Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Virginia was up early that morning, she planned to spend a longer time at the cemetery with her parents. She normally comes just to tell them what’s been going on in her life. She dropped by the 24 hour florist shop about 30 minutes away and got two bouquets of white roses for her parents. The sun was barely rising as she reached the cemetery. Her eyes wandered up at the long stairway that led to the top of the hill. The cemented walkways were a perfect parallel to each row of gravestone. She had long memorized the where the grave was, holding tightly to the bouquet. She finally approached their graves.
Smiling as she gave both a quick nod. She knelt down and placed the flowers on each grave. “Hi mommy, daddy.” She wiped down the pictures of her parents that were on the gravestone. “Its that time of day again. I know I don’t come see you as often as you would probably like. But its better than not coming huh?” she giggled as she pushed up her sunglasses closer to her nose. “Nothing’s been going on much. I made some new friends, helped some more people.”
Her eyes wandered around to see if anyone was there, when the close was clear she turned her attention back to her parents “Remember that friend I told you about? The one that moved in with me? You know, the homosexual guy named Freddie? Well, I suspect that he might be turning straight soon. Didn’t I tell you? He was straight at one time but things changed in his life and so he claimed to be gay. Personally, I think that he was never gay to begin with….but then again, that’s probably what I wanted.”
“I made this new friend named Jeff. He’s a police officer in the suicidal department. Yeah…we have a lot in common as you can see. He’s great. Very sweet and I never knew that guys could have such a love for nature. You know what we did yesterday? We went to the beach and watched the stars and wave crashing onto the shore. Yeah, sounds romantic right?” Virginia sighed “Then why don’t I have any feelings for him?”
She continued on telling them about Remy, Jo and Deana. It took her over an hour but Virginia always took her time when she saw her parents. When her bottom began to ache from sitting on the cemented ground, she shifted her position “Well, I would love to stay and chat but my butt is really hurting. Same time next year?” She stood up and bowed three times to pay her respects. “Oh, and I promise that I’ll bring him and my kids one day so you could meet them.” Smiling one last time before she left the place.
Feeling calmer after seeing her parents, she decided to go for a walk down the street before it starts to get busy. She never appreciated the city life until there was no life, especially in the morning. Although the silence could never be replaced, she nodded as an elder man pushed a cart of fried fish balls up near her to sell. “Miss, would you like some fresh fish balls?”
She smiled gently “No thank you. Its too early to have heartburn.” She joked.
“How about a free one then?” he looked genuine as he pulled out some ready made for her. “Here you go, on the house.”
She didn’t want to decline so she took it “Thank you.” She ate one ball and reminisced about her childhood. Living in the orphanage, she would always crave for cart foods, but could never sneak out early enough to get them. She really admired those people, they would always come out to set up early and pack up late, just to make a living.
She walked past an alley that she vaguely remembered. Her eyes wandered up and saw two male figures talking. She turned away and did a double take on the shadows. One of them looked like Jim. She decided to go see herself as she walked softly down the alley. When she got closer, she knew it was Jim. He handed the other guy some bills and in return the guy gave him a brown paper bag. She didn’t confront him until the other guy disappeared down the alley. It seemed that Jim was waiting for him to leave too as he turned the opposite way just to see Virginia staring back at him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, concealing his surprise and anger.
“Not for the same reason you are.” She replied just as coolly. “What is that?” she nodded to the package in his hands.
“None of your business.” He walked on and passed by her.
“One call to the police and you will be back in there.” She threatened.
He turned around to face her “How did you know I was in jail?” he asked angrily. His eyes suddenly softened “Oh, I know. Its that boyfriend of yours…what’s his name? Jeff?”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” She said calmly “I hope that is not anything illegal.”
“Nothing that should matter to you.” He said icily, his eyes glaring back at her.
“Jim, what happened to you? You were so much happier in high school.” Her voice soothing as she talked to him.
He looked away from her, trying to hid his emotions again “That was a long time ago. Being a doctor yourself, you should know that feelings can change as well as people.”
“Maybe so, but the Jim that I knew was a better person than the guy standing in front of me today.” she had a way with her words to make it appear to be neutral and it always gave her patients a sense of safety. Even though she knew it would probably not work with Jim.
“Is that what you say to all your patients?” he snickered, still avoiding her eyes.
“You’re not my patient.” She said firmly “Unless you want to be?” her tone was teasing this time, hoping that it would break into his rough exterior.
He shook his head “It’s too late Ginny, you can’t help me.” It was the first time he referred her by her name. “No one can.”
She approached him until she was a feet away “I’m not asking to help you, I’m asking if you can let me help you.”
He looked at her, she noticed it was brimming with tears “I’m not sure if I can make that decision.”
“Why not?” she reached to touch his arm, he quickly pulled back. But she was quicker as she took a hold of his hand and sandwiched it between hers. “Even if you just need someone to talk to. At least let it out.”
He glanced down at their entwined hands “You wouldn’t be touching me if you knew I had AIDS.” He said slowly, expecting her to let go of his hand.
Her eyes closed as she looked down painfully. She hoped more than anything that it wasn’t bad news. The poor guy has been through so much as it is. She gripped on his hand even tighter “I could care less what you have.” Her own eyes welled up in tears as she spoke softly “I’m sorry.” She whispered.
