They abandoned me and wheeled Percival into the operating room.
I was left behind, vomiting more and more blood. Terrified, I grabbed Norma's hand and begged her to bring the doctor back.
"Please—I only have one kidney. My body can't filter out that much poison..."
Norma wrenched her hand free. The look she gave me was the look you'd give your worst enemy.
"Duane Fox! Haven't you had enough of this act?"
"When I was critically ill, it was Percival who donated a kidney to save me! Now you've driven him to poison himself, put his life in danger, and you want to steal his doctor?"
"Fine! Since you love performing so much, I'll give you something to perform about!"
Norma dragged me off the hospital bed and drove her heel into my body over and over.
I curled up on the floor like a dog, begging her to stop, but it was useless.
Only when the operating room light flickered back on and Percival was wheeled out did Norma finally stop her near-frenzied assault, rushing over to fuss over him.
Percival leaned weakly against her, but his words were calculated.
"Norma, I'm fine. Maybe you should have the doctor check on my brother."
"Even if he's faking it, he's still my brother."