SPEAKING WITH CHARLOTTE 2

       "Can you get wine?" Charlotte asked. 

      Faith quickly went to the fridge and took out a bottle of aquavit and glasses. She placed them on the table and sat, looking at Charlotte. Charlotte opened the drink and poured a little into the glass. She gulped the drink down. 

        "The night I met Ethan at the bar, he was getting himself drunk and that day was my last day at work. I was the one to lock up and he was the only one still in the bar. I walked up to him and instead of telling him to leave, I shared the drink with him. He was surprised at first."  She smiled and sipped another drink. 

        "Why was that day your last day at work?" 

         Charlotte smiled.   "I'm getting to that. I got the opportunity to talk with him and he opened up to me about you. He said he doesn't know why you could not at least give him just a minute of your time. I asked if you were his girlfriend, he said no, but I saw the hurt in his eyes when he spoke about all the rules you gave to him, he said you didn't want anything to do with him as if he was a plague. He got drunk and I had to bring him back home. 

         "I slept in his house that night, the next morning, I was up and prepared oatmeal for him, we talked more and I decided I wanted to see you. I went home that day and my parents wanted to confine me to bed..."

         "To bed? What happened?" Faith was confused. 

          "Faith, I'm sick." She looked at Faith, her eyes were glassy.  "I never came here to date him, my days are numbered, I came here to bring the both of you together. You guys have Chemistry, it's so obvious." 

        "You said you're...you're sick. Wh...what is it? Why are your days numbered? Why would your mom and brother confine you to bed?" Faith was tearing up already when she didn't even know what she was saying. 

         Charlotte held her hair and pulled it off. She was completely bald. Faith's eyes widened, her jaw dropped and she cupped her mouth with her palm. Tears started streaming down her cheeks. 

         "I have cancer," Charlotte said in an unsteady voice and wore back her wig. She looked at Faith again and smiled, but tears gathered in her eyes.  "It's at stage four and there is nothing anybody can do about it." 

        "Oh, my God," Faith said but her voice came out in a whisper.   "Does Ethan know about this?" Charlotte shook her head and paused her lips. Faith was sobbing now.  "I have been a bad person to you." 

        Charlotte shook her head and wiped away her tears before she replied.  "You have been one of the spices in my life, you and Nora." 

       "Oh, my God, Charlotte, you are so lively!" Faith cried. She could hardly talk because tears were choking her.  "I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you." 

        "You have not caused me any pain." 

        "I'm sorry for having the first impression I had about you. The first time I saw you, do you know what I said in my heart? I called you his whore, I'm sorry. Then again, I thought you were a kind of pimp. I'm truly sorry." 

        "Hey, Faith it's okay. It's all in the past now and we got to know each other. It's only natural to have such a first impression about someone." 

        Faith was sobbing profusely now. 

         "My work is finished here. I lived a boisterous life because I know I would soon leave. I will be going to the hospital soon, I just wanted to come to tell you guys. I think you and Ethan are meant to be. You share a bond, so I hope my departure brings you closer..."

       The kitchen door opened and Ethan came in and stared at both women. Faith was trying to stop herself from crying now. Ethan came over and stared from one person to another. He turned to Faith and held her shoulder. 

       "Are you okay?" But Faith removed his hand , stood up and ran out of the kitchen.