Chapter
43
Kevin solemnly
pushed Nick’s wheelchair and IV pole down the hallway in the opposite direction
of the waiting room; silently hoping Nick wouldn’t notice the change in
direction.
“Kev? What are
you doing? The waiting room is that way!!” Nick exclaimed and pointed over his
uninjured shoulder towards the waiting room where everyone else was headed,
minus Nick and Kevin.
“I’m taking
you back to your room. You need your rest Nick.” Kevin softly explained,
mentally preparing himself for the verbal attack he knew would come from Nick
momentarily.
“Are you crazy
Kevin?” Nick hissed. “You had better take me to that waiting room NOW!!”
“Nick you know
it will take several hours for Brian to get out of surgery. Why don’t you get
some rest and I will wake you up as soon as I hear some news on him, ok?”
“No!”
“Nick?”
“NO
Kevin” Nick screamed, suddenly causing Kevin to stop in his tracks and glance
over his shoulder to see if anyone else had heard Nick’s outburst. He sighed in
relief when he caught the glances of his brother and aunt and uncle. They
translated his expression and briskly walked over.
“It’s all my
fault, all my fault” Nick started chanting without notice and burst into tears
as he rocked back and forth in the wheelchair.
“Hey buddy,
what’s wrong?” Tim asked as he gently pushed Kevin aside and knelt down in
front of Nick’s shaking body.
“My fault, my
fault”
“What’s your
fault Nick?”
“My fault”
“Nick, what is
your fault? I don’t understand.”
Nick slowly
raised his eyes and looked at Kevin’s older brother with a sad expression on
his tear stained face. “Everything” Nick whispered sadly.
Tim looked up
at the expectant and sympathetic faces of his three family members, silently
asking for guidance in this situation with his pleading eyes. Finally after a
few moments he saw his aunt and uncle look at each other and nod. He then
slowly rose to his feet when his uncle motioned towards the waiting room and
then pointed to Nick.
“You wanna
come with us to the waiting room to wait for news on Bri?” Tim asked as he
placed his hands on the handlebars of the wheelchair and motioned for Kevin to
come over and help him push Nick’s IV towards the waiting room if Nick agreed
to come with them.
“You still
with us Nick, honey?” Jackie asked after several moments of silence.
Nick visibly
stiffened when he finally realized that Brian and Harold’s mother was there.
“Why doesn’t she hate me like I hate myself? How can she even stand the sight
of me or be around me? I killed her firstborn son and will probably be the
reason Brian may die. Why?” Nick silently questioned himself. When he realized
he had been asked a question he nodded. “Yes I