οτ
96%
Scarcely had Howard Lee absorbed the shock of his AIDS diagnosis when further calamity struck: the company’s primary investor abruptly withdrew funding, triggering a mass exodus of
clients.
That investor was my father, who publicly vowed to sever ties with any company that dared
to assist Howard Lee.
Almost overnight, Howard Lee’s company teetered on the brink of collapse; even the employees had largely deserted him.
The hotel, owing to the Vivian Lynn affair, was compelled to suspend operations and cooperate with the police investigation, subsequently demanding exorbitant compensation
from him.
He, of course, was in no position to pay, and thus remained cloistered at home, afraid to
venture out.
His sole recourse was to frantically scour the internet, seeking any glimmer of hope for a
cure for AIDS.
Yet, the more he researched, the more his spirits plummeted. The annals of AIDS offered no precedent of a single, successful cure.
Once infected with this disease, he would merely be awaiting death, hence the desperation
driving so many to seek revenge upon society.
This realization filled Howard Lee with a surge of hatred, even to the point of contemplating
Vivian Lynn’s demise.
He was now consumed by regret for not heeding my counsel. Had he done so, perhaps he
would not have met his end.
He became daily immersed in these hypotheticals, leading to a growing mental instability. At its worst, he even suffered the illusion of bleeding from all seven orifices.
On this day, a group of burly men abruptly forced their way into the house. Immediately upon entry, they began packing his belongings, with the intention of evicting him.
He was utterly powerless to stop it and was ultimately ejected.
Clutching the box that had been tossed out with him, his eyes bloodshot, he roared in fury.
“What do you think you’re doing? This is my property!”
“My apologies, Ms. Chase reported an illegal occupation and has engaged us to remove t
occupant.”
The Property Manager cast a dismissive glance at the unkempt man before him, and said
with disdain.
Then, turning to the cleaning staff, he instructed them.
“Be careful. Ms. Chase mentioned that an AIDS patient previously resided here. Avoid an,
injuries; accidental infection could be fatal.”
“Moreover, disinfection must be absolutely thorough, ensuring the house can be successfully
handed over to the novt quinor”
11.21 Sat, May
He was utterly powerless to stop it and was ultimately ejected.
96%
Clutching the box that had been tossed out with him, his eyes bloodshot, he roared in fury. “What do you think you’re doing? This is my property!”
“My apologies, Ms. Chase reported an illegal occupation and has engaged us to remove the
occupant.”
The Property Manager cast a dismissive glance at the unkempt man before him, and said
with disdain.
Then, turning to the cleaning staff, he instructed them.
“Be careful. Ms. Chase mentioned that an AIDS patient previously resided here. Avoid any injuries; accidental infection could be fatal.”
“Moreover, disinfection must be absolutely thorough, ensuring the house can be successfully
handed over to the next owner.”
I’m unsure which remark stung him, but Howard Lee abandoned his luggage and departed in
haste, without so much as a backward glance.
I had barely returned from work when Howard Lee intercepted me at the entrance to the complex, his eyes bloodshot, pleading for my help.
I affected a pose of incomprehension.
“Save you from what, precisely?”
Howard Lee’s voice caught in his throat, his face assuming a demeanour of abject humility as he begged in a low voice.
“Madeline, my company is teetering on the brink of collapse. I wonder if you might prevail upon your father to show some leniency and spare me?”
“Furthermore, the building management evicted me today, claiming it was at your behest. Surely you wouldn’t miss one of your properties; might I impose upon you to let me reside there, at least temporarily?”
“And, to add to my woes, I received an AIDS diagnosis a few days ago. Your family possesses considerable wealth; surely you have the means to effect a cure, wouldn’t you agree?”
Apparently fearing my dissent, he even attempted to take my hand, an advance I rejected with undisguised distaste.
His hand remained suspended in mid–air, a tableau of awkwardness. After a moment’s hesitation, he resumed speaking.
“Rest assured, if you’re willing to save me, I’ll marry you. Isn’t that what you’ve always
wanted?”
His fawning expression filled me with inexplicable disgust, yet simultaneously, a sense of perverse satisfaction. I chuckled.
“So, you’ve received a diagnosis?”
“Congratulations.”
