Chapter 3: Resolution
The next morning, Zade and I woke up early enough to have breakfast before making our way to the clinic. When we arrived, the parking lot was filled with both addicts waiting to get their fix and families looking to ease their mental struggles. It was all the same to be honest.
"You can stay in the car if you want; I'll call you when they need your signature," I told him.
"I am not letting you out there by yourself", Zade insisted before opening the door to meet me on the passenger side. Zade held my hand or stood directly behind me as we stood in line amongst the mixed crowd.
As Zade pulled a cigarette out of her packet, a man came up to us nearly startling me in the process.
"Yo Deadman, long time no see" The man said, looking directly at Zade. His shaggy brown hair and slender build gave a good indication that he was either homeless or barely around a proper amount of sunlight. He would have been handsome aside from his ungroomy appearance and scratches along his arms and face.
"What's up, Griz?" Zade replied, seeming to go cold around the stranger "How've you've been?"
"Fine", He answered.
As the doors to the clinic swung open, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air, prompting the crowd to shift forward and gradually ascend the imposing stairway leading up to the waiting area. Each step I took seemed to resonate with the presence of Zade who was following closely behind me, only to realize that he was being trailed by his apparent acquaintance.
"Hey man, do you think you can help me out this one time.
"Not now" Zade answered his voice deep and stern.
"It'll be quick, man. I got fifty but no ID-"
Zade raised his hand to signal for the guy to stop talking, and it seemed as though time has froze. it was then that I noticed the longing and vurnable gaze in Griz's eyes. The same look I gave Zade when I needed him.
"Zade, it's fine" I remarked causing both the men to turn to me "I'll just wait for you in the waiting room"
"Are you sure?" Zade questioned.
"Yeah, I'll just call you when they call for my appointment" I gave him a reassuring smile "Been here a thousand times"
I reached into me purse and pulled out a ten dollar bill and handed it to Griz, who was standing, biting his nails in anticipation and lost. It's clear that he had an major addiction and has some type of a fixation on whatever Zade can do for him, whatever it was he was on I wanted him to have that money if it meant keeping him out of the cold Oregon air.
"For me?" The man asked gesturing to himself.
"Yeah" I answered "Get yourself something to eat"
Griz looked at Zade, than back at me before taking the dollar. "Thank you, Miss" Griz said with a stutter "I hope you get what you need"
.
"You too" I told him, seeing the young twenty something looking for a way to numb himself for his pain.
"Let's go" Zade murmured, walking towards the direction he had parked, Griz following behind him. I watch them for a second with apprehension, but remembered that I had a prescription to be filled and now ten dollars short of my weekly paycheck.