to ease the guilt Nurse Pam shouldn’t be feeling.

Nurse Pam gave her an incredulous look, her eyebrow arched high and her frown deepening. Tiffany ran the words over in her head and shook her head, quick to take the words back. “No. I mean, it isn’t really okay, but that’s what we all knew from the very start. You shouldn’t feel guilty, Nurse Pam.”

Nurse Pam was a kind, old woman in her fifties. She was chubby, and was currently wearing the prescribed white nurses’ uniform, complete with neat, white shoes. She had her graying hair tied in a neat bun, and she had her hands in her pockets. Laugh lines were visible at the corners of her eyes, yet she had the deep set of the eyes of a person who had seen too much bad things in the world. She had beautiful, sapphire blue eyes, and a mole was located under her right eye. Ever since Eunice was brought to the institution, Nurse Pam had been her nurse, taking care of her and making sure she was alright.

Nurse Pam looked at the silver wristwatch she was wearing and looked back at Tiffany with a sad look in her eyes. “She’s probably getting ready to go down now. I suggest you go upstairs and surprise her.”

Tiffany nodded gratefully. “I think I will. Thanks, Nurse Pam.”

Pam smiled, showing rows of white teeth. “It’s good to have you here, Tiffany.”

Tiffany smiled. “The same can be said for you.”

To be honest, he really didn’t know why he didn’t tell Catherine.

Perhaps, it was because the two men looked serious when they were warning him against telling it to other people, or maybe it was because Gil had the feeling that something bad was going to happen to Catherine if he told her what happened.

It was the latter one which made him seal his lips shut. The thought of losing Catherine because of information he leaked out was unbearable, and he would rather have her not knowing than have her dead. It was better this way.

That was what he told himself, at least.

The apartment was still, silent, and cold. The only thing that could be heard besides the occasional sigh was the quiet ticking of a clock somewhere in his home. Gil was lying on his bed, still in his Harvard uniform, his ankles crossed. He had the business card in his hands, and his eyes alternated between looking at the card and staring at the ceiling.