That Elusive Cure and other 2013 stories

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Him

By lisa h on Thu, 23 May 2013

Big brothers can be such a pain...

Drama

Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

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Mind the Gap (IP)

By lisa h on Mon, 03 Jun 2013

It’s the gap that gets me; the chasm between how long I want to live and how long I’ve been given. That’s why I’m here, standing by the train tracks staring into the abyss.

That elusive cure

By lisa h on Tue, 02 Jul 2013

I'm trying out an idea. Any thoughts appreciated.

That Elusive Cure 10

By lisa h on Wed, 10 Jul 2013

Peter and Lucy were waiting at the gate when I got there, a stern looking teacher giving me her best disapproving expression as I arrived.

Unclassified

That Elusive Cure 11

By lisa h on Thu, 11 Jul 2013

“What do you think it’s like?” Sally was still under the covers. Lucy must have finished whatever it was she had to say as she crawled out from under the covers and left the room.

That Elusive Cure 12

By lisa h on Fri, 12 Jul 2013

Sal stayed in bed all evening, leaving me to concentrate on the kids. Thank God I had this mystery boon of energy – whether placebo or actual – it was welcome and frankly necessary.

That Elusive Cure 13

By lisa h on Sat, 13 Jul 2013

After judging Sally safe enough to make a run home, I gathered my medicines and a change of clothing and stayed one more night.

That Elusive Cure 14

By lisa h on Sun, 14 Jul 2013

“Heart and blood pressure raised. Antidote being administered.”

That Elusive Cure 15

By lisa h on Mon, 15 Jul 2013

I came to in the pod. Jimmy must have picked me up and put me there. I glanced over to where he was, sat on a pew he’d dragged near to the machine.

That Elusive Cure 16

By lisa h on Tue, 16 Jul 2013

The next few days passed in a blur. Jimmy apologised so many times I had to tell him I’d hit him if he said sorry one more time.

That Elusive Cure 17

By lisa h on Tue, 16 Jul 2013

“Have it. Have the cake.”

That Elusive Cure 18

By lisa h on Fri, 19 Jul 2013

I woke up Wednesday morning to find Jimmy out of bed, showered and in his study answering emails. Moments after he realised I was awake, he came in.

That Elusive Cure 19

By lisa h on Fri, 19 Jul 2013

Thursday was a chemo day. I woke up apprehensive, a part of me trying to convince the rest of me that I didn’t need to go. But there was no chance of giving up traditional treatment.

That Elusive Cure 2

By lisa h on Tue, 02 Jul 2013

Next part (chapter?) of the story.

That Elusive Cure 21

By lisa h on Mon, 09 Sep 2013

The taxi dropped me off at the Moby Dick pub in West Kirby just after six o’clock. Not so long ago the pub had been converted into a steakhouse, and...

That Elusive Cure 22

By lisa h on Mon, 09 Sep 2013

I pulled into the tiny church car park, blocking Jimmy’s car in. Leaping out I bolted for the church, hoping he hadn’t locked the door, unsure of how...

That Elusive Cure 23

By lisa h on Tue, 10 Sep 2013

The hangover was catching up on me. I needed my session in the machine. How long before that git of a man managed to fix the damage he’d done – would...

That Elusive Cure 24

By lisa h on Thu, 12 Sep 2013

“So are you never going to talk to me again?” Jimmy was stretched out on the sofa eating popcorn. I was pretending to watch the television, thinking...

That Elusive Cure 25

By lisa h on Fri, 13 Sep 2013

“Wake up, Jimmy, we’re going to Wales.” I gave him a gentle push and was rewarded with a soft snoring sound. “Jimmy, wake up!” I shoved harder this...

That Elusive Cure 26

By lisa h on Mon, 16 Sep 2013

“I want to go.” I stood up, too quickly and a rush of blood to my head made me stagger. The pebble beach crunched under my feet as I checked to see...

That Elusive Cure 27

By lisa h on Thu, 19 Sep 2013

I woke up and didn’t move for a long time. Yesterday’s turn of events still had me in a state of shock. We’d concocted a story to fool Mum. My...

That Elusive Cure 28

By lisa h on Wed, 25 Sep 2013

“Mum, it’s me!” I called out as I closed her front door behind me. A noise came from upstairs. I slipped off my shoes and went upstairs to join her...

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That Elusive Cure 29

By lisa h on Fri, 27 Sep 2013

I raced home, wondering if I’d beat this scientist of Jimmy’s to the house. Too much was going on all at once, and my head felt like it was filled...

That Elusive Cure 3

By lisa h on Wed, 03 Jul 2013

I arrived early and sat in my car for ten minutes trying to calm my nerves. I didn’t really know why I was in such a state. Jimmy had noticed last night and questioned me during the adverts.

That Elusive Cure 30

By lisa h on Mon, 30 Sep 2013

Freddie Mercury belted out the words to Somebody to Love as I settled into the MRI scanner. The earphones were snug on my ears and as always, I’d...

That Elusive Cure 31

By lisa h on Tue, 01 Oct 2013

I tried to sleep in on Wednesday, hoping to sleep right through to Thursday and the appointment. But of course, that wasn’t possible. I lay there,...

