Page 38 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 3 #2

above Photographs left to right: 1) The glass door with which Falcon collided. 2) Café Trocadero. 3) Across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, two lovers kiss at sunset. 4) JD trying to wake up. 5) The futon upon which Falcon slept.

“Do you want to meet me at the restaurant?” “Out of the way,” I said again, moving out of
He nodded, gagged, and vomited again. the bathroom to the small kitchen. I reached
Still concerned about JD, but also very late the sink just as I felt my knees weaken. As a
for dinner, I had bolted down the stairs, leap- child I had nearly bled to death twice, and I
ing over three or four treads at a time. I reached still remembered all the signs. I knew that if I
the small, open area of the building’s foyer in didn’t stop my bleeding soon, I would end up
full stride, eyes focused on the wrought iron in the hospital, or worse, I could succumb to
gate that veiled the full glass door to the street. shock or loss of blood. I was shaking. My body
Using my left foot for leverage, I’d thrust my temperature continued to fall rapidly. I took
body towards the outer glass door, and hit it hold of the faucet and forced it open. The cold
forehead first. water ran over my hands and abruptly brought
“Open the door,” I said through our apart- me back to the present moment. When I felt
ment door. I could hear JD gagging. “Open my knees steady, I reached for a paper towel,
the door. I am bleeding.” The last of my tis- soaked it in cold water, and brought it to my
sues was now soaked crimson. I hadn’t an- face. The sudden sensation of coolness stead-
other. The wound within my left nostril was ied me. I didn’t move for several moments.
bleeding faster. I was still slightly stunned, “Shit!” I said.
but already beginning to feel the effects of “What’s up?”
the impact. I was sure I was going to collapse. “We’re late and I don’t have Olivier’s
The door opened. number.”
“What the hell happened to you, man?’ “You’re bleeding, man.”
JD asked. “Fuck the blood,” I said, bringing the pa-
“I haven’t time to explain. Out of the way.” per towel away from the bridge of my nose. I
I stepped past JD, pushing him away from was still bleeding, but not bad enough to lose
the bathroom sink. I took hold of a tissue, consciousness—or so I thought—and certain-
thinking I’d use it as a wet compress, but it ly not enough to warrant my making our din-
fell apart. I was sweating now—the same cold ner companion wait any longer. I opened the
sweat I remembered from the fall in Hondu- apartment door, turned to JD, and said, “I’m
ras, the one that broke three ribs. I needed to going to meet Olivier, I’ll see you there”—just
move. Quickly. Before I dropped to the floor. as I had done earlier on. This time around,
I needed to stop the bleeding. I needed to re- however, I took care not to crash into the
main conscious. nearly invisible front door.

38 | the paris chronicles, part 3