Remember Me
She doesn’t know who get’s her number– to call her. She is at home, sleeping peacefully with Keiko curled into her side when they call- voice rushed, telling her to come to the studio and she almost hung up–until they mention Kade’s name and Over Dose in the same sentence. She almost chokes on her breath– her heart is in her stomach–and she cannot remember how to breathe. “Hospital– get him to the hospital–” She kisses Keiko and calls her brother to come over, she’s grateful he lives down the street–and that he doesn’t judge her, just gives her a hug before she dashes out of the door.
She doesn’t need this– doesn’t need to be here, doesn’t need to be dealing with this–and she wonders why she never really closed the door when it came to him– why she was speeding like she could do something other than beg his sorry excuse for friends to call an ambulance. She nearly crashes her car–but she gets there in ten minutes–and ignores every red light she comes across.He is in the shower when she get’s there, cold water hitting his face in an attempt to revive him, and they all seem to part for her, and her mis matched pyjamas and furrowed brow. She feels like crying– but there are so many strangers that she retreats into herself. She just needs to figure out how she can help. He is barely lucid– when she steps into the shower with him and holds him up. “Will someone call the fucking ambulance–? Who gives two shits about bad publicity– you want to know what the worst publicity would be? His Funeral– CALL-” She is small–and demanding and they stare at her as if she is a different person than the girl in flowy clothes who gave birth to his daughter. She wonders again who thought to call her.“Baby–” She coos the word into his ear, though she doubts he can hear her. “Don’t fall asleep okay? I’m here–” She murmurs the words and she gets a grunt of acknowledgement. He is out of it. “What the fuck did he take?” she hasn’t sworn this much since she was in labour. The room is silent– and no one wants to say a word, but she is staring them all down. He is breathing too slow for her liking. “Everything–” The answer Kade gives himself, before a silly grin is plastered on its face. From where she is it sounds like a grimace. “Yo–you feel nice lady– who are you? you gonna go? Don’t go– You smell like fuckin’ flowers man–does your pussy smell like flowers–?” She bites back laughter, but someone else in the small room giggles and she sends them a conspirators smile. The water is making her shake– but she doesn’t step out– she holds him up and it takes everything in her body. “I’m Emiko… and I won’t be nice when you wake up. We have a daughter– you know. She’s just getting to know you– she already loves you. But that’s how children are. I’m just– I’m your friend maybe. I’m the girl who taught you how to pick sunflowers– and laugh at the little things. Taught you how to cook breakfast too– remember? The first morning I woke up at your house and you almost burnt it down trying to make me eggs– remember me? In your shirt–with messy hair wondering what I was getting myself into– I think I still smelled like flowers then–” He is still smiling when she finishes but it is gentler now–and she hears the sound of an ambulance. Sees a stretcher coming and relaxes.
“Do you want anyone to come with you sir?”“The nice lady– Emiko. She can come– She’s my wife.” She wonders if he thinks they are going to the club– either way she slides in the back of the ambulance– and holds his hand all the way to the hospital. And doesn’t correct him on the wife thing.
