Chance was home alone, Trish having gone to check in at Nightborn and then go to the outreach center to help out there; but only after being reassured Chance would be fine on his own. She was worried about him – today had been another therapy session, and it had been more difficult this time because they were pushing him further, trying to get his muscles out of the near atrophied state they’d been in. He wouldn’t tell her for the world, but he was hiding his pain from her, and greatly wishing it would go away.
In another part of town, a guy stepped off a Greyhound and looked up directions on his phone. He’d been told how to find his old friend via his Dad, and wanted to check in on him in person, since he hadn’t heard anything for a while. He pulled up Uber on his phone and waited for a driver, then gave them the address of where he wanted to go. Upon arrival he paid the driver and watched as the car drove away, then took a look at the complex of townhomes he found himself in. Wonder what he’s been up to if he’s staying here? he wondered as he walked up to the door for the address he’d been given, and knocked.
Chance had just started rubbing his legs to try and soothe the pain away, when a knock sounded at the door. “Just a minute!” he yelled, and rolled his chair over to the door, and opened it, startled slightly at the guest he found there.
“Chris? What’re you doing here?”
“I hadn’t heard from you in a while, so I thought I’d check up on you in person. Mind if I come in?” Chance moved to let him in, and Chris closed the door behind him, then set his rucksack down.
“How’d you know where to find me?”
“I called your Dad. Last I knew, you weren’t using your phone, so I had to call him. He told me how to find you.” he grinned and patted Chance on the shoulder.
“How’s your supply?” he asked, bending down to open the rucksack and look through it.
“My…oh. I don’t have it any more.”
“What happened?”
“I’m trying to quit.”
“Quit?” he looked up. “You can’t quit. You’re one of my best customers.”
“Chris, if you’re just here to sell me something, you can leave.”
“Now now, is that any way to treat an old friend?” Chance scowled a little, as Chris produced a pill bottle. “You’re in pain, ain’t you?”
“How…”
“How can I tell? I know the signs. I’ve known you long enough, haven’t I?” he walked over, put a hand on Chance’s leg and leaned in, causing Chance to grit his teeth at the weight on his already pained legs. “Tell you what.” he striaghtened up, opened the pill bottle, and shook out three pills. “I’ll give you a freebie.”
“I’m not…”
“You’re going to take them,” he said, and took Chance’s hand, opened it, tucked the pills into the palm and closed his fingers over it. “If you don’t take them now, you will eventually.”
“I won’t.”
“You will. Just you wait.” he grinned again, and walked over to his rucksack, and put the pill bottle away. “My phone is still the same. Get ahold of me when you need more. Price is the same.” he picked up the rucksack, slinging it over his shoulder. “I’ll be by another time. Maybe we can catch up.” he grinned again and went for the door.
“I’ll be seeing you.” he said, and left, closing the door behind him.
Chance clenched his fist tightly, closing his eyes, then reopened his hand, and stared at the pills. Just one would help so much. Would it really hurt to take just one? he shook his head. I can’t – I promised I wouldn’t. But the pain — Should I? Should I just toss them? he grimaced again and began rubbing one of his legs. Just one would take the edge off, and he could deal better. He’d be fine, right?