He smiled at her as he wiped the tear that cascaded down her face “You were always the nice one to me. But now, I have another person. I should be very happy, I’ve met two angels before I die.”
Her eyes wandered away and set on the package in his hands “What is that?” she tried again.
Jim’s eyes hardened “Just some things to keep my pain away.”
“Cocaine?” she asked softly. Knowing that it was a type of speed, making people feel painless and delusional.
He nodded “Quick perception, as always. You have any idea what it feels like to have AIDS?”
She shook her head “But I can imagine.”
“No, you can’t.” he shook his head and pulled away from her grasp. “Its like a slow and agonizing death. There’s no cure, no miracles...no one has ever lived over 6 months. All your organs began to deteriorate and it shrinks until you are down to just plain skin over bones. I long stopped taking medication for it because I know its useless. All it does it pull your life a little longer…maybe another month or two if you’re lucky. I just want it to be painless.” He held up the package and smiled “This is my savior.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked, her eyes dripping of fresh tears. He shook his head “How about Deana?” she knew he liked her.
“Deana?” he said softly “Don’t worry about her. She’s got Remy…I’ll see her before I leave.” his eyes dazed over as he began to walk away from Virginia. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.” she nodded as she watched him walk away.
She walked back to where her car was parked. Her steps were slow as she thought about her friend. He was after all a friend, despite the fact that they haven’t seen each other for years. It was always heart wrenching to hear about a terminal disease. She sat in her car but didn’t turn on the engine. She wanted pure silence but it was useless with the traffic growing outside her car.
She wiped her tears away and turned the key in the ignition. Suddenly her face froze, he said he was going to see Deana before he left. There was something in the way he said those words that made her break down in a cold sweat. She quickly dialed Remy’s number, it rang five times and the voice-mail picked up. She tried again and again “Come on…pick up!” she whispered frantically. “Shoot!” she threw the phone onto the seat next to her and drove off to Jeff’s home.
When she got there, she pushed the doorbell endlessly until someone opened the door. “Can I help you miss?” the butler asked.
She pushed her way through “Is Jeff home?” she asked.
“I’m here.” She spun around to Jeff’s voice coming from the stairwell. “What’s wrong, Ginny?”
“I need to get a hold of Remy now!” she said hastily. She ran up the stairs to where he was and pulled him by the hand “We have no time to waste, come on!” she dragged him by the hand and pushed him into the passenger seat of her car.
“What’s the matter, Ginny? I’ve never seen you so frantic.”
“It’s a life and death situation, I will explain when we find Remy.”
“He’s probably out with Deana.” Jeff said as he tried to dial his friend’s cell phone. “Hello?”
“Jeff?” Remy asked on the other side of the line.
“Yeah, where are you? Ginny’s been looking for you.” He glanced at Ginny, who was staring at him wide eyed.
“I’m out with Deana, why?” he sounded casual.
“Here, you talk to Ginny.” Jeff gave Virginia his cell phone.
“Remy? Make sure Deana doesn’t get out of your sight.” Virginia said.
“Yeah, she’s right here. What’s the matter? Why are you sound so nervous?”
“I just talked to Jim this morning. He said something about seeing Deana before he leaves. He has AIDS.” She said. Jeff’s head shot over to her while she nodded at him.
“He does?” Remy didn’t sound surprise nor concerned. “That’s too bad….hey!” he paused for a minute “Did you hear that shot?”
Virginia looked confused “I didn’t hear a gunshot….” She looked at Jeff worriedly.
“I didn’t say THAT…” Remy emphasized “Hong Kong is so beautiful from up here…”
She heard the dial tone “Remy??! Remy!” she yelled into the phone.
“What’s wrong??” Jeff began to worry himself.
“He’s got them both…” she said slowly “I don’t know what he’s planning for them. Remy was trying to hint to me…something about shot and Hong Kong being beautiful from up here?” she searched her mind for a clue.
“Maybe he’s talking about a rooftop? Or a hilltop? Let me give a call to my department and send out some guys to check out the hilltops and buildings.”
“There’s too many to check them all.” Virginia shook her head vehemently.
“Well, what are we going to do?? Watch them die??!” he yelled. Just as he blew up, he realized that he was yelling at her “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
She shook her head “I understand. Come on we have to think….shot and some place where you can see Hong Kong. Where’s the highest building in Hong Kong?”
“I know, turn left!” he pointed to the next street light. He led her to the industrial building that was 79 stories high. They parked in the red zone and got out of the car. Their eyes wandered up but it was too far to see with the naked eye. “Come on, lets ask the people inside.” She followed him as he asked the security guard “Did you see three people walk in here? Two men and a girl?”
“Mister, there’s hundreds and thousands of people walk in here.” The guard didn’t look interested as he began to walk away.
“It’s a life and death situation. The guy is about this tall..” she measured up to herself remember that Jim wasn’t any taller than her. “The girl has big rounds eyes and the other guy has a baby like face with a dimple…and the girl has a dimple too.”
The guard seemed to rethink of his answer and suddenly his face lit up “I did see someone to the guy’s description…and maybe the girl…Oh, yeah, I think it was them. They went on the elevator, to what floor…I don’t know…” he didn’t have to finish because the other two were already rushing to the elevators.