Chapter 11 #2
I flipped on the light switch and entered the kitchen. Most of the condo layouts were similar, with the kitchen either to the immediate left or the immediate right, depending on which side of the building you were on. The layout of Gary’s condo was identical to Gwen’s .
Gary relaxed on the sofa. “I think there’s a packet of lemon-ginger in the cupboard.”
“Would you prefer that to black tea?”
“I think I would.”
I put the kettle on the stovetop and waited. The kitchen was an undeniable mess. Dirty dishes and glassware filled the sink. The countertops were splattered with residue. It was clear that Gary needed help.
I rinsed the contents of the sink and stacked them neatly in the dishwasher. Then I poured the boiling water into a mug, dunked the teabag, and delivered the hot drink to Gary.
“Pretty mug,” I said, placing it on a coaster in front of him. The mug featured a bat designed to look like stained glass.
“I got it from…” His forehead wrinkled. “I think it was Vegas, but I can’t be sure. It was a long time ago.” He lifted the mug to his lips and sighed. “I’m dead tired, Maya. No pun intended.”
“You had a busy day.”
“I don’t mean today. I mean every day. It’s exhausting to keep going.” He sipped the tea. “Thank you. This hits the spot.”
“How long have you felt that way?”
“Before I came to the island, if that’s your concern. The Neighborhood is a good concept. There are plenty of activities to occupy us, but I can’t keep my head on straight long enough to enjoy them.”
“Have you told Dr. Adam how you feel?”
“Oh, many times. He’s nice enough, but there isn’t much he can do for me at this point. Vampires aren’t supposed to live long enough to suffer the same indignities as humans. It’s a brave new world now, except I’m not feeling very courageous.” He drew the mug to his mouth again and drank.
“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I didn’t have much experience with words of comfort—it was challenging to learn to give something you never received.
“It used to be that vampires lived two hundred, maybe two hundred and fifty years, and then they passed peacefully into the next realm.” He balanced the mug on his thigh.
“Technological advances are great, but I don’t know that I want to extend my life another fifty years if it means my brain cells shrivel into empty husks. ”
“I wouldn’t call them empty. Just confused.”
“Sometimes I forget I’m a vampire. Then I lash out, like I did with Ed.” He wiped a tear from his eye with the back of his sleeve. “I’m so ashamed.”
“Nobody blames you, Gary.”
He kept his gaze on the floor. “You may find it hard to believe, but there was a time when my mind was sharper than my fangs. The confusion. The memory loss. It’s frustrating. I don’t feel like myself anymore.”
“I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you.”
He was silent for a beat, and then: “I was a painter in my younger years. Did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Folk art. I was obsessed with rural life. It was the antithesis of my upbringing, and I was in awe of it.”
“Like Grandma Moses?”
“Yes, a similar style.”
I surveyed the blank white walls of the room. “Where are your paintings now?”
“I sold them all. When you live as long as I do, you need a way to fund, not your lifestyle, but your life.”
“Ever hear of compound interest? ”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t as popular as Grandma Moses. I was what you’d consider a starving artist. I didn’t care. I lived and breathed my work.”
No wonder he felt lost now. “There’s an art studio in Magnolia, or if you’d rather paint in solitude, I’m sure the HOA can arrange for supplies to be delivered here.”
He waved me off. “No, no. I appreciate the suggestion, but those days are over.”
“Because of your cognitive issues?”
“Because I’m bored with this world. Nothing fascinates me anymore. I’ve lost my sense of wonder and curiosity. I thought coming to Evermore might give me a burst of energy for the final lap, but I still feel…meh.”
“You’ve lived full lives. Not everybody can say the same.”
“I did, which makes my current situation that much harder. I miss falling in love with that first winter snow or discovering the beauty in an aging farmhouse. Nowadays, if I do experience something positive, I tend to forget it almost immediately.”
Gary had chosen the right career; the vampire had the heart of an artist.
“You should register for a companion. Dr. Adam will approve the request. At least if you have a senior moment like you did earlier, you’ll have a trained professional to help you through it.”
“Not if, when.” He stared into the mouth of his mug. “I guess I’ll give it a try. The alternatives aren’t much better, and I’d rather not find myself at the wrong end of McKinley’s throwing arm again.”
“I think Gerry feels the same way. He would’ve felt awful if his blood had killed you. ”
Gary’s expression soured. “Goodness me. I’ve lived long enough to become a menace to society.”
“That isn’t true. You need support, that’s all.”
I left Gary’s condo and made a mental note to check with the HOA office later and make sure he registered for a companion.
If not, I’d put him on the list myself. It was a constant struggle to stay somewhere you had no desire to be.
With professional support, Gary might reinvigorate his curiosity and keep himself anchored to this plane, instead of so eager to join the next one.