PORTRAITS: this is me in the late 1990s. Elaine and I went to Brighton to see my brothers degree show - a degree show where Mark's space was cordoned off by a sheet and a cautionary note by the art school, bless them. Still, I suppose not everyone was mentally prepared for his centre piece being a child's chair set up as an electric chair.
Mark smiled as he walked down the quiet halls of the hospital with four cups of coffee in a cup holder. Two for the officers outside of Artie’s room, one for his grandmother, and one for himself. When he approached the room of the ill boy, Mark stopped in front of the officers and sighed. “My cousin is in there and I’d really like to see him, give his nana a break. As a matter of fact, you guys have been working around the clock. Everything will be alright. I’m just gonna talk to him. Maybe if he hears my voice, he’ll wake up.” He smiled innocently and the cops looked at eachother.
“Five minutes”
“That’s all I need, officers. Thank you.” He handed them the cups and stepped inside the room. Josephine Abrams was sitting with Artie, holding his hand when she looked up.
“C-Can I help you?”
“Ah yes, ma’am. I’m Artie’s friend from school. My name is Jared. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”
“The boy from the museum?”
“Yes. Precisely. I got you some coffee and I was hoping I can say a few words to him.”
“I told the cops no visitors unless they’re close friends…”
“I AM a close friend, nana.”
He noticed as she clutched her purse and looked at him up and down.
“Five minutes…”
“That’s all I need.”
She took the coffee and stepped outside. He sat in front of Artie and looked over all the monitors he was attached to.
“Look Artie, I’m gonna be very brief with you. The truth is, no one likes you and I’m doing you a favor. Has your little girlfriend come and visit you yet? I don’t think so. Your poor grandmother is out there crying and she hasn’t been home. Your friend Santana has amnesia. Wait…you didn’t know? Yeah, she’s a fucking wreck and she was here earlier too. I think Mercedes Jones was here too but that’s about it. No one is even helping with your case. It’s such a shame, right? NO ONE LOVES YOU Abrams. I think it’s best if you just died and went in peace. I’m only saying this because I’m a good person.”
Suddenly one of the machines started going off and he stood up.
