Short Story…Diabetic revenge

Short Story…Diabetic revenge
 
 
The alarm clock went off and his wife slipped out of bed. He laid there still apparently sleeping. Today would not be like every other day when he would just go back to sleep while she went about the business of getting ready for work. He would let her do what she needed to do and be on her way but he would not go back to sleep. He could not as today would not be like any other day of his life. And everyday of his life from this point forward would never be the same, never again. It was about to change forever.

His wife showered and ate breakfast as normal but to him it seemed like she was taking longer than normal. Was this in some way a sign for him to not push forward? Was this delay meant to allow him to fall back asleep? Did she know somehow? No, there was no way she could know of his plan. He hadn’t told her about it to protect her from it. She couldn’t stop him if she did not know of it either. She would try if she knew and he could not have that. He made love to her last night like he had never made love to her before. She had commented on how good it was and that she wanted it like that more often. He promised that he would do just that but it was a promise he knew that he couldn’t keep even as he looked into her brown eyes while he said it. He knew it would be their last time together. He knew what he had to do and nothing could or would stop him. This had been building in him for years now and it was time to do something about it. It had eaten away at him slowly but surely until this point, the point of no return for him. He could not let it go unanswered anymore and finally decided he would provide the answer despite the cost to him. He could see no other way and certainly could not see a way that would be nearly as satisfying as this would be for him personally. It was certainly out of his normal character and nobody would ever think him capable but he was. Soon they would all see that and regret the day they had crossed him.

His wife left and he waited just a little longer as often she would forget something that she would need. She really should have been a blond as forgetful as she was more time than not. He smiled as he heard the keys entering the lock. She was back and came into the bedroom. She came over and softly kissed him on the cheek and whispered that she loved him before she left. The door closed and he felt sadness over take him. She had never done that before, why today? Did she know or suspect? No, there was no way she could he decided and sat up in bed. He pawed around on the nightstand for his glasses and knocked a glass of water. As it shattered on the floor he started to tremble with anger. He hated being this way and it didn’t have to be this way for him. He couldn’t take it any longer as he was just no longer even close to who he used to be before being diagnosed by his knew doctor with diabetes. For years he had it without being diagnosed and it was only after entering the hospital for a bad case of pancreatitis that he found out from the doctors at the hospital. His organs had begun to shut down from the damage being done inside of him. They were able to save him though and get him back on the right track. During all the blood work though they had found his glucose was off in each of their tests it was running way too high. They asked him if he knew he had diabetes and by the look on his face they knew they had just told him. They explained that with some of the damage they were seeing from their tests that he must have known and his doctor must have seen. There was no way not to see it. It was right there and very obvious to them. He told them know he did not know and his doctor had never mentioned it to him. They advised the change of doctors. He found his glasses which were as thick as coke bottle bottoms now. His eyes always used to be perfect and everyone always commented on them, they called them bedroom eyes. They didn’t comment anymore because you couldn’t see them thru these damn glasses. He could barely see out of them and was close to legally blind now. Now with his glasses on he could see the mess of glass and water across his floor. His blood pumped through his body at an even faster pace now. It had already been boiling inside him but now it felt like it was boiling over. He grabbed his cane and got out of bed. The cane was a new addition to his life as his legs, particularly his feet were beginning to lose their sensation. It was the disease progressing yet further. It was robbing him of the life he knew and slowly robbing him of life. He no longer could be the active athletic man that he had always been and because of the weight had increased seemingly with each passing month. He was still strong despite the fading of the chiseled body he once knew so well.

He made his way to the shower and turned it on till he could tell the room was filling with steam. Then he slipped into the hot stream of water as if he were maybe trying to burn away his anger or cleanse his soul. He hoped it would but instead it seemed to fell like it was adding fuel to the fire. There seemed to be nothing that could douse these flames and everything seemed to fan them. He slipped out of the shower and went to make breakfast. He was sitting having egg whites with turkey bacon and two slices of multi grain bread. This was part of his diet plan or glucose control regimen and it worked pretty well for him. It really didn’t matter anymore and he knew that but it wasn’t like eating a couple donuts in the morning would make him feel any better either. This atleast had kept his wife happy and that was important to him. She deserved better than what he had become and he wanted her to be happy. She had been full of life but the diabetes seemed to be sucking the life out of her as well. He knew she felt for him and it weighed on her deeply. Her beauty was something that was kept up over the years. Her long brown hair and soft skin were things that always brought him comfort. Her touch was always warm and loving but some distance had now set in between them. It his fault and not hers as he pushed her away as he became ashamed of what he had become now. She deserved better in his eyes and he knew she felt differently than he did about that so he stopped arguing for her to leave him and find someone better. She wouldn’t ever think of doing that but he always wished she would because it would be easier to be alone and to just let go if she were not involved. He loved her with all his soul and all his being. The anger began to bubble again as he remembered how much he truly loved her and how he hated what had happened to him. He didn’t bother to finish his breakfast as he was suddenly no longer hungry. He also had skipped his insulin this morning as he just did not care if his numbers were high today and in the end he figured it really didn’t matter much either way.

