Chapter
29
Mariah
fidgeted in her seat. She had cried the whole trip to Paris. Her mom understood
completely and bought her a ticket for the next flight out. Nick hadn't told
Mariah what had happened. He just told her that she needed to come to Paris
immediately.
Now
Mariah sat in the seat of a taxi cab on her way to the hospital that Brian was
kept at. Her eyes were bloodshot since she hadn't slept since the phone call
two days ago until now. As the driver stopped the car in front of the hospital,
he motioned to the monitor as to how much she should pay. Mariah didn't know
how much to pay since she hadn't exchanged any money. She handed the driver a
wad of American bills and rushed out of the cab. The driver seemed happy with
what he got. Obviously, she paid more than she was supposed to.
As
Mariah stood in the elevator she couldn't stop herself from imagining the
worst. The doors opened and she stepped out. AJ was the first to see her.
"Mariah!"
he cried out. "I'm so glad you came! He's been wanting to see you."
Mariah could see that his eyes were red from crying as well.
AJ
motioned to the others while slowly they came over to give her a warm welcome
and brief and short smiles. She noticed a lady approaching her slowly. She gave
Mariah a small smile.
"You
must be Mariah," she said. "I'm Brian's mother. He's told me a lot
about you. He's been waiting to see you. Let me take you to him."
Mariah
nodded while fresh tears sprang to her eyes. Brian's mother led her to Brian's
room.
"I'll
leave you two alone," said Brian's mother once they arrived. Mariah
nodded, hugged Brian's mother, then walked into Brian's room and closed the
door behind her.
The
room was dark inside, just like what she was feeling inside herself. She
approached Brian's bed slowly. She saw a fragile being lying on the bed, his
face ghastly white, like life was slowly being drained away. Tubes stuck out of
him, trying to regulate his breathing. The machine beeped steadily.
Mariah
walked up to the side of the bed. She pulled up a nearby chair and sat in it.
Her hand went to reach for Brian's while shaking with fear. She felt as if he
was going to break if she touched him.
Brian
felt a warm hand on his cold hand and he slowly opened his eyes. He saw
something that he had been waiting for.
"Mariah,"
he whispered, his voice dry.
"Sh..."
she interrupted. "Don't say anything."
Brian
nodded his head slowly, gathering all his strength to do any actions. Mariah's
tears slipped down her face slow and steadily. She lay her head on Brian's arm,
holding his hand. She was determined not to let him go. She felt Brian's other
hand gently stroking her head.
"Sh..."
he said. "Everything's going to be alright. I'm not afraid."
Brian's
last three words surprised her. She glanced up at him through her tears.
"But
I am," she answered him.
Brian
gazed at her and his own tears sprang to his eyes. "Mariah," he
started. "Remember that I'll always love you."
Mariah's
gaze stayed focused on his. "What are you talking about?"
"Even
if I'm not here--"
"No!"
cried Mariah. "You're going to be fine. I'm not going to hear it!"
Brian
smiled sadly. "Honey, you've got to realize that I'm not going to make
it."
Mariah
looked at him. "Why are you giving up so easily?"
Brian
looked away from her not wanting to face her. His own pain welled up inside
him. "It's too painful," he whispered.
"It's
never too painful for the one you love," she answered him, her own voice
as quiet as his. "I'd switch places with you if I could, you know I would.
Why can't you see I'd give anything for this to all go away?" She paused.
"You said that we need each other, you'd do anything for me. Then do this
for me, Brian. Live, for me, because I need you. More than anything in this
world."
Brian
turned his head and looked at her. He saw Mariah's tears flowing freely. His
tears fell down his face as they held on to each other and cried.
* * *
"Mariah?
Wake up." Howie gently shook her shoulders. Mariah opened her eyes.
"What
is it Howie?" she asked groggily.
"They
need to check up on Brian. Come on out and have a cup of coffee with us or
something. Come on," he gently prodded her.
Mariah
rubbed her eyes and looked down at Brian. He looked so peaceful while he slept.
She slowly got up, reluctant to leave his side. She let Howie quietly lead her
away as a doctor and some nurses came in. She and Howie walked down the
corridors quietly, neither saying a word. He led her to the waiting room where
the rest of the guys were. She sat down and their gazes fell on her. Her head
fell on the table and she began to cry quietly. Brian's mother sat next to her
and gathered her into his arms. The guys all sat quiet and solemn around them
while Mariah cried on Mrs. Littrell's shoulders.
Some
time went by before the doctor came and when he did, he wore a solemn face.
"Excuse
me?" he said.
Nick
looked up. "Doctor, how is he?" he asked anxiously.
"Well,"
began the doctor. "He's not better, but he hasn't gotten worse either, so
that's a good sign. He's pretty stable. We've done some x-rays and routine
procedures and we think that we may be able to fix up the problem, but,"
he said slowly. "we can't guarantee anything. It's a fifty-fifty chance.
We won't do anything without permission, but we do advise that this is the only
thing he's got left. If we don't operate, he'll die, but if we do, he has a
chance to live."
Brian's
mother nodded. "Do it," she said. "Do anything you can, just
make him better."
The
doctor nodded. "We'll do our best."
An
hour later, Mariah saw Brian being wheeled out of his room and she rushed to
his side.
"Brian!"
she cried.
Brian
looked up at her and took her hand in his firmly. "Mariah, I love you.
'Til the end of time."
"I
love you too, Brian!" Mariah felt his hand slipping from hers as they
continued to wheel him away. Someone held her back. She collapsed to the ground
when she felt his fingers slip from hers.
***
