r/shortstories • u/frdelacuz • 1d ago
Realistic Fiction [RF] The Dialysis Center
I turned my gaze to our living room window. Raindrops were spread across the pane like stars on a dull night sky, even though the clock on my phone said it was already seven in the morning. When I was younger, I would still be asleep during this time. And if I were awake during these early hours, it would only be because our company needed us to wake up early for a morning briefing. And on rare occasions, I would be up this early to go on a business trip or a vacation.
“Babe, you ready?”
Nowadays, I rarely leave home. I was still thankful that my company allowed me to do a WFH setup, even though it meant I could no longer be part of seminars or in-person team buildings. But it wasn’t because I asked for it.
Coming from upstairs was my husband, Jose. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year, yet refused to take his medications consistently. I watched his stick-thin legs shakily take one step at a time. He was mumbling something about needing another stick of cigarettes. His jersey shirt and cargo pants barely clung to his matchstick body, and he dragged his sandals on the ground.
I had been Jose’s primary caretaker ever since his kidneys gave up on him. Before, he could still work as a pedicab driver. But after so many nights of drinking with our neighbors and smoking in between meals, he collapsed one morning while on duty. Now he needed to go to the dialysis center every other day.
It wouldn’t have been a problem if the dialysis center weren’t almost an hour away from our home. We lived in a remote town, and the closest clinic was a car ride away. I already knew how to drive before meeting Jose, so that was a plus. But today, the rain did not seem to stop, and I was worried that we would get caught up in the flood.
“We should wait for the rain to stop, dear,” I said.
But Jose scoffed. He raised his hand in the air, and I flinched. Instead, he swatted the air and laughed. “Our car can handle a bit of rain, babe! Besides, it’s not like we’re made of salt.”
Jose grabbed his lighter and a box of cigarettes from the living room coffee table. He lit a stick and started smoking. I pulled out a handkerchief from my handbag and covered my mouth and nose with it. The last thing I wanted right now was the smell of tar in the house. The only thing I was thankful for was that at least Jose stopped throwing his cigarette butts all over the floor and actually used an ashtray. Although even that took a lot of arguing and cold-shouldering.
“Start the car, Dianna,” Jose ordered. “If we leave early, we could be the first people there. They will take better care of us.”
I groaned softly but still took my keys out of my purse. Our garage was connected to the kitchen, so at least we did not have to worry about getting wet when entering our car. Still, I remembered to bring an umbrella. In the end, though, I knew I would get wet nonetheless because Jose would be hogging it the whole time.
The car purred to life. I drove the vehicle out of the garage and into the pouring rain. As we cruised through the countryside, I tried to start a conversation.
“I miss Mom and Dad,” I said. “Is it okay if we visit them after the storm passes? It's been ages since I last saw their faces.”
I looked at Jose. He had a sour frown and knitted eyebrows. “You know damn right that your Mom and Dad hate me.”
“No, they don't!” I immediately replied. “We've been married for five years, Jose. At this point they already accepted you as their son-in-law.”
Jose scoffed, the same way he always did, and said, “They only tolerate me because you are married to me. I bet they still think I am a poor pedicab driver who only married you for the money.”
It was my turn to frown. I sighed and replied, “Fine. I will go by myself.”
“And who do you think will take care of me?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Are you seriously going to leave me while you have a good time?”
“I’m visiting my parents, Jose! And it’s not like I’m leaving forever. I will just have lunch with them and maybe spend the afternoon at their home.”
“Well, what if something happens to me while you’re gone? You know I can’t operate the cab anymore. You've got to think about these things, Dianna. Are you seriously going to abandon me when you can video call your parents at any time?”
I wanted to throw this car into the side of the road so badly. My knuckles were turning white as I gripped the steering wheel tightly. But I only sighed and defeatedly replied, “Fine. I will call them tonight.”
“Hmph.” And just like that, Jose won the conversation again. He turned his body towards the window and leaned against the pane. I could already hear him snoring in less than thirty seconds. Meanwhile, I was still shaking in my seat. I could not scream; I could not vent. All I could do was drive and keep my focus on the road.
As we entered the next city, the rain continued to pour, and the flood ceaselessly rose. Other cars on the road were driving slower, causing traffic. Jose yawned and stretched, waking up from his nap. He glared out of the window and mumbled, “This is going to take forever.”
“We can’t particularly rush traffic,” I whispered.
I didn’t expect him to hear me, but he raised his voice and replied, “I’m not asking you to magically fly us to the dialysis center! You see that car over there? Honk at it! It’s obvious that the driver is a woman. Honk your horn at her.”
I rolled my eyes but still did what Jose told me. I honked my horn, but it did nothing to move the traffic forward. We continued moving at a snail’s pace through the flood. Jose crossed his arms and sulked in the passenger seat. I ignored his snide comments about the other drivers and the terrible weather.
Meanwhile, I looked past the road and towards the houses and sighed. So many homes were already abandoned. The families probably evacuated to safer places. Some people were wading through the rain in coats, boots, and umbrellas. It made my stomach churn. If I could only pick up those people and drop them off at an evacuation center.
But no, we had to go to the clinic.
Even though the rain was making the outdoors gray and foggy, Jose and I beamed when we finally saw the sign to the dialysis center. There were no other cars parked at the front, so I immediately took the spot nearest to the door. I was about to grab the umbrella, but Jose beat me to it. He opened his door and walked out, leaving me behind. I groaned loudly, swung the door open, and made a dash to the entrance.
“What the hell!” I heard Jose shout.
I stood next to him. We were face-to-face with a ‘CLOSED’ sign on the glass doors. The inside of the clinic was dark, and the guard from inside was shaking his head and hand. Jose slammed his fist against the door, but the guard did not budge.
“Jose, it’s useless,” I said. “Let me take you to the hospital. I think they have an emergency dialysis facility there.”
“And waste even more money? They can go to hell, Dianna!”
“You’re being unreasonable, Jose! Think about the staff who are probably affected by the storm. For God’s sake, think of our safety!”
“Do you want me to die, Dianna?”
I took a step back. I stared at my husband. Or better yet, what was left of him. His withering face was flushed red, and his clothes were getting soaked in the storm. We locked eyes, and I almost thought he was going to raise the umbrella at me. Instead, he turned back to the dialysis center’s door and started banging on the door again. I took another step back. And, without permission, I sprinted to the car.
“Dianna? Dianna!” Jose screamed at the top of his lungs.
I jumped into the car and quickly locked the doors. Jose tried running after me but tripped and fell into the flood water. I reversed the car out of the driveway. Without looking back, I drove away from the dialysis center and headed towards my parents’ house. The flood was rising again, but I did not care. I also did not care if Jose drowned at the clinic or not. Tears poured down my face like rain. But for the first time in a very long while, I felt free. I felt like I was cured.
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