He dressed quickly and left the house without cleaning up the mess of glass and water or the unfinished breakfast. He felt bad about that as it was something he would normally never do. Today though was a different day and normal would not be the word for the day. This would be unlike any other day in his life. This would be the day of his life. He would make sure they knew why when he was done. There would be no doubt left after he had finished what someone else had started. He had let it go long enough, too long probably he thought. His lawyers’ office was on the way to his doctors’ office which was extremely handy on this day. He pulled to a stop in front on his lawyers’ office and walked in. He was greeted warmly by the secretary whom he had grown to know over the years of his case. The case had recently just been settled out of court after years of back and forth with his former doctors’ insurers. The money was not what he was looking for in return for his suffering. Sure it would help with some of the things he would need down the road and they agreed to cover his medical expenses for the rest of his life. Not matter though as they couldn’t give him his life back. They could not take away the damage done to his body with each beat of his heart during the untreated and undiagnosed years. They couldn’t make his pain any less or make his sadness go away. They could just make the burden of his everyday life a little less to worry about by throwing money at him. He thought for a time that maybe the money would be good to have and he could take his wife to Rome to see the Coliseum, Vatican, and Pantheon. They could eat tiramisu all they wanted and he would just take extra insulin to counteract the extra sugar. They could enjoy walking the streets and the little cafes. He knew they would have a great time in this land of so much history. He also knew to watch for the pick pockets that where famous for hanging around the entrance to the Coliseum. He would also try to scoot over to Greece and see the Acropolis during the day and at night. He imagined the sun setting there would be most beautiful. Who was he kidding though as he would not be able to enjoy it. His legs wouldn’t hold up over the journey of walking and what fun would it be to take a cab or drive everywhere. He loved to explore and no longer could do so without a lot of discomfort. He handed the secretary the papers and asked that she make sure her boss got them today. He told her they were extremely important papers. She smiled and said it would be no problem at all. He thought and realized that it should not be a problem since they were getting so much damn money off of him. Nearly 20% of his settlement and then the government is going to take their piece of the pie as well. He felt his heart begin to race as the anger stirred up yet again. He was losing his life and yet everyone else was going to gain from his suffering but him. He said goodbye to the secretary and quickly, as quickly as he could, went back to his car. He settled into the seat and turned the ignition, slammed the car in gear, hammered the gas pedal to begin his journey towards his destination. He calmed down as he sat at the red light.

He was being too hasty and was not thinking clearly. Did he really want to do this? It really would change everything in his life. He knew though that in the end everything would be better off if he did and so he knew he would. He needed to find the strength to be able to get the job done and do it properly. He stopped at the local uniform store and picked up the order he had placed a week ago for a pair of green trousers and green and white striped shirt with his name on the front. This is what they all wore there and he knew he could blend in. He would have to leave the cane behind but the glasses and the limp would probably actually make him fit better than if he had not had them. It was about the only time he ever thought they could be useful to him. He paid for the items and went back to his car. He drove to the waterfront and parked in a lot near the aquarium. He decided he would take a walk through and enjoy the beauty. He would take the elevator to the top and walk down as it would be easier on his legs. Save the strength for later he kept telling himself. Enjoy but save, he repeated in his mind. He hated elevators and their cramped spaces but it was something he had to get used to because of his diabetes getting progressively worse. He had to deal with the anxiety of the cramped space and as his anxiety rose this time so did the pumping of his heart and the anger within. It shouldn’t have to be this and didn’t have to be this way!! Great I get some money but I don’t care as I just want what I can’t have anymore. I want my life back to the way it was and not this farce that it is now. Money, great. He put his head down as his eyes filled with tears. One fell from his eyes and hit his hand on the way to the floor. This only angered him more as he didn’t want to cry and hated that he had come to this point. He wanted to feel like a man again but he didn’t think he ever really would. The elevator came to a stop and he exited with the rest of the crowd but quickly was by himself as the others scurried along. He was glad and thankful for the peace as he slowly strolled by the massive windows of the aquarium. He loved the sharks and their power, their strength, and their mystique. He didn’t feel like a shark anymore though as he once had long ago. Now he felt like the penguins that waddled floors below in their own little pool. It was just for them and safe, they waddled and could not protect themselves from the sharks. He felt like they did as he waddled along the glass walls. He came to a bench and sat to enjoy the view. Sadness started to overcome him again as parents and their children passed by with excited looks. He knew his days for having children were drawing to a close as nothing would be the same again after today. He had already given up his job working with children because he just could not keep up as fatigue can be a factor for diabetics. It certainly was for him and his nerves were frayed now as well so that key patience and understanding he once had was now faded. He missed the job terribly but knew it was for the best. It was a job that he got paid well for doing but the paycheck really was a bonus as he just loved the work. He knew it was time to move and get going with his day. He finished he walk through the aquarium but did not stop to look at the penguins.

