Act II

As James walked out from the hospital's main entrance, he dug his right hand into his pocket and pulled out his car keys. Walking quietly to his car, all he could really think about was Mary's inevitable death. He couldn't stand to look at her today, knowing that it would be over soon. He felt as if he really couldn't stand looking at her at all because of the disease. James reached his car, unlocking the driver's side door and sat quietly in the seat. He thought about how unfair everything was, how his once beautiful wife had been forced into looking so horribly disfigured by the unknown virus. He closed his eyes, recalling fond memories with his wife. He remembered one particular trip to the Lakeside Hotel in Silent Hill about four years ago. Mary had been young and vibrant, they expressed their love fore each other physically on several occasions, and would walk hand in hand near the lake, sharing a life of happiness and love. The smile that had been placed on James' face slowly disappeared as he recalled the day when Mary started feeling sick. She would have several coughing fits and instances where her body felt numb and weak. When they went to see a doctor about it, that was when James was faced with the fact that Mary was going to die. No more vacations to the lake, no more walks on a sunny day, and definitely no more physical expressions of love between them.

James quickly thrust the key into the car's ignition, turning it until he heard the purring of the car's engine. James looked behind him as he backed the car out and drove rather quickly out of the parking lot.

Ever since he heard Mary's time limit, James had grown increasingly saddened and depressed. Often times, he would go to bars a drink for several hours, granting him the briefest of respite from the world that was crashing down around him. As Mary's disease got worse and her beauty spoiled, James frequented bars at a growing rate. He soon developed the habit of spending a few moments of Mary and then drive off to a nearby bar to drink for several hours. Today would be no different.

Much like the way to Mary's hospital room, James knew the way to the Crimson Jewel bar by heart. Located exactly twenty minutes away from the hospital, it had become James' sanctuary from a life of sadness, anger and pain. He pulled into a space near the bar's entrance and walked in, the smell of smoke and alcohol filling his nose, the gentle sounds of jazz playing on the radio filled his ears. The bar was busy when James arrived, with many people crowding the counter and various tables. Spotting an empty table in a dark corner, James quickly squeezed by men and women who had been smiling, laughing and conversing as if they had no care in the world. James longed for days like that, he wished his life could return to some level of normalcy. He wished he could laugh again; he wished he could be happy again.

Sitting himself at the table, James pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his pants. A young woman approached him, carrying a large black disc which held empty bottles and glasses. She smiled gently at him.

"Hi, James."

"Hello, Nancy."

"How's it going?"

James sighed and looked at the tabletop. The woman leaned forward.

"James, I'm sorry," the woman spoke, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "It's your wife again, isn't it?"

"How'd you guess?" James said with a quiet laugh.

"Well, you've been coming here quite a bit, honey. I mean…you've developed a routine." She smiled softly at him. "You're a regular."

James looked at her, placing his hand over hers. The hairs on his neck stood again as he felt her soft, warm skin. "It won't be long, now."

The woman placed a hand over her mouth to cover a gasp. "James, I'm so sorry. Do you need to talk? That might help."

"No, thank you, Nancy. May I just have the usual please?"

"James, you really should talk. Drinking won't solve anything, you know."

"The usual, please, Nancy."

The woman gave James a concerned look before spinning on her heels and walked towards the counter. She came back to James' table several moments later with an open bottle of beer. James lifted the glass bottle and began to nurse it quietly.

James continued to drink well into the afternoon. He felt even more depressed now that he knew his wife's death was inevitable. Two hours had passed and James still drank. He thought that it wasn't fair, he couldn't understand why this was happening to him. He'd done nothing wrong and he treated his wife well, why did he have to suffer so? James watched as people came and left the bar. As the night began to arrive, the bar would soon be occupied by a younger crowd, ready to have fun and enjoy the nightlife. James remembered when he was like that, spending nights with friends on the town, living for the day and not concerned about what tomorrow would bring.

He was in the middle of his fourth bottle when James noticed a woman walking into the bar by herself. He couldn't tell from where he sat, but she looked to be almost the same height as he. James couldn't help but stare at her because she was so beautiful. Her body had a near-hourglass figure to it which moved and slithered gracefully as she made her way past the crowd. When she received her drink from the bartender, her eyes met with James' and there was the briefest of acknowledgement from the both of them. The woman sipped from her short glass slowly and placed it against the exposed skin below the choker wrapped around her neck, smiling at him. The small medallion on the choker glittered in the light of the bar. The woman wore a red long sleeve top which came together in front, only one button had been done, revealing an off white undershirt. Her midriff was exposed, and James could see a small blotch just a few inches from her navel. The skirt she wore was a little short and made from a cheetah skin pattern. Hung at her waste was a small gold string that held several medallions similar to the one on her choker.

James nodded at the woman and she approached his table, her walk seductive and sensual. James lowered his hands underneath the table, his left hand feeling for the wedding band on his right hand. After meeting brief resistance, he pulled the ring off his finger and slipped it into his jacket pocket. He looked up after the task was done, finding the woman looking over him.

"Hi there."

"Hi. Have a seat?"

The woman smiled at James, as she pulled a chair from a nearby table. As she did this, James was able to make out the dark blotch on her skin: it was a tattoo of a butterfly. The woman sat close to James, crossing her long legs which had been partially covered by knee high boots. James started at the woman, the hairs on his neck raised.

