I walked towards Mr. Harold, who was still on the phone with someone. "Okay, wait there I…." I looked at Harold and raised my hand. "Hey, what if I call you back?" He hangs up and exhales.
"Can I…" He throws me a towel before I can finish my word.
"Dried yourself and changed your clothes first, Julia. After that, can you help me with groceries?" He asked.
I dried my hair and nodded. "You forgive me?" Mr. Harold put a mug and put it on his desk. He took out his a photo album.
"Have you ever… heard about an incident in Oklahoma 12 years ago?" I nodding my head. Quick story about that incident, a residence building burned down because of electrical short. 30 families died except one person. My dad was an officer back then.
"My dad was on the task force back then."
Harold opens the page. First page he shows to me is Harold with his family, I guess. "My marriage was on the edge. That night, we fought over something. I don't want to talk about it, also that night it was our 4th anniversary. I said to her I don't want to see her again, and leave her with the kids alone inside that building." He said as he took out the photo.
He pulled a clipping news article and put it next to the first picture. I took the photo and observed it. I was twelve when it happened. My dad said it was the worst arson case in the America history so far, but he also said there's a guy who survived and now he went missing.
Rumor has it. He's neither taken his own life, become an addict, or left the country. Now, I talked to him right in front of me. "People said you…"
"Dead?" He leaned his back. "When the fire starts, I wasn't there." He holds back his tears and took a deep breath. It was a silence for a moment. I keep read these articles.
"Where are you, then?" I asked him.
He starring at the picture on the corner of his table as he keeps spinning his lighter. He's not an alcoholic or a smoker. Why he keeps spinning the lighter and put a lot of expensive whiskies on the shelf as if he is also an addict? I'm waiting until he answers my question. It's like he…
"I was at my mistress' house when that happened. It's 3 AM. I've got a call from her brother, then I rushed to the scene." He ends his words by putting everything back and he gave it to me.
I furrowed my brow as he took out his medical record. It's personal information, and I don't get a lawsuit because of it. It's enough that a greedy publisher and asshole manager sued me. "Are you…" he told me to keep silent.
"Last year, I went to Austin for seeking a medical health, and he diagnosed me with a tumor." He said as he open the page. "I know it sounds… ridiculous to tell stranger your medical record." I don't like this feeling.
"Do you want me to keep it?"
He shook his head. "I want the world knows behind the story of that incident." Excuse me? What does that mean?
"Do you want me to write a story before it happens?" I asked him.
Harold nodding his head and he slapped the thick album in front of me. "I already read all your books before you came to here. When I heard about you came to this town, I wanted to meet you in person."
What should I do? Should I accept it? What about the profit of the book after he died? "I…" Mr. Harold shook his head.
Mr. Harold took a deep breath and exhale it slowly through his mouth. "When I died, I want 50% of the profit donate to the orphan on the hill." A hill? Oh, right. Dry land and sands hill surrounded this town.
I rubbed my chin and leaned. It's an honour to meet him in person, but in other side, I don't want to do this. Fuck. Why he suddenly call to me and tell me this? No, I should ask him about his tumor. "What type your brain tumor and how fast it will grow?" It's like I don't have a choice here.
"I don't understand what they were saying, but they said it's growing fast and aggressive."
I took a deep breath and exhale it slowly. "It's grade IV astrocytoma." I mumbled and looked at the wall behind him. Shit. His life is short. Where do I know that? I did some research for my medical drama book.
"Is that bad, right?" He raised his eyebrow. It's like he wants to dead.
"Why you did not take radiation therapy or meds?" He simply shook his head. I think he is ready to die. Well, it's his last wish and God already granted his wish. I took out my soaked pen and looked at him. Here's goes nothing. "Can I asked…"
"Here." He handed me a blank notepad and a box of pens. "I don't want you to miss all details." I nodding my head and took a deep breath and start writing all his words.
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I opened my office door, and I saw Irene sitting on my chair. I took a deep breath and tapped on her shoulder. "Irene?" She turned her body, then hugged me, but I looked at surrounding this room was empty. There's no one inside.
Well, I get used to it. I took a deep breath and walked to my desk and open my laptop. "Julia?" Evelyn? She's not gone home yet? What the fuck she's doing here? It's already dinner time. Where is Mrs. Sherlyn? I open the first page and looking at the photo Mr. Harold gave me.
"You haven't been home yet?" She walking towards me with a paper bag in her hand.
"My parents go…" a door opened. Irene? What's she doing here? She approached me, then kissed my lips. "Julia? Hey, you alright!?" I jolted as Evelyn touched my shoulder.
"I-I'm fine." I took a deep breath and looked at the clock on the wall. No. It shouldn't happen to me.
Evelyn sits me in my chair and rubbed my arm. "You should take a rest." At least she's right.
I pushed her out of my room, then locked the door. I lay my body on the couch. My head was spinning and everything goes to black.