Back at his car he gathered the clothing he had just picked up and changed as quickly as he could in the back seat. He felt uncomfortable in the uniform but knew it was needed if he was going to be able to get into the building and past security. His uncle who was not really on the right side of the law had been able to get him an ID that would work as well. It listed him as a janitor with the words “Trainee” at the bottom of his badge. He opened the trunk and grabbed a back pack. He shut the trunk and threw the pack over his shoulder. He was tempted to look inside but knew that everything he needed was there as he had packed it himself. There was nothing at all missing as he went over it time and again to make sure he would be well prepared for this day. It was the most important day of his young life.  He headed toward the stairs but decided to take the elevator as it was important to save the strength for later. He would face the anxiety the elevator would bring as it was the lesser of two evils at this point in time. When he left the garage he headed down the street towards the Metro Hospital.  There was a slight breeze and on it he caught a hint of the pastries. He guessed it was from the local donut shop just down the street. The smell was sweet and calling for him to stop in to grab a cinnamon bun. He did just that and savored its sweet taste as it had been years since he had one of these. It tasted so good that the juices in his mouth were almost enough to make him choke. He used the restroom to wash his hands of the mess from the icing. He was tempted to lick his fingers but decided against it for some unknown reason. The hospital was just across the street now and he had a sense of fear begin to bubble up. As he crossed the street he looked up to the top of the 40 story hospital. It was taller then he remembers and certainly was going to be very busy inside. He knew that was a good thing as it would enable him to blend in easier with the crowd. He knew nobody would pay attention to him as he was in his janitors uniform and they were the type of people who were left to there business. As he approached the doors they opened and he froze when he saw who was headed his way. This could ruin everything and he couldn’t have that now. He lowered his head and shuffled his feet forward. He almost forgot to breath and needed to get some air into his lungs before he gasped for it and brought attention his way. The doctor passed him without a batting of the eye and he breathed a sign of relief. He made his way to the first bank of elevators but decided to keep going. These were for quests and patients, today he was neither. For now he was an employee and he headed to the elevators in the service area. He hoped on with a few other employees who were friendly with one another. They seemed to be talking about a party they had been at last night. He really didn’t care as long as they were occupied with something other than him. The only thing he had that a janitor probably wouldn’t be taking on the upper floors was his back pack but he pressed into the corner and it was mostly hidden behind him. He was nervous but he did not need to be as these young workers barely new he was there at all. They certainly did not care what he had or did not have with him. They got off on the 12th floor and he was left to ride to the 30th by himself which was not exactly a ride he welcomed. It was easier to have others in the car as it helped calm his nerves a little as he would not be alone if the elevator got stucco or malfunctioned in some way. Today though it was probably a good thing for him. As the elevator stopped on the 30th floor and the doors opened he felt a rush of heat pass through his body. His heart fluttered a little as he knew he was almost there and soon, very soon he would be right there.