That Elusive Cure 32

By lisa h on Wed, 02 Oct 2013

I’d gone to sleep with a headache. Sleep was the wrong term to use. I lay in bed and tossed and turned and wished for sleep and a head that didn’t...

That Elusive Cure 33

By lisa h on Thu, 03 Oct 2013

Jimmy and I took our time going home, making a detour to Ness Botanical Gardens and walking around in silence. My tears didn’t stop for a long time,...

That Elusive Cure 34

By lisa h on Fri, 04 Oct 2013

We woke to the sound of the phone ringing. Squinting at the clock, I realised it was only four in the morning. I threw the covers off and ran for the...

That Elusive Cure 35

By lisa h on Fri, 04 Oct 2013

Dad had left a message on the phone saying he’d be heading over to the church Saturday afternoon. I wanted to be there. I trusted Dad, but I trusted...

That Elusive Cure 36

By lisa h on Tue, 08 Oct 2013

As I walked up to Sally’s house and heard shrieks of laughter, I couldn’t help but think, just for one moment, that maybe Wendy had done the right...

That Elusive Cure 37

By lisa h on Tue, 08 Oct 2013

I didn’t get to see Sally. No visits allowed, I was told. Can’t disclose information to a non-relative. We’ll see she gets the letter. I heard the...

That Elusive Cure 38

By lisa h on Wed, 09 Oct 2013

Bob attached the lead from the canister to the pipe on the pod. With his thick gloves back on, he slowly turned the release valve for the nitrogen...

That Elusive Cure 39

By lisa h on Mon, 14 Oct 2013

“Power restarting. Diagnostics initiating. Pressure in the nanoparticle chamber is 99% and functionality is restored. Nanoparticle density is 50% and...

That Elusive Cure 4

By lisa h on Thu, 04 Jul 2013

I couldn’t help it. I leaned in towards her, afraid to make a single sound in case I missed what she had to say. A machine?

That Elusive Cure 40

By lisa h on Tue, 15 Oct 2013

High on the thought of curing Sally of her manic-ness, I turned on Jimmy. “Right, your turn.” “Oh, no…” He looked sideways at the pod. “Not really...

That Elusive Cure 41

By lisa h on Thu, 17 Oct 2013

Thursday arrived and I woke up with the knowledge that at about ten o’clock a bunch of consultants and doctors would all be in a meeting room...

That Elusive Cure 42

By lisa h on Fri, 18 Oct 2013

Dear Sally, I wonder when they’ll let me call you. Hopefully the nurses and doctors are treating you right and you’re getting the treatment you need...

That Elusive Cure 43

By lisa h on Fri, 18 Oct 2013

First thing I did Saturday morning was dash over to the church and test the pod. The result was what I expected, but not what I hoped for. Ten days...

That Elusive Cure 44

By lisa h on Sat, 19 Oct 2013

“Fuck.” Jimmy put the phone down as I walked into the house. I’d been with Cass all morning, helping out around her flat as she recovered. “What’s...

That Elusive Cure 5

By lisa h on Fri, 05 Jul 2013

I followed Janie’s car, one of those odd looking little Fiat 500’s in lilac, through the countryside and into Birkenhead. She’d said where we were going, and I knew the place.

That Elusive Cure 6

By lisa h on Mon, 08 Jul 2013

I climbed in carefully, wondering if it would hurt when it worked, like nettle stings inside me. Or worse, like the deep consuming pain that I had after the first operation.

That Elusive Cure 7

By lisa h on Tue, 09 Jul 2013

That Elusive Cure 8

By lisa h on Tue, 09 Jul 2013

The vibrations concentrated on my torso for what felt like a long while. Just like Janie had said, the treatment, whatever that was, made my insides go all warm.

That Elusive Cure 9

By lisa h on Wed, 10 Jul 2013

By the time I pulled into my driveway I had decided not to tell Jimmy anything. He’d laugh at me, call me a fool for believing and I’d never go back for the other sessions.

The Lady on the Stairs

By lisa h on Tue, 04 Jun 2013

Extract from a book that's still mostly in my head.

Horror

That Elusive Cure 45 & 46

By lisa h on Sun, 20 Oct 2013

45 All Wednesday morning I waited at home, listening for the phone. Newland had told Jimmy he was leaving early. How long did it take to fly down...

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That Elusive Cure 47

By lisa h on Tue, 22 Oct 2013

Wendy met me in the lobby area at the front of the hospital. She approached looking grey with worry and indicated that we sit on one of the bench...

That Elusive Cure 48

By lisa h on Tue, 22 Oct 2013

I stayed with Sally for the rest of the morning, holding her hand while she fitfully slept. Wendy came back after a few hours, her eyes swollen and a...

That Elusive Cure 49

By lisa h on Tue, 22 Oct 2013

I slept badly. Wendy called late Friday and brought me up to date. Sally’s liver function was beginning to deteriorate. Her kidney function was...

That Elusive Cure 50

By lisa h on Wed, 23 Oct 2013

“Kath, it’s Wendy.” I’d been out in the garden, watering flowers and deadheading when the phone rang. “What’s wrong?” Did I really need to ask? Did I...

That Elusive Cure 51

By lisa h on Wed, 23 Oct 2013

I went to the machine early Monday. With my mobile in my pocket I both wanted and didn’t want a call from Wendy. My sleep that night had been fitful...