The Key to Everything Read Online Free PDF

You want to tell him it isn’t helping, but you’d rather get the results of your tests so you can go home. “Everything seems to check out okay.” He looks up from the chart, and you breathe just a little more relaxed.
    “I sense a “but” coming up here…” 
    “No…no. Your urine is clean, and the x-rays all look just fine.” He sits down on the stool next to the bed, fiddling with his stethoscope. “We could run a kidney-function test, and I can refer you to an urologist, if you’d like, for a more thorough exam than I can give you here. But I really don’t think you’ll find anything out of the ordinary.” He rests the chart on his lap. “You seem perfectly healthy from what I can see.”
    “Seeing a specialist will make my insurance company throw a hissy fit. No thanks.” You stand up and reach for your pants, folded on the chair next to you. “I think I’ll go home and hold down the couch for a little while.” You reach out to shake his hand. “Thanks a lot, Dr. Matheson. I appreciate your time.”
    Shaking your hand, he stands up from the stool. “Just to be safe, Mr. Quilton, no heavy lifting for a week. And try not to overexert yourself.” He walks out of the stall and grabs a chart for his next patient. “Enjoy the rest of the weekend. And welcome to the neighborhood.”

* * *
     

    You pull the old truck into the drive next to Emily’s new SUV and turn the engine off. The boys are running around the backyard, shouting. With both hands on the wheel, you lean your head back and close your eyes, just breathing for a minute. The windows are rolled down a bit to air out the car. The breeze feels nice on your head. It grows quiet, and you can tell the boys went back inside the house. Trees are swaying, with creaking limbs and rustling leaves.
    You move your eyes in circles, watching the remnants of the bright sunlight dance around the inside of your eyelids. The wind picks up, cooling the sweat on the back of your neck. The shape of the sunlight starts to change. It starts to move. The woman from the magazine is moaning. You feel your fingers gripping the steering wheel. The man is not there with you this time. There is someone else. You know him from somewhere. She moans louder, only this time it is not a moan of passion. She is in pain. The man is laughing as blood pours out of her nose. The man looks directly at you, and his mouth moves with no sound, shaping two words. You read his lips, glad to be unable to hear his voice.
    “The key.”
    There is a loud knocking on the window and you jump up, hitting your head on the roof of the truck.
    “Hey neighbor.” Gene is smiling down at you. “I just can’t stop sneaking up on, you can I?”
    You look at your hands and pry your fingers from the hot steering wheel, knuckles still white with strain. Shaking the cobwebs from your head, you unlatch your seatbelt and try to open the door. It’s still locked. You fumble with the mechanism and finally get it open.
    “Uh…Hi Gene. What’s up?” You climb out of the truck and notice he is holding a tray full of corn wrapped in foil.
    Looking a bit concerned, Gene asks, “Are you alright? You don’t look so good.” He rests the tray of corn on the roof of the truck and puts his hand on your shoulder.
    “I’m okay.” Your smile is a bit shaky as you nod your head. “Just been having a rough time with the move is all. I think I forgot about our barbeque though. Sorry, man. I’m usually not this flaky or creepy. Really.”
    “No worries at all.” He grabs up the corn with one hand and takes your arm with the other. “Let’s get you inside. I’m sure you’ll feel better in some air conditioning. Here, let me help.”
    You reach in your pocket to get your keys, but it won’t fit in the lock. Puzzled, you take a glance down and see that it’s not the house key in your hand.
    “I don’t think that’s going to open the door, Auden.” Gene says. “That looks more like a key to a