SIX YEARS LATER...
As always, the club brimmed with dead drunk people; most of them, at least ten of them. That's the number Octavia counted as she stepped foot into the noisy place, winding in-between and past sweaty bodies gyrating to a song filled with shrewd lyrics.
Her eyes fell upon a couple in the dark corner of the club who were almost in the business of ripping their clothes off.
Ashamedly, she averted her gaze when one of them found her staring. No sooner had she taken another step when she crashed into a wall- scratch that - a walking wall of muscles crashed into her.
The man seemed to realize what he'd done, apologized profusely before continuing on his way. Octavia gave a weary sigh, her tongue suddenly becoming useless in her mouth.
Arriving at the bar, she discovered to her dismay that all of her favorite spots had been taken by drunk ass people, except for three- oh two - an old man hobbled over to snag one of the chairs.
The bartender raised his eyes to the man in acknowledgement, then resumed the business of what he knew how to do best.
After watching the man down a shot of vodka, she began to thirst for something similar.
Taking the barstool that was to the left of the man, she watched him slurp down another shot of vodka. He slapped on the counter more cash, an indication for the bar attendant to pour more shots.
It made her smile. She didn't understand why something like that evoked such feelings but she was deliriously happy.
After two shots of tequila sunrise down her throat, the familiar buzz of alcohol swept in, tingling sensations in sweet places. Finally, something to take her mind off the things that burdened her. For instance, the miserable news her doctor called her to his office to disclose.
***
A FEW HOURS EARLIER...
"Please be seated, Miss Tavia. You look quite ravishing this morning. I must ask, what's the new beauty secret?" The man in a white lab coat took his seat behind the large table, his pearly whites exposed and dimples brazenly displayed on both sides of his cheek.
Typical medical ethics for doctors right before they announce your death in the most oxymoronic tone ever.
'Get on with whatever it is.' Tavia awarded him with a mental eye roll. "I'd say having various sex partners to satisfy my wild fantasies did the trick. You should try it sometime."
With a slight grimace, he turned his attention to the files on his desk, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his forefinger.
The mood switched, the silence looming heavily over Tavia as she awaited the doctor's diagnosis as though awaiting final verdict from the judge of a supreme court.
Whatever the final word was could further liberate her or spell doom for her freedom.
"It says here in the file reports that you have a hole in your heart which by the way, is expanding as the weeks wear on."
All she heard after that was a shrill echo followed closely by deafening silence.
As opposed to what she expected to be her reaction, she did the complete opposite; her eyes crinkling at the sides and her lips spread wide.
Bittersweet tears stung as her chin wobbled slightly almost disrupting the perfect mask she'd thrown over her face to keep all emotions at bay, yet it still seemed a desperate bid to cling onto any ray of hope left and seal shut the gaping hole in her chest.
She spared the doctor another glance from the thickness of her lashes, watching his lips move but no sound proceeding from him.
"Tavia? Miss? Are you alright? You look pale." The sound of his voice emerged out of the fog clouding her brain.
"I'm dying soon, aren't I?" She asked instead, smiling even more broadly.
"I wouldn't put it so directly but if that's what you want, then yes. You're dying soon, Tavia but that's not the end of the world." His eyes still radiated that faux hopefulness which was slowly starting to infuriate her.
"It's not the end of the world but the end of my world. So I'll ask, any last medical advice for me, doctor?" She leaned close, laying thick emphasis on his title.
He took off his reading glasses to gently place them on the table, then interlocked his fingers in front of him in a position Tavia thought was the stance to deliver the final blow that'll break her for good. "I wish there was something I could do that--"
"I asked a question." She cut in calmly.
He let out a resigned sigh, pinning her with a more professional look. "Avoid getting too excited, to be specific, have sex with great caution to avoid your heart getting too worked up. There's nothing evil in having a good ol' missionary. Fruits as an added nutrition and exercises that are not too strenuous would help as well. Finally, spend time with family, your boyfriend or girlfriend, people you love the most. Cherish each moment like it'd be the last which probably, might be."
With an understanding nod and a sigh, she grabbed her bag off the second armchair. "Thank you for your time doctor. I might see you again before I'm gone."
She rose from her seat, a resigned look settled on her face at the realization of her sealed fate.
Just before she got to the door, she heard movements behind her and her name was called. Her fingers paused over the doorknob as she spun back around to look at the doctor.
"Yes?"
He took several steps that brought him to the front of his desk. "You need more than a miracle to survive this, Tavia. Ever since I was little, I've only ever had faith in this; my profession. Medicine. I might not believe there's someone somewhere who listens to our prayers but, I pray somehow you get a second grasp at life. I've seen it happen before."
She sent him a tight lipped smile at his blank hope. It was a useless time to hope for something magic to blow out from the clouds above.
She turned the doorknob, letting herself out of the office while she mumbled a small prayer under her breath in response to him.
"I pray so too."