Chapter 12
~
"Look, I can't survive this, treatment costs 10,000 a month on average and while it's a treatable thing, I can't afford it."
THIS IS YOUR LIFE, EDDIE, SURELY HUMANS WILL OVERLOOK THE COST IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR LIFE.
A bitter smile crossed my face,
"Many people wish that, but there is only so much money the world will freely give in exchange for a life. Treated lung cancer has a low survival rate but I could never work it off and I'd drown in debt until I'd lose my apartment and then Philip..." I gave a look over at the sleeping furball.
...HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE LEFT?
"Around 5 years, possibly less depending on how quickly it spreads, even those who are treated at an early stage have a 56 percent chance at surviving anyway,"
I hummed the tune to Alien Boy when I saw Venom crawl into the kitchen.
"Pig,"
"Human,"
~~~~
Tuesday
"Good morning, Elizabeth, I see Fido her looks extra bubbly today," I said while kneeling down to pet the golden coated dog.
Elizabeth sat on the street wall with mounds of rugged cloth being her only protection to the cold.
"I got some warm KFC and accidentally bought a second meal,"
THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT.
Hush you, she doesn't like taking from others we've already established this. I thought in my head, even if he couldn't hear.
"Oh Eddie, you really must stop this, I'm a withering being - you know my time is running from me anyway. You're not much better yourself." I gave her my water with the meal and smiled at her dog.
"Don't think I forgot about you big guy," I reached into my pocket to grab some not entirely stripped bones from the chicken I just had.
Elizabeth reluctantly bit into the warm chicken with a moan of satisfaction.
"See you n' Fido next Monday Liz!" I hollered while jogging to work.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
"I'll alert the media."
WHY DO YOU GIVE WHEN OTHERS TAKE FROM YOU?
A philosophical question indeed, but no amount of thinking could explain why making others happy made yourself happy.
"If giving cheap meals to those who need it most and affection to the lonely is the only good thing I can do in this lifetime then I damn I will do so."
ISN'T IT EASIER TO TAKE?
"Of course, it's always easier to hurt those who are bleeding, it's always easier to take what's been worked for. But there are good people in this world. Good, good people, like Lizzie, most times I give her food she gives me a little fortune. She's a medium but fell out of business when her son was killed and a sickness left her for dead. Or Mrs. Chen, who works more hours than she should have to give money to charities and mental health awareness.
And if they can be good to the world someone needs to be good to them,"
Venom didn't reply, but I could feel his thoughts turning like gears.
God, I'm hungry.
~~~