THE CARER

The Carer

By Mazozma 

Damien walked with Henry to the park where they would have sodas and crisps. The sun was out with a chill and slight breeze. At the entrance  of the park was a portable bookshelf with pamphlets courtesy of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Standing nearby were two middle aged women. Damien glanced at the pamphlets then looked one of the women in the eyes. She smiled with a calmness. Her quiet ease moved Damien.  “Eternal life” he thought. This wasn’t his first run in with the sect at the park. However, the fantasy was momentary. 

Henry motioned for Damien to hand him a soda out of his pocket. “Wait til we get to our bench” he said. Henry shook his head and quietly moaned. Damien laughed under his breath and they continued walking. Upon arriving at their usual bench, the two had a seat and opened their sodas. Damien handed Henry a bag of crisps. “There was no need to rush into the kitchen this morning and knock me over to grab a coke from the fridge”, Damien said, laughing. Henry looked away. The two sat in silence. Sometimes Damien would speak to Henry but Henry never said anything back. Everyone he worked with stopped talking to Henry but Damien still tried. The two finished their drinks and snacks. “Let’s go” said Damien. Henry looked at him and nodded. 

The two stood up. Henry pointed towards the wooded area of the park. “Yeah, we got time” Damien said. He and Henry walked to the woods. The sky started to fall grey. Damien enjoyed the sun retreating behind the clouds. Damien didn’t consider himself to be a glum person but overcast weather suited him. “Like a blanket”, Damien thought. Henry pointed towards a tree and walked towards it. He stopped at the tree, unzipped his trousers and with one of his large hands holding up his towering frame against the tree, began to urinate on the grass while Damien faced the opposite direction. 

This had been a long shift for Damien. Nineteen hours. There were even longer shifts on Damien’s rota but he didn’t complain. He needed the money and most months requested overtime hours to put a bit more in his pocket. This city was costly and Damien only had himself to take care of expenses. Rent alone ate up most of his paychecks. “It never ends” he thought. The tiredness began to catch up with him and his mind wandered to what waited for him at home. Some dinner, maybe watch a movie and read some chapters of a book. Then sleep. Glorious sleep. 

The next day was Damien’s first time off in over ten days. He hoped it would be a rainy day with no plans other than writing, more reading and listening to some music. Perhaps a trip to the market for food to make a nice meal. He had no one to visit, nowhere in particular to be. Damien was still relatively new to the area but he had no concern in exploring. The city still seemed too large for him and he spent quite a lot of time indoors. Damien mouthed without sound, “When I finish my book, I will open up to this place.” 

Damien snapped out of his trance and began to move. At that moment, he felt something sharp pushing into the small of his back. Then breath on his neck. 

Henry whispered into his ear, “give me a soda.” 

“What are you doing, Henry?"

The sharpness broke skin and the pain began. Damien attempted to reason with Henry but he kept forcing the blade. He slumped over as the knife shoved into him. Damien attempted to get back on his feet but Henry kicked him in the side and he fell back to the ground. Henry kneeled down and dug the knife further into his back while Damien screamed. Henry then covered Damien’s mouth with one hand and squeezed his neck with the other. Damien stopped screaming. 

“That’s it" Henry whispered, “Ease on down.” 

Blood pouring out of his mouth, Damien twitched then slowly uttered his last words:

“Are you there, Jehovah?”