He entered the double doors leading to the clinic which served the young, the poor, the elderly, and pretty much anyone who was under privileged in some way in the county. The place was always busy but today it looked fairly quiet. If the doctor he passed at the entry of the building was on his way out it meant that there was probably only one doctor and a few PA’s on for the clinic right now with a few nurses running around doing the real work. He was not stopped or questioned by anyone as he shuffled along with his head down. He saw the office at the end of the hall and boy did it seem like a tunnel right now to get there. It seemed like the hallway had narrowed and was just wide enough for him and was miles long. His heart was pounding and he swore his chest was heaving outward with every beat. His pace picked up and a bead of sweat ran down the side of his face. As he got closer he could see the office appeared to be empty. Closer still and he knew it was empty as he had hoped. He read the name on the door just to make sure it was the name he had wanted to see right then. It was and he entered, closing the door behind him gently. He was scared and his knees where shaking. He could still back out but really did not want to do so. This was the man at the root of all his pain and discomfort. This man had ruined his life and brought him to this state of disrepair. He had taken him to court and tried to get his license taken away but the hospital fought for him. He is still just as he was before it all began and maybe even a little more powerful here. He blamed others for what he had missed and their heads had been on the chopping block. They had been his sacrifices to try to make things right and reassure the community that something like this could never happen again. Many in the community obviously bought into his story as he was still able to practice right here in the same place. He is anger now began to overtake any fear that remained. He knew what he had to do and that it was the right thing. What happened to him could not be allowed to happen to anyone else. This doctor would not miss another diagnosis and he would make sure of it. He heard footsteps out side of the door and voices nearing. They were heading his way. He hid behind the door and pulled the gun from his backpack. The gun felt cold and uncomfortable in his hands. He had never used one before and actually had never even held one since he was a boy and played with toy guns. He slipped the safety off of the magnum and held it tightly with his finger feeling the trigger.

The voices and footsteps faded only to be replaced with new heavy footsteps walking slowly in his direction. He knew this was the doctor as something deep inside him woke up suddenly. He felt a surge of energy and excitement. He felt so alive at that moment. The steps stopped outside the door and the handle began to move to open the door. It seemed like it was in slow motion and moving as if it was almost frozen in time. He could hear the thump of his heart as well. It was slow and very loud to him. His eyes were wide open taking in everything. His glasses seemed like they had some magnifying in them that he did not know about before now. His ears could hear the latch retreating into the door. It was about to open!!!

