Friday, 29 August 2008

  • Here and Now Update #5

    An update, months in the works, only to be a huge disappointment.  I've had a painful case of writer's bloc thanks to.. well I guess you could say a lack of girl problems and I'm still caught within it's grasp.  This update was eked out painfully, sentences at a time every few weeks.  Only a few nights ago did I make a final push after having somewhat of a revelation for the story and where it's heading.  Well, without pushing this further, here's the update.
     A muddled gray cast itself over the sky, holding back the brilliant blue with its blockade of beauty. Gray and white blurred into a haphazard mess. A nearing storm wet the air.

    Tobias was nervous. He stood before the main doors of the hospital, its ominous four stories towering above him, with his legs trembling as a vague feeling that he had forgotten something faded into the back of his mind. A lurching sickness alerted him of the pit in his stomach. Slowly, his knees almost giving way with each step, Tobias made his way past the doors, past the other people patiently waiting in the lobby, and past the disgruntled balding man holding a clipboard near the front desk.

    “I'm here to volunteer” he mumbled to the receptionist.

    The receptionist was a middle-aged woman, or maybe she wasn't and it was just her eyes that had aged, weary with the suffering and death her eyes had seen. Giving Tobias a tired half-smile, she nodded and instructed him on his assignment, as well as told him not to ignore the other people patiently waiting at the reception desk.

    Tobias heard bits and pieces of what she said and only picked up what he had already figured: cleanliness, carefulness, and asking staff or other volunteers for help in order to help. His mind was adrift in thoughts of Olivia and her curled brunette locks as she sang in the morning shine. He thought about her hair because he still had her brush of course, no other reason. It was his obligation to return the brush, it had been quite a while since she threw it at him.

    After having a piece of plastic pressed into his hand, Tobias was let loose to his duties, which he actually didn't know exactly because he didn't pay attention, and he began to wander aimlessly, peering into rooms as he passed by their open doorways. In one room, there was an elderly woman sitting up on a hospital bed, smiling weakly for a young man and woman along with who seemed to be their bashful son hidden behind his mother, gripping the hem of her dress. In another, a woman expressionlessly slept on her bed while a man, with bags under his eyes and his hair a disheveled mess, sat, holding her hand as he gazed despondently at her face, hoping that at the very least her countenance would change. Anything would be better than her unconscious indifference. Moving on, Tobias caught a glimpse of a doctor in a white coat talking to a girl with short, black hair when he accidentally bumped into someone. A dull plastic clinking resounded from the floor, but was quickly lost in the sounds of the hospital.

    “You know, Tobias,” a familiar voice began, “you shouldn't make this such a habit.”

    Looking up, Tobias realized it was Aden and mumbled a hello. Aden bent down for his glasses and began to wipe them with a cloth he produced from his pocket.

    “If you don't mind me asking, why're you here?” Aden asked, putting his glasses back on, “Visiting?”

    “Oh, no, actually I'm volunteering here now,” Tobias responded hastily.

    “Ah, really?” Aden said dryly, “Well, you should probably put your tag on first. Follow me, since it's your first day I'll help you out.”

    Tobias looked down at the plastic that he held in his hand and didn't realize it was actually a name tag, with his name on it and everything. Clipping it on quickly, he tried to keep up with Aden as he walked away. They spent the rest of the day helping out, carrying various things to different places, delivering messages, closing doors, picking up papers Tobias dropped on the floor, and just generally things extra hands could do to help around.

    A question filled Tobias's mind the whole day, but he was too hesitant to ask Aden. Aden seemed so dedicated to his work, never stopping to take a break or to break a smile, that Tobias was scared to bother him with trivial things like where Olivia was. Tobias had trouble keeping up with him. After they'd finish a task, Aden would ask for another. Tobias thought he might be masochistic, but that would have be too personal a question to ask.

    When they were finally done, they walked outside to find the sky dark, looming clouds visible thanks to the street lights. Tobias finally decided it was an opportune time to ask Aden about Olivia as they both stood outside the hospital.

    “Hey, Aden,” Tobias broke the silence that was in the cold, evening night, “Do you happen to know if Olivia volunteers too?”

    Aden chuckled a bit before he began.

    “Ah, you too then?” he smiled knowingly at Tobias, “Olivia doesn't volunteer this day of the week, you should make a note of it. I'll see you around.”

    Aden began walking away from Tobias, a smirk on his face. What the hell did that all mean? Tobias felt angry for some reason, but he didn't know why. His cheeks were flustered and he had an overwhelming urge to stop volunteering. Suddenly, something wet fell on his nose. Looking up, Tobias's eye was suddenly splattered too. Before he could comprehend what was happening, a downpour began. Cheeks burning, but nose cold, he began to walk home in the rain. Tobias immediately remembered what he had forgotten. His umbrella.

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