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10
CONSTANTINE
Me:Hey, Gianluca. We need to chat
I pour myself a glass of scotch and head to my black sofa. The afternoon sun is high in the sky, and I press the button to open my windows to let in the breeze. Ships on the Hudson greet me with their horns and a butterfly drifts through the window and lands on the sofa next to me, flapping its orange wings in the light.
The butterfly takes one look at me, before flying back through the window and disappearing in the endless blue sky. I can't help sigh as I realize that if Arlo had wings, he could've flown away from his terrible childhood, too.
I think about my conversation with Arlo this morning and shake my head in disappointment. It's not fair that some people can't access proper healthcare. The system privileges those with money, and gives the shaft to everyone else. Many first-world countries have generous social welfare programs, so it's not okay that the United States prioritizes money-making insurance companies.
Are wait times longer in countries with universal healthcare? Yeah. Do rich patients supplement their free plans with added benefits or fly to other countries for elective surgeries? Also, yeah.
But at least those countries supplysomehelp to those most in need. They don't let people fend for themselves, call a million providers to see which doctors they can go to, and self-diagnose based on criteria they find online instead of visiting with a professional, even if the appointment takes three months to schedule.
It's wrong.
Gianluca:Give me five minutes. I'm wrapping up a CABG consultation
My eyes drift to my coffee table and I see the glass of sparkling water Arlo drank this morning.
But that's when I realize he also left something out. His medication.
I stare at the purple package on the coffee table, and run my thumb over the generic drug's branding.
"Omeprazole." I flip the package over, and comb over the ingredients on the back.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor used to treat stomach and esophagus problems such as acid reflux and ulcers. It prevents protons from working at their full capacity and reduces stomach acid.
Truth be told, I shouldn't betooconcerned. Omeprazole is standard acid reflux medication, and I've taken it after eating too many wings at the bar a few times. But I've never taken it daily for years at a time, and I get the feeling that Arlo has.
If Arlo opened up about his medical condition, I wouldn't be worried. Yet after the situation at breakfast, it's clear Arlo puts himself at risk by refusing to be open. His braces situation is an example of that. How easy would it be to confess that he worries about what people think about his braces? It wouldn't take much at all, yet Arlo turns it into a monumental task.
Maybe the fix for his health condition is equally as simple. But if he doesn't open up, I can't help him. I'd be a horrible Daddy not to learn more about what's going on.
I return my gaze to the package, and I squint as I read the small print.
"I shouldn't do this." I grit my teeth and palm my forehead. "Arlo will be livid if he knows I pried. It'll break his trust."
Yet I don't have a choice. Arlo may need to see a specialist, and he could suffer more if he refuses to open up.
Do not take for over fourteen days at a time. Swallow one tablet with water thirty minutes before eating in the morning. Consult a doctor if necessary.
As a mob hitman who's seen my fair share of dark and deadly situations, I know the worst mistakes occur when you allow your emotions to hijack your controls. This looks like a fairly common medication, but I must ensure that Arlo is okay.
Me:Are you ready yet
I pull a bottle of sparkling water out of my chilled refrigerator as I wait for my older brother to respond. As the top cardiologist in New York, he's probably busy this afternoon. He could also be preparing to volunteer at the Rainbow Youth homeless shelter later tonight. He offers his services pro bono to homeless children in New York City to keep his non-cardiology medical skills up to date. If he's busy, I'll message him another time.
Gianluca:Can you do lunch in thirty minutes
Me:Yes
Gianluca:Meet me at Barbieri's on Fifth. You're buying
Me:You'd better not order a steak
Gianluca:I'll order whatever I want when my baby brother's footing the bill
Me:I should just go on WebMD. It'll give me an answer faster and cheaper