"So, what's your name?"

James thought for a moment before replying. "Uh, Richard. Richard Smith. What's your name?"

"Eileen. So what brings you here Richard?"

James leaned back in his chair. "Well, I'm feeling pretty lonely."

Eileen let out a laugh. "I couldn't believe that a guy as good looking as you would be lonely. You must have a girlfriend. Wife?"

James looked at her, the woman was giving him a coy smile. "No, I…I'm not married. No girlfriend, either."

Eileen raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, lucky, eh?" She drank from her glass, brushing a strand of black hair from her face. James looked at the woman's short blond hair, watching it gently form to the woman's guiding hand as she tucked it behind her ear. James looked at the table, his hand on the beer bottle. The woman leaned over to James, her lips close to his ear. She began to whisper to him.

"I could help you, Richard. I could keep you company."

James looked at her, his eyes showing a slight level of surprise. "Are you a…? I mean, forgive me but, are you…?"

"A working girl? Does that really matter?" The woman smiled as she leaned back in her chair. She cocked her head to one side and lowered her head so that her chin touched the highest part of her chest.

"No, I guess not."

"Come on, this place is crowded. I live not too far from here. Let's go have some peace and quiet, shall we?"

James racked his brain, he was ready to say no when Eileen came close to him and kissed him softly on the lips. James stood silently and then whispered to her, "Let's go."

Both of them made their way out of the bar and into the night, the street was busy with cars driving up and down the street and pedestrians making their way to and from the bar. The woman took James' arm and led him down the sidewalk, resting her head on his shoulder, her jewelry made soft clinking sounds as she walked. After five minutes, they stopped in front of a small apartment complex that looked to James as if it were twenty years old. When they reached the front door, Eileen reached into the front of her undershirt and produced a small door key. With a quick thrust and turn, the door was unlocked and open. She grabbed James' arm again and led him into the building, guiding him towards the central staircase for the building. After they hiked up several floors, Eileen brought James to her room. Upon entering, James looked around at the small apartment. It was relatively large for a single person, the living room held a long green couches and a television set. Across the living room was a small kitchen that had been home to a beaten-looking refrigerator and stove. Eileen stood in front of James and wrapped her arms around his waist, kissing him deeply. James gently placed his arms around the woman's body, sighing as he kissed her back. He hadn't felt such warmth in a good long while. After a moment, Eileen pulled away from James, smiling at him.

"Why don't you sit over there and relax, sweetie. I'll only be a minute." Eileen turned around and headed towards her bedroom, the door standing wide open. James took a seat on one of the couches and noticed a mirror attached to a corner wall that reflected the image of Eileen's bedroom. James figured she intentionally did this as he could see her pacing in her bedroom, removing the choker from her neck and removing the red shirt. She turned so that her back faced the mirror and began to seductively pull the white undershirt from her body. Her hair fell gracefully as she removed the undershirt from over her head. James continued to stare intently at the mirror, watching as Eileen put this little show on for him. He could here a soft laugh from her room as she moved away from her position, away from the reflection of the mirror.

James hung his head and clasped his hands. He rocked slowly as he sat on the couch, thinking about what was going to happen. Was he wrong? Should he go through with this? James has been unable to physically love Mary for a good long while because of the disease. "I'm only human," James thought to himself. He tried to block out the part of him yelling for him to go home by thinking of Eileen, but he could only visualize Mary's disfigured face. That once lovely face had now been ruined. James placed his face in his hands as Mary's words from the hospital visit filled his head.

James. Please don't go. Stay with me. Tell me that I am not going to die. Help me.

"Richard…"

James looked up at Eileen who had taken a seat next to James on the couch. She wore a sheer red top which partially obscured an equally sheer red bra. She still wore the cheetah patterned skirt and sat on her legs, smiling at James and taking hold of his arm.

"Let me help you, Richard."

Please don't go.

James couldn't shake off Mary's pleas, he tried to talk to Eileen.

"Eileen…you're very beautiful."

The woman smiled. "Thank you, hon."

James.

"It's been awhile since I have been with a woman, Eileen."

Help me.

"Well, let me make you happy, Richard. Let me help to forget about everything." Eileen moved over to James and sat in his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed James deeply. James trembled as the woman's body rested on top of him, her lips pressing hard against his own. His hands gripped Eileen's hips softly.

James.

Tell me that I am not going to die.

Help me.

James.

Help me.

James felt his mind snap. He quickly took hold of Eileen's body and pushed her off from his lap, throwing her onto the other side of the couch. She looked at him with shocked eyes.

"Richard, what's wrong?"

"I can't do this. I'm sorry, but I can't do this."

James got up and ran for the door. Throwing it open, he ran down the stairs and burst through the front door of the apartment building. He ran down the sidewalk towards the bar parking lot. Fumbling for his keys, he opened jumped into the car and turned the engine on. James peeled out of the parking lot and sped down the street. After driving for an hour, James pulled into a parking lot near a small park and shut off his car. James sat in his seat, crying softly. He couldn't get the pleas from Mary out of his mind. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the wedding ring, slipping it onto his right hand finger. He leaned back into his seat, resting his head against the window and stared into the night sky.

"Mary," James whispered. "I'm so sorry, Mary." James crossed his arms and fell asleep.