12.12.2015
A knock came at the door and Liz got up from the couch, tossed the blankets on her warm spot, and made her way down the hallway. She peered through the peep hold and saw Tern standing there, leaning heavily on a woman. She reached for the lock and opened the door.
The bright sunlight spilled in as warm air spilled out.
“Hi. My name’s Christy, and Tern says he lives here.”
Liz looked from the woman to Tern who said, “Not feeling so hot, Liz.”
“Come in, come on in,” Liz said.
She took Tern’s other arm and helped Christy lead him in. Christy kicked the door shut behind them, and the hallway darkened. Liz steered them through the living room, down another hallway, and around a bend which led to a bedroom.
The sheets on top were crumpled off to one side of the bed, and partly fell off. This is where they lie Tern, and helped his legs up onto the bed.
“What happened?” asked Liz.
“I’m not too sure, myself,” Christy said.
“I’m Liz, like he said.”
“Nice to meet you,” Christy extended her hand which Liz shook, distractedly.
“We met downtown earlier today,” Christy said, “and got brunch together and then been on a walk when all the sudden Tern stumbles and acts like he isn’t even there. I helped him to the ground, but he didn’t realize I was there. He’s like that for a few minutes before he comes to. A few people stopped and tried to help. We were able to get this address out of him, and a man helped me get him to the bus, which we took over.
“Well it’s fortunate you were with him,” Liz said. She turned to Tern. “How are you feeling now?”
“Headache and weak.”
“Do you need some water or food?”
“I don’t know.”
Liz turned back to Christy, “Let me grab some ibuprofen and water. I’ll be back.”
Christy nodded and took a step closer to the bed. Once Liz had walked out, Christy sat on the bed’s edge.
“Can you tell me what happened?” she asked.
He laid there for a few seconds before swallowing dryly.
“I saw blinking lights, then lines, and I couldn’t see you or hear you anymore. Just went sort of blank.”