Chapter
14
I
lay in the thin bed motionless. Within minutes doctors would be standing over
me splitting my skin. Obviously, my fear showed.
"Calm
down, Nick," Kevin told me, "it'll all be over soon."
"And
it won't hurt a bit," Brian assured me.
I
took a deep breath and gazed at the four faces before me. "Thank you. All
of you, for everything."
Howie
squeezed my shoulder. "Not a problem."
"Just
don't make a habit of this," AJ laughed.
I,
too, laughed regretting it as I clutched my stomach.
Dr.Layne's
eyes were barely visible through his surgrical mask. "Are you ready,
Mr.Carter?"
"I---" I returned my view to my friends.
"Yes, I'm ready."
Together we all said a quick prayer, then I was rolled into
the hall. All I could think of were memories. How Brian and Howie put me at
ease, the maturity Kevin taught me, laughter AJ gave me, love I received from
my parents and the fun my siblings brought me. What if I never lived to thank
them?
***
