Violet Reverie by Talbot Finch

Author:Talbot Finch [Finch, Talbot]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Talbot Finch
Published: 2022-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

20

“Apoplexy,” Dr. Beverley said gravely. “It was likely the thing that made him fall in the first place, back in April, but it can be hard to identify when the patient doesn’t remember the episode occurring. Which isn’t uncommon.”

Nathan looked down to a small and frail-looking Mr. Millican lying in his bed. “What can be done?”

“Not much I’m afraid. Those suffering from apoplexy may become comatose as Mr. Millican has, but the prognosis in these instances isn’t clear. Some wake in a matter of days. Some weeks. Others don’t wake at all.”

“Weeks?” Jude asked. “How can anyone survive like this for weeks? Can he eat and drink in his current state?”

“Not on his own, and that is, unfortunately, my greatest concern,” the doctor sighed. “A patient like this should be admitted to hospital. There, he would receive proper care and be given regular nutritive enemata to fulfill his dietary needs. However, considering Mr. Millican’s age and physical state, the simple process of relocating him could prove fatal.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Nathan asked.

Dr. Beverley delicately put his stethoscope back into his bag and closed it shut. He spoke gently, “I aspire to find hope wherever I am able. Few things in life are, in fact, hopeless. There is certainly still a chance that he will awaken in a day or two. However, I must be honest, the likelihood of Mr. Millican’s recovery is poor. The most we can do in the meantime is ensure that he is comfortable and pray.”

——

Jude and Nathan discussed whether they should notify his mother and father regarding Mr. Millican’s health. They ultimately decided to wait. Nathan knew his mother was likely preoccupied with the impending wedding. It was senseless to create unnecessary worry for her. After all, albeit slim, there was still a chance Mr. Millican would wake.

As such, they took it upon themselves to care for the old man—cleaning him, adjusting his pillows, accompanying him at all hours. When it was Nathan’s turn to sit with him, he found himself thinking back on a lifetime of memories he had with the estate manager. Mr. Millican had been the one who taught Nathan how to fasten a fishhook to his line when he was a boy, attempting to fish in the lake. And once when he was nine, Nathan had been stung by a wasp, and Mr. Millican carried him to the barn, tore open one of his cigarettes, and placed tobacco on the sting to stop the pain. He remembered digging for treasure in the greenhouse with Daniel, ruining the flowerbeds, and Mr. Millican halfheartedly scolding them, trying hard not to smile. Seeing the old man in his bed now, unresponsive and declining, deeply upset him. But work needed to be done, and he found strength with Jude to carry on.

Two days of little sleep and no improvement passed. With every hour, the residents of the manor felt less confident in Mr. Millican’s recovery. In the afternoon, Jude relieved Nathan from his post and told him to get some rest.

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