The door opened and in came the man who had changed his life. The anger almost became too much to control as he just wanted to lunge for him. As the doctor closed the door he still had not see him. Once the door closed he stepped behind the doctor and pressed the gun into his back. He told him to sit in the chair and if he made a peep he would kill him right then and there as he just did not care. The doctor slowly sat in the chair. He was a heavy set man in his late 50’s that had been practicing medicine for 30 years. The fear was easy to see in his eyes as he could not hide it. His hands had a slight tremble to them as well. He told the doc it was time to have a talk and the doctor nodded in agreement. The doctor told him it did not have to be this way and that he could arrange for him to get more money away form all the lawyers if that was what he was after. No, no it was not the money he reassured the shaken doctor. It cost much more than any money could buy. The price he paid was very high and in return he thought the good ole doc should be willing to pay the same price or atleast close to it. The doctor asked what he wanted if it was not money and begged not to be killed. He told the doctor that he would only kill him if he brought attention to them. He did not want to kill him and hoped he did not have to do so. That seemed to ease the doctor a little as he readjusted in the chair. He told him that he wanted him to stop practicing medicine and that was what it had always been about and never about money anyway. The doctor looked at him curiously and asked what he meant. You cost me by not diagnosing me earlier and now I suffer everyday. The damage did not need to be done like it has been done to my body. His anger started to boil again and he thought maybe I should just kill him and be done with this whole thing but that would take away the fun of it all. Did he not deserve a little fun after all the fun he had lost? This was not the fun he wanted but it was the fun he was left with after the diabetes began to take its toll on his body. So now as he study the doctor and the doctor study him it was an eerie quiet with neither quite sure what was going to happen next. He instructed the doctor to kneel on the floor and place his hand on the desk. The doctor did so reluctantly and was soon in the position. He reached into his bag and took out a couple pairs of handcuffs. The doctor withdrew his hands which immediately brought a swift blow to the side of his face from the gun. It drew blood and as the blood began to trickle down the doctors face and onto his white coat he put his hands back out onto the desk. He looked up but said nothing as the trembling increased. As he struck the doctor he felt a bit of sadness inside of himself as he was not like this and was sad it had come to this for him. He knew though there was no other way for him to get what he felt society had robbed him of by letting this man keep practicing medicine. Now he would make everything right and save someone else from the pain he now endured. It was his calling or so he felt inside that it was his to do. He handcuffed the doctor so that one hand was attached to each side of his desk. The doctor almost looked like he was bowing now but if someone came in it would look like he was searching for something under his desk. Now with the doctor safely locked down to the desk he reached into his backpack and took out a new toy. The doctor could not see what it was but could tell it was shiny. He felt helpless as he could not move his arms to defend himself. He reminded the doctor that any noise to call attention to them would result in his death and that is was important for him to remain quiet. He took the knife and slid it across the back of the doctors’ ankle, slicing his Achilles tendon. The doctor squirmed in pain but did not make a noise as he was instructed not to do so by his captor. He told the doctor that now he would limp and know what it was like for him everyday. He turned the knife to a different angle and jammed it straight through the doctors’ foot, the same leg he had just cut the tendon on. The doctor made a little noise and you could see the pain on his face as he grimaced. He left the knife there as the blood oozed out around it and down the doctors shoe to the floor, beginning to make a small puddle. He told the doctor that he would be reminded everyday when he went to put on a sock that his job was important that his mistakes cost people things that are important in their lives and that he owed them 110% effort every time.  He pulled out a box of 100 syringes and set them on the floor in front of the doctor. The doctors eyes widened and he begged for this to end and said he understood. He promised to be a better doctor and he would always remember this day to make him one. It was almost enough to make him stop but he simply could not believe the man even if he wanted to do so as he remembered how he had lied in court and never flinched while doing so and never showed any remorse for his actions. His anger burst and he grabbed the box of needles which he had filled earlier in the day. Some had just water but a few had insulin in them. He had calculated the doctors’ weight and how much insulin it would take to put him into diabetic shock for low blood sugar. He would make the doctor feel the needles and feel the fear of your sugar dropping. He told the doctor to remember that he was not going to kill and this was all about lessons to be learned if he was to keep his license and practice. The doctor promised to give up practicing but he did not believe him. He inserted the needles one at a time and the doctor began to cry as he emptied each one and left them still dangling from his skin. He told the doctor to stop being a baby as he had to give himself four shots a day plus prick his finger 3 times a day. He would give the doctor no sympathy with the needles. He told him to feel it and remember it for the patients he would have in the future. It should help him learn to be empathetic to his patients. As he neared the 100th needle the doctor was shaking and sweating. He was feeling his sugar drop and told his captor he was afraid and did not want to go into shock. He reached into his pack again and now placed a candy bar unopened in front of the doctor. Eat it he whispered and taste what you so quickly tell us not to taste. The doctor ate the candy bar as fast as he could and even swallowed some of the paper. Now with chocolate on his face he looked up wondering what might be next. He again pleaded saying he understood and would be a better doctor. He said in fact he would change and devote the rest of his career to helping diabetics. He withdrew the knife from the doctors’ foot which sent the doctor writhing in pain. He unlocked one of the pairs of handcuffs to allow the doctor to begin taking out his needles. He placed the keys on the desk and left. He hurried to the elevator and once on the ground out the door into the busy street. He walked back to the aquarium and was in his car before he heard the sirens. They did not come for him but were headed to the hospital as the doctor had called the police just as he knew the man would once he was free. He quickly changed his clothes back to his regular clothing. He left his car there and walked out of the garage. He left the city and his wife. He had planned it out well and was able to flee the country.

He stayed in hiding until one day he saw the doctor on the news out front of a court building with a team of lawyers. He said he had done nothing wrong and would be proven innocent. Watching this only made his blood boil. He left his hiding spot and headed back. Again he slipped into the doctors’ office and waited for him. The door opened and closed. This time though when it closed the doctor spoke to him as he knew he was there waiting for him. The doctor slowly turned to face him and saw the gun withdrawn and pointed straight at him. The doctor lunged towards him and he pulled the trigger. The doctor fell at his feet as the shot had hit him in the heart. He knew now that the only way to get his message out was to get captured and talk to anyone who would listen. He sat in the office and waited for them to come get him and that was just what they did soon enough.

He pleaded guilty to murder and his shattered wife was still by his side. She told him she understood and would love him always. She would take up his fight and soldier on with it. He felt like maybe he had made a difference in some way but he knew the choices he made were ones that were just as costly to him as the doctors had been to him years ago. He looked at his wife and he wept.

In prison he slowly faded away as the diabetes took his vision and took one of his feet as well. It could not take his heart because that was already long gone. It finally took his life.