THE WHITE COATS

Some would say that I was a hero, although my patients and their families know the difference. I am a recovering alcoholicwith many disasters that had my family put into danger. I was someone that could only be counted on if they had the right kind of cash as well as beautiful wives. There was one patient in particular that I was very fond of; only because of the amount of money he had in his wallet and the beautiful wife he had. His name was Leon, a man that had a horrifying past, only this time, it caught up with him with vengance. He was a man to be held with honor because of his ranking. A man that his children as well as the children of others wanted to call father. He was a man I wish I could have been, instead I am sitting in a four by eight cell eating food that has been sitting under a heating lamp for too long all because I chose to perform an experiment with Leon's blood that killed him. Ha, hero my ass.

Four Years before...

"Daddy, get up, it is time for school, daddy, make me some breakfast...pleaaaaaaaaaaase?!" "Kelly, daddy has to go to the doctors today, do you want to skip school and come along?" "Daddy, you promised. You told me that you would come with me to my field trip today." "I am sorry kiddo, but the doctors say that I am needed there for some blood work. Is it alright if I am a little late or do you want me to reschedule the appointment?" "No daddy, you go, if you are sick we need to know so we can take care of you. Okay?" "Okay, daddy will make his little princess something to eat before the field trip with extra sugar sauce... just because my little Kelly deserves it." "Yay!" "Where is mommy, she said that she would be home?" "I am not sure, but get your little butt in your room and get dressed, okay?" "Kay, daddy I hope they don't stick you with needles, I hate needles."

It was a little after breakfast and Kelly was off on the bus that took her to Oak Heights Elementary School. My stomach was churning and I felt the sudden urge to throw up. My hands shook as I tried to reach for my morning cup of coffy. I was so nervous about this visit, that I almost walked out the door in my underwear. I then realized that I still needed to shower. I went upstairs to my room, I call it that since my wife seems to get the idea that we will be divorced soon. Ha, not unless I die before it is finalized. Man, just thinking of that makes my heart pound. I hate this. I hate hiding the truth behind these visits. I was hoping for one miserable second that I didn't have this disease. I was hoping that for what ever reason the doctor would just come out with this-- what ever it is. This is what I thought about as the hot water hit my skin scalding away every sign of color I had except a brilliant hue of red.

I just got out of the shower when the phone rang. It was the doctors office. I picked up the phone, almost too afraid to actually talk to them. Instead I just listened. "Leon, I know it is you on the phone, this is Doctor Jackson, I am wanting to regrettably inform you the worst has happened. We need you to pack a weeks worth of clothing and come down to the hospital immediately." That was when I couldn't take it any more. I ran into the restroom and threw up all that was in my stomach, coffee. After that I ran some cold water over my face, reached again for the phone and then put my shaking hand down at my side as I paced the room. I was then hoping and praying that it was not what I thought it was. I was hoping that the doctors were going to tell me that everything was fine and that there was nothing to worry about. That I was going to live. I then began to pack for the next seven days. After that I grabbed my keys and ran out the door with my bag in hand.

The Hospital

I was stuck in traffic for over an hour and still made it to the hospital a few hours before the appointment time. I didn't even have to look for the place for it was always there in my mind-- the building itself was a mournful grey, it stuck out against the bright blue sky. How I hated days like this. For it was on days like this that my fate met up with me regrettably.