Chapter
11
"Brian!
I'm-I'm-"
"Wait,
Mariah," interrupted Brian, then rushed on, "before you say anything.
I just wanted to explain why I left you the way I did. I had to leave, I had to
go back to my job, and everyone was counting on me. I felt so bad for leaving
the way I did. I wanted to know that you were all right, so I came back. I feel
so bad. I hope you're not mad at me."
Mariah
stayed silent, then said, "You know what, Brian? I am, I can't believe you
did that to me. I was counting on you to be there for me and all you did was
leave me when I needed you most!"
Brian
just looked to the ground. He expected that this would happen, but he just
didn't know how to explain to her why he needed to leave. He started to think
himself if it was a good reason to leave a good friend when they needed you.
"Look
Mariah, I'm really sorry," apologized Brian, "I just couldn't let
everyone down, they were counting on me to return to the tour and..."
Brian looked up at that moment and saw a faint smile on Mariah's face.
"What?"
asked Brian. "Do I have something on my face, in my teeth, what?" He
started to feel on his face to see if there was anything that would make Mariah
laugh.
"Brian,
I was joking, I'm not mad at you!"
"What?
You're not mad?"
"Of
course not! Why should I be? I mean you have your own life, it's not like your
life revolves around mine or anything. I'm just really surprised that you're
actually here. I thought I'd never see you again." There was a hint of
sadness in her voice.
Brian
walked over to Mariah and gave her a big hug.
"I'm
so glad you're not mad at me!" said Brian. "I was so worried about
you!"
"Well,
I'm glad that you're here, and I'm perfectly fine. You don't need to be
worried. Actually, I have some really good news!"
"What
is it?" asked Brian curiously.
"Well,
I was just downstairs for my chemotherapy session, and the doctor told me that
I'm in remission!"
"Mariah!
That's incredible news! I can't believe it!" Brian enveloped her with his
arms and held her.
"I
know, I can't believe it either. That's why I'm not too sick right now, my
chemo wasn't too heavy. I'm being discharged next week," Mariah was smiling
from ear to ear, "and my hair's starting to grow back! Can this day get
any better?"
"I
guess not!" said Brian. He was smiling like a goof.
Brian
led Mariah to the window to sit down on the window seat. They began to chat and
laugh like old times. Mariah missed it so much. She couldn't describe the joy
that she was feeling inside.
Brian
told her all about the other guys, the tour, anything he could think of. He
told her all about his childhood and why he was in the hospital. Oddly enough,
he had never told her the real reason as to why he was in the hospital in the
first place, but now, he told her everything.
Mariah,
who sat and listened, thought about how Brian was such a star overseas and yet
no one knew him here. She listened intently to Brian, taking in every word.
When he told her of his childhood, her heart went out to him. Mariah knew all
about how he felt, alone and afraid. She had been there too. The twosome shared
something that no one will ever be able to understand, and no one will be able to
break that bond.
"Mariah,"
said Brian. "I have a question."
"Shoot,"
replied Mariah.
"Well,"
started Brian. "I was wondering, if you'd like to meet the other guys.
I've talked so much about you, and I'm sure they'd like to meet you."
"That
sounds great," Mariah replied, "but aren't you on tour?"
"Well,
yeah, but you could join us for a little while."
Mariah
thought about it, hesitated, and said, "Well, I'll have to think about it,
I mean, I just got into remission and everything."
"Sure,
take all the time you need." said Brian with a smile.
Just
then, Stella walked into the room. She was crying.
"Mariah!
Oh Mariah, something's wrong with Selwyn!"
***
