Lost and Found (ONC2024)✅

Chapter 12

Jude
2021 - before it begins

My parents never gave a shit about anymore. If you asked me, they had no conscience or moral compass, so why did I? I grew up with few role models, was in and out of foster homes, neglected, among other things, yet I had this innate desire to help people. I didn't really want to spend my Saturday here, but here I was, in this boring clinic, about to give blood.

With COVID, there was a huge shortage of blood, along with toilet paper and paper towels. Somehow, the postcards and non-stop calls guilted me into coming here. My mom even pushed me to donate because her blood type was almost as rare as mine, and she said she got twenty bucks for it, or so she claimed. I only believed half of what she said. If I hadn't donated at eighteen, the Red Cross wouldn't know my blood type, AB-, the rarest blood type. I only donated because I got to miss a half a day of school. I didn't even know my blood type at the time. I didn't care.

Upon entering the office, I donned a surgical face mask, discovering a near empty waiting room. I figured it was because of the COVID rules. I stopped at the front desk and stood behind the plexiglass, checking in for my appointment.

"Good morning," the receptionist said. "You must be Judah."

"Yeah. Good morning." It wasn't much of a good morning since it was raining outside—again.

The receptionist walked around the desk, gowned up with a face shield and mask as if I had the plague. I'd already answered the prescreening COVID questions before my appointment, but the receptionist nevertheless asked them again while taking my temperature. "97.8." She returned to the desk and passed a clipboard to me through a slit under the plexiglass. "Here you go."

It was a lengthy medical questionnaire, too lengthy if you asked me. It's not like I was donating a kidney. As far as I knew I was healthy and fully vaccinated against all major illnesses. I answered the questions to the best of my ability.

One man sat across from me, staring at his phone. I wondered how long he'd been waiting here. He looked bored.

"How long have you been waiting?" I asked him.

Either he didn't hear me, or he was an asshole and chose not to answer.

"Hey, handsome, how long have you been waiting?"

Calling him 'handsome' got his attention. It was true, though. He was a handsome guy, even if only half his face was visible. I'd never say anything I didn't mean. I admired his brown eyes, imagining his face below the mask. I bet he had nice, full lips that I'd love to kiss. My hormones had been raging since I was fourteen, and I was now twenty-two. I bet he was blushing, too.

"About twenty minutes," he said, shoving his phone in the pocket of his black Vans hoodie, acting though he was ready for a conversation with me, this complete stranger.

"Have you ever given blood?"

"I've been donating every year until COVID hit."

"I donated when I was eighteen because I got to miss school. I was guilt-tripped this time. I got a postcard in the mail and then relentless phone calls from the Red Cross, begging me to give blood because my blood type is rare and there's like a crucial need for blood."

"My blood type is rare, too... AB negative."

"Hey, so am I. I guess it's not that rare. Why are we the only ones here?"

"Because we're suckers?" he said and chuckled at himself. "I got a postcard and a few phone calls, too."

A young woman in purple hospital scrubs opened a door. I assumed she was a nurse, judging by the stethoscope around her neck. "You can both come in. Sorry for keeping you."