All The Way Down: Part Five
Her breathing was getting shorter and she had been praying all day for the man to come. He hadn’t. She was getting closer, she could feel it. Her children were dozing in the corner and she called out to them to bring their mats over to her bedside. They obliged and fell straight back to sleep. It was late and the night was old, the air cold. She watched the slow, steady rise and fall of her girls’ chests as they inhaled the valuables and exhaled the rest. So far, they showed no signs of HIV and she would happily leave there and then if it meant they would never have to suffer. But she loved life, she loved the setting and the rising of the Sun and the birdsong and the long stretching plains that were home to thousands of God’s animals. She would miss the earth and her children’s lives, their future husbands and their children. God wouldn’t let her down though would He?
Would He?
The tears began to roll down her face but she stopped herself from crying.
She couldn’t afford to lose the water.
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The charity man, John he thought his name was, had been there as promised and after a tiresome tour of Durban, they were heading for the village. They were due to be handing out antiretroviral drugs and food to AIDS sufferers. He explained that the track wasn’t good enough for the cars and that there would be a considerable climb. “In this heat?” Todd was suffering. “Isn’t there somewhere else?” The man considered the question. He’d scheduled this particular visit but it could wait for tomorrow. And there were plenty of other places nearby that were expecting him soon. “Alright Todd, if that’s better for you.” He signalled to the driver who had been listening to the exchange. “Left here. Kugbale?” The driver nodded. Todd’s PR was paying a lot of money to the charity.
He was very much in the driving seat.
“However, a long climb wouldn’t be bad in your write up would it?” He spoke quietly to the journalist who winked knowingly.
He knew the importance of his write up. It would be Todd Anderton’s last chance.
**********************************
I was arriving home when I got the text. I still can’t believe it.
"Danny here. Really sorry, I shldve told u yesterday nd this will b a shock but lsten, I’ve got HIV. It was wiv another man and now I’m sick. I’m getting treatment but I’m ill. I shldve told u I know but I was just happy to see you. I didn’t want to ruin it. We can talk it ovr if u like. D x"
I read and re-read it until the screen was wet. Last night he didn’t tell me, before we did it. Why didn’t he tell me? I know what it means for me.
I’ve got it.
And I can’t trust him anymore. The love of my life. Now I have nothing.
And that’s why I’m here. I’ve lost my job, my faith in humanity and the only person who ever understood me. And I’m infected, infected with the most degrading illness. It would only get worse. A gay man with AIDS.
That’s why I’m out here, on my balcony.
Poised to fall.
Ready to leave this mess behind.
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4 Comments – Postiwch sylw
bsimo
Rhoddwyd sylw 66 mis yn ôl - 1st December 2010 - 14:50pm
wow, this is a really shocking and moving tale, I think you really represent the pain and suffering caused by aids very well!
Sambow
Rhoddwyd sylw 66 mis yn ôl - 1st December 2010 - 20:13pm
This series is absolutely fantastic and you've wrote it perfectly, very moving at the moment. I await your next post eagerly.
Tansi
Rhoddwyd sylw 66 mis yn ôl - 4th December 2010 - 02:18am
wow! this is extremely good. i simply cannot wait until the next chapter. it is very moving. and it seems like you have experienced the traumatic afair of having aids yourself. either that or very thorough research. i also like the different P.O.V from different characters! its getting very dramatic as well too! GREAT!
Tom_Bevan
Rhoddwyd sylw 66 mis yn ôl - 4th December 2010 - 13:41pm
Thanks for your comments guys, glad you are all enjoying! Finale will be posted next week sometime so keep your eyes peeled-.
Yes, lots of research- luckily I am not affected by the illness myself.