Gear Heart by Hollis Shiloh

Author:Hollis Shiloh [Shiloh, Hollis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spare Words Press
Published: 2014-06-07T05:00:00+00:00

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Doctor Gage, the local village doctor, came out of Gregory's bedroom carrying his black bag.

Before he shut the door behind him, I caught a glimpse of Gregory doing up his shirt over his bare, slightly sagging chest. He had a sad, abstracted look on his face, thoughtful and far away. With the light from the window hitting him just so, he looked like a painting from one of the old masters, someone gentle and wise and beautiful in age and wisdom.

I looked at Dr. Gage quickly. He sighed and shook his head, gesturing for me to fall into step with him. I did. He spoke in a low voice as we walked.

"His motor skills and memory are deteriorating far more rapidly than they should be. I don't think he has as long left as we'd like, even functioning at this level."

I didn't say anything. My heart chilled—more than normal. I bit my lip, feeling a chasm open up ahead of me. Gregory and this family were all I had, really. I was going to lose him, too?

It was a selfish reaction, but I could no more have stopped that first wretched, selfish thought than I could've helped gasping in pain if I'd been kicked in the gut. It was visceral, unavoidable, and terrible: he was going to leave me, and he was leaving faster than he should.

Gage looked at me then, a gentle look. "Let's have a listen to your heart before I go, and check your vitals." I nodded numbly. "Your room's on the top floor, isn't it? Well, let's use the pantry. That's private enough. I've had my fill of stairs today."

He smiled in that comfortable, family-doctor way of his. He was about Gregory's age, but still had his full faculties. He was slowing down a bit, feeling age in his joints, but not in his mind.

I thought that must be much better. Not that I would live long enough to find out. My heart would give out years before I reached their age.

We got to the pantry and shut the door. It was a big, friendly, cool room, with shelves of canned vegetables and fruit, and bins of potatoes and onions. Herbs and a cured ham hung from the ceiling, and a small cheese wheel sat on the top shelf. The ham made the whole room smell nice, smoky and delicious.

Dr. Gage put his bag down on a wooden table with scars on it. It made a quiet thump, and clicked as he opened it.

The table had been the kitchen table once, before it got too ragged and old. I'd driven into town for the replacement, all polished wood gleaming warmly, and then Tim and I had thumped this one down here together, trying not to bark our shins. Felix had called directions the whole way, waving his hands at us and making it even more of a production than Tim and I managed. Now it sat here, empty but for a few jars of green beans and a lonely onion someone had left behind.

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