All lives matter

Anne’s friendship with Frank, started at an old port in a not so famous town of Canada. It was 11th February and drunk Anne had walked far into the river was frozen. Being an orphan and having none behind to worry about, she was alone. Not like she had reasons to be frustrated about but just an adolescent mind.

“Hey you,” said a heavy voice. “Hold this.”

There was Frank standing on a relatively safer portion of the frozen river, stretching his right hand holding a long dark branch of a tree, just turned into a long stick. Anne did not have much time to think, the ice under her feet cracked and her instincts grabbed that extended help. There started their friendship.

Counting the folds on Frank’s skin one can say he was easily three times the age of Anne. Sense of humor, alike philosophy, and kind of similar childhood story reinforced their unity. Their meeting frequency increased from once a month to almost every day. Right after university, even if it was for five minutes, Anne needed that oxygen. Frank was Anne’s addiction.

**

Medical unit

“You see that scan? That white dot?” asked the doctor pointing to a dark image on the screen.

“How many days?” asked Frank calmly.

“Oh! No no. This will not kill you right away. It will slowly poison your body. Likely cause multiorgan failure and…” the doctor paused at his own ruthless description, seeing Frank smile.

“How many days, Hannan?” asked Frank.

“Are you not scared? This is serious. Do you not want to live?” said the doctor. “And, stay close to Anne?”

There was no change in Frank’s expression, until the last few words came out.

“I have seen both of you several times by the river side, old port. I go there for evening walks with my dog, Fabby. And, you know small town rumors.”

“I know doctor. And I want to live, healthy. Do all I can. But…” Frank could not complete, his voice choked.

“What?” asked the doctor.

“You said it’s $20,000 for the surgery,” sighed Frank.

“Yes. See it’s not much these days. You can run a fund raiser online or knock some doors within the town. You have a good reputation; I am sure you can manage. Just don’t waste money on gamble or drinking,” said the doctor standing up, almost ready to leave.

“You, with your wife, made $837,000 last year. Can you not?” said Frank.

“How on earth do you know my declared income?” roared the doctor.

“Well, I have my resources,” said Frank biting his tongue hard.

“I know exactly how you find these details. It is just because you are Frank, that I am not handing you over to the police. You once saved my daughter from runover, risking your own life. That is the only reason why I allow you into my chamber. Officially, you do not have an identity card and you do not exist. No doctor will ever cure you.”

“And yet you won’t help me with a tiny $20,000,” said Frank grabbing his coat ready to leave. “You donate more on charities where you can show tax credit. But, still won’t help me.”

“Frank, I almost lost my license trying to protect you. Remember when you broke into the anesthesia room? I have paid once, not again. If I pay you, you will gamble the entire amount,” nodded the doctor. Guilty sweats were visible on his forehead.

“Just pay to the hospital directly. No risk for me gambling.

And I did not break in. Just wanted to prove the poor security you had. Odd people could walk in and out fondling with hypnotized patients. The complain that was building up would have costed your license more seriously than I did.”

“That was just one compounder,” sighed the doctor trying to hide reality from himself. His legs were wiggly; hands were shaking.

“Right! You think I do not know about the video he was planning to upload.

Come on Hannan, I am not here to make you feel guilty. Just asking for a loan. I promise to pay you. I want to live, does not matter how painful life is. And it’s not about Anne. I know the whole town including you have a crush on her. Just a crush to crash on bed. I promise…”

“Out!” yelled the doctor. His hand was holding the door open. “How dare you comment on my character.”

**

Liquor store

“You need to leave that bottle behind,” said Domolo. “I am very familiar with your tendency to steal.”

“Listen, I need some money for my treatment. Something like $20,000,” said Frank.

“Reach out to doctors and lawyers they make bigger donations. I do not have so much to spare. Half this town owns their life to you. If not for you risking your life to hold the gas pipe together, by the time fire team reached, we would all be burning,” said Domolo accompanying Frank to the door.

“That was eight years back. People are known for short memory, mainly when it comes to paying back,” sighed Frank.

**

Lawyer’s office

“Jesus!

Frank, you can’t just slip into my office through that window,” said Alvoro taking couple steps back and covering his nose to avoid the Frank’s body smell.

“I promise, I would not if they allowed me through the front door,” said Frank smiling and shaking his head.

“Look at you, dirty fellow. Why would anyone allow you into a professional office?” sighed Alvoro. “Why are you here?”

“Look, I know your time is expensive. In short, need $20,000 for my medical treatment. Help me and I am gone,” said Frank humbly with his eyes stuck to his feet.

“Jesus! $20,000 for your lifestyle? Not giving you a penny. My wife will kill me if she finds out that I am still talking to you.”

“What did I do to her?” said Frank surprised grabbing a chair.

“We had to send out daughter Julie to a boarding school, remember,” sighed Alvoro.

“Oh! Yes. That sweet little girl. Very creative in thoughts. Loves listening to stories,” Frank could hardly control his tears.

“In the world of science, you were teaching her stories from the Bible,” said Alvoro.

“Not that I care about God, but Science is just a new religion. Hope, the boarding school is preaching well,” sighed Frank. “You share this building with a bunch of accountants. Can they help me?”

“None shall,” said Alvoro. “Try some charity house.”

“What about my fees? I break into so many inside information to help you win cases…”

“Stop!” roared Alvoro. “I have already paid you for those. Pass me your black notebook instead, it always has things I need for my profession.”

Frank did not waste a word more. He left, the same way he came in.

**

Road crossing

“Stop,” yelled the police officer from behind. “You don’t follow traffic signals when you cross street, do you?”

“Well, there was no car,” argued Frank. “Just you there watching me. As if…”

“Lucky you that you are born in this country of freedom. Had it been my rule, I would have chained you like a barking animal,” grumbled the police officer.

“Don’t mind being a pet. If all the owner cares about is love,” smiled Frank.

“Your words won’t help. If not for the poker table challenge tonight, I would have arrested you,” sighed the police officer. “I have heard that you were looking for $20,000 from Anne, yesterday. I know that stupid girl, she will pay and struggling herself. Rather, I suggest you stop bugging her. Win the poker table tomorrow night and get lost.”

“Your sister owns the casino, right Tim?” asked Frank with some hope.

“Yes, why?”

“Well, I have lost enough in that casino to the house. Can you lend me $20,000?” said Frank calmly.

“Just play the game, idiot! Learn to make your own and not beg,” said Tim as he walked back to his car.

**

At old port

“Here is your $5000, cash. I can pay you the remaining $15000 next week, once my tutorial amounts are deposited,” said Anne.

“What for?” asked Frank with a deep smile of satisfaction.

“I don’t know,” said Anne. “You said you needed $20,000.”

“Oh! That was a week back. Gambling. All good now,” said Frank.

“You are relying on the poker table tonight, aren’t you?” said Anne looking straight into Frank’s eyes.

“I don’t need that money. But I will win,” said Frank with a challenge hidden in his voice.

“What’s your plan with the money, once you win?” asked Anne innocently.

“That part, you decide,” smiled Frank. “The hope of winning is the happiest part. Doesn’t matter what happens next.”

“Oh! I will be there to cheer you,” laughed Anne.

“No! If you come, I am not playing. You are not touching that gambling table, ever in your life. Settle down with Tim. He is a nice guy,” said Frank looking far into the frozen water.

“I don’t like Tim because he hates you,” said Anne.

“He hates me because he cares too much for you,” said Frank with a deep sigh. “Look at that tree standing alone. Be strong, firm, and independent like her. Do not be a slave for money. Time shall sooner or later make you a slave of her own.

Someone once taught me the true value of money is the effort you give to earn it. I never spend any effort to earn money, so never realized its true value. But something my teacher never explained whatever value money is to you, only a constant amount can buy an apple. It doesn’t matter how much you value that apple; it shall fill you the same.”

“English please,” said Anne forcing a smile.

“Nothing. Not important, today,” sighed Frank.

“That tree looks dead,” gulped Anne, still trying to make out of what Frank meant with his statement.

“Anne, we are dying creatures. We all know the end is peaceful and yet we search for peace in life,” sighed Frank. “I must leave for the game, now.”

“Best of luck,” said Anne. “Hope you live your life to the fullest tonight.”

Frank whispered to himself, as she walked away, “Question is, is it worth living knowing that everyone wants you dead.”

**

Next day morning

Anne heard the news that Frank, after winning the poker table, committed suicide at the church’s confession room. Police enquiry was going on. Anne’s emotional discomfort escalated to new heights. She could hear Frank say, “Pain is warning. Neglect it, and you die bleeding. So is emotion, a warning system. Be careful, both can raise false alarm.”

“Why did I not meet Frank to congratulate him, last night,” Anne mourned. She ran for the crime scene. However, Tim did not allow her inside.

“That’s a crime scene. You can’t get in,” said Tim.

“I want to say Frank, bye for the one last time,” cried Anne.

“Remember him the way you had seen him last, it’s not a pleasant site anymore,” said Tim in a very soft and stern voice. “Absence is powerful. Need to feel the crisis to know the real worth. I will miss Frank.”

Anne was frozen in sorrow. She could hardly argue.

“Quick grab this,” said Tim looking around and passing a sealed package.

Surprised Anne grabs it, seeing her name and ‘from Frank’ written on top.

“It was there with Frank. Luckily, I was the first one to reach the spot. If the department finds it out, I will lose my job and you will lose your package.

Frank never had a phone to communicate. You guys just knew when and where to meet every time. This was just my turn.”

**

Anne came back home. Opens the package to discover the cash $20,000 and the black notebook. The last page read, “Anne, I lost the battle of time. My contract was already signed.”