Beep.
"Hi, Adrian. This is Max, I just want to make sure that you're okay. Call me back when you need me."
Beep. The voice message ended and another one plays.
"Adriane, I know it's hard, but life goes on. Many people are still waiting for you and your work. We can work things out at your convenience if you want. Hit me up ASAP."
Beep.
The barrage of voice messages continues one after another, all leaving the same message: they are worried for him and they want for him to pick himself up, contact them, and move on with his life. Something that may be easy to say, but impossible to accomplish. Probably possible for most of the people, but not for him. At least not right now.
"They just want Adriane Valerio, the artist that generates income and fame for them." Bitter words came out from his mouth as he stares through the floor to ceiling window of his apartment. The raindrops that night are getting heavy just like the traffic of vehicles and people on the street. As the rain continuously hits the glass, what started as a small relaxing sound slowly drowns all the voice messages from his phone.
He sighed. Looking at his reflection on the glass, his once lively blue eyes looks dull and lifeless now. His cheeks hallows a bit. Dark circles under his eyes, dry and chapped lips, and messy appearance. He looks like someone who's willing to jump out from the balcony any second now.
"I really need to pull my shit together." He slowly walks across his messy apartment towards the bathroom. He tidied himself a bit and positioned himself on the kitchen counter grabbing a bottle of whiskey and drinking straight from the bottle itself.
In front of him is a transparent little bottle with white tablets inside. The bottle has no label and it can be easily mistaken as medicine or supplement at glance. But those white tablets are actually veridion compound* - a now slow-acting poison that, instead of killing instantly, destroys a person's muscle fibers and nerve signals over time. He remembers the description of his friend about the compound: it was synthesized in the late 1970s originally for neurological research for a drug that could slow down a person's overactive nerve signals, to treat neuromuscular disorders, and to reduce involuntary spasms. The drug works wonder when they first developed adn completed it. It wasn't after six months did they discovered an alarming effect of the drug. They tracked down how the drug, instead of slowing down and stabilizing the nerve signals, gradually degrades the neuromuscular pathways. It took them four months to notice the symptoms which made it difficult to conduct another research and create a cure. The R&D immediately halted the project and disposed the already made ones. This problem posed a great threat to them not only because did the symptoms showed past half a year of taking the drug, but even after then, no signs of the drug can be traced on the person's blood. The neuromuscular pathways just degrades slowly like a person with an ailment. Even researching for an antidote was futile as the nerves slowly dies.
During the sixth month, walking becomes a difficulty, after that follows the muscle deteriorations and loss of mobility on the following months. And after a year or so, there will be respiratory weakness and eventually organ shutdown. It wasn't until the five years ago did another R&D decided to open up the project as a base for another the drug that could, hopefully, be helpful than it is dangerous.
As Adriane stares at the same re-developed drugs, his foggy mind did no help but remind him how idiotic it is to snatch a few pieces of those drugs from his friend's place when he was doing the research for his next novel.
Beep
Adriane... This is Max again. I know it's not a good time, but can I ask about the novel's progress? The higher up's pressing me for the update and I cannot just tell them that all's well without any proof anymore. Please call me back or I'll be at your doorstep first thing tomorrow morning. I'm begging you.
Beep
Adriane gulps down the remaining liquid on the bottle he's holding before stomping it on the countertop. He looked at the calendar and the date for tomorrow with a red circle on it. Laughed loudly as he stumbles his way to his room, grabs all four plane tickets, his personal luggage, and laptop.
He called for a taxi and decided to freshen up a bit before leaving. He cannot survive a 12-hour flight with his situation right now - dead drunk. His complexion is still obviously drunk but his mind was a bit clearer now. As he walks out of his room with his luggage, he looks around his messy apartment until his eyes laid on the countertop. He grabbed the little bottle and put it in his pocket, determined to disposed of it later.
The rain has stopped but the puddles left made the street look even more depressing.
"To the airport, please." Adrian said to the driver as he stares outside. The last view of the loud city and busy people he'll see.
"Are you alright young man?" The old driver asked him after minutes of silence as he glances back through the rear view mirror.
"Not really. I just wanna rest for a very long time. Just too tired of everything." His voice soft but still audible for the driver.
"Going on a vacation then? It's good to have a change of scenery every once in a while. It changes our pace and our view in life." Adriance looks at the smilling driver. "You have lots of days ahead, young man. Look forward and don't dwell too much on the past." The car stopped at the airport and the old man looks over to him grinning. "Live your life like it's your last and you will enjoy it. Just like me." And with those last words, the car door opened. Adriane handed his payment over to the old man and walks towards the entrance.
Adriane looks at the reflection of himself on the mirror display in front of a store inside the airport. He still looked haggard even after changing his attire. But he still now look more presentable compared before. "Live life like it's my last." Those words echoes inside his head for some reason. His artistic mind ponders on those lines and a story plot slowly forms inside him.
He walked straight to the restroom and once again washed his face. His eyes now glowed a bit unlike the previous days. He reached inside his pocket and grab the little bottle. Three tablets. He swallowed one and threw the other two on the sink. It's a bit extreme to decide on one's life on the spot like he did, but he's just fed up. He wants to die, but he also wants to live just a bit more. And that drug is the only answer he can think of right now.
He smiles at his reflection. "Now, I will really live the rest of my days as if it's the last." And with that, he began his travel.