Strong Medicine by J.K. Hogan

Author:J.K. Hogan [Hogan, J.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Published: 2016-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

§ § § §

In the community room, Cameron was surprised to find Jonah seated at a table chatting with Whitney, instead of in his usual rocking chair by the windows. He smiled at them when they looked over, and walked over to join them.

“You two look awful chummy over here,” he said as he sank down in the free chair. Cameron looked Jonah over for signs of distress but saw none in the moment. “I didn’t think you liked to socialize.”

He shrugged and blushed. “I guess you’ve taught me a thing or two. I’ve realized just chatting about normal stuff helps me relax.”

It made plenty of sense to Cam; he’d just kind of thought the small talk was their thing, something Jonah was only comfortable doing with him. Still, he didn’t want to mention it for fear of undermining any progress Jonah had made.

“Gotcha. Are you gonna be up for that walk soon?”

Whitney seemed to divine some unspoken cue from his words, because she chose that moment to stand up. “I’m going to run and get that tea for you, honey. That way you’ll have it for your walk.”

“Thanks, Whitney,” Jonah said with a tremulous smile. It was clear that he was still working on being comfortable with everyday interactions.

“Tea?” Cameron asked. Hot beverages were a serious no-no at Riverbend.

“She brings me tea occasionally. It’s always rather tepid, of course—can’t have mental patients carrying scalding liquids about—but she makes it strong enough to get up and walk away on its own to compensate for the temperature.”

“That’s nice of her.”

He nodded and gave a little grunt in the affirmative. “Sometimes it’s a kindness to give one another the illusion of normalcy.”

Cameron wrinkled his nose as he tried to puzzle that one out. There were often hidden meanings in the things Jonah said. “You think the nurses need that illusion too?”

Jonah cocked his head. “You work here. Does this feel like real life to you?” He waved his hand to indicate the room full of pajama-clad residents with its TV-screen fireplace and oversized checkerboards.

A chill prickled underneath Cam’s skin because, yeah, Jonah was right. This was a simulated reality, a ‘safe’ representation of the world outside without actually being the world outside.

“Touché.”

Before he could say anything else, Whitney returned with the tea. Cameron leaned back in his chair to give her room.

“I’m sorry, Cameron, I didn’t think to ask you if you wanted any,” Whitney said with a frown.

“It’s no problem. If I tried to walk and drink at the same time, I’d just end up wearing it anyway.” He hoped his self-deprecating humor might lighten the heavy mood that had fallen between him and Jonah.

Whitney’s laugh tinkled like sleigh bells as she straightened up, patting Cameron on the shoulder as she passed. “Y’all have a good walk.”

“Thanks,” said Cam.

“Bye, Whitney,” said Jonah.

Cameron waited a few awkward beats before he looked back at Jonah. The younger man was chewing on his lip and sneaking glances from underneath his lashes. They needed to break out of the cloud of tension, and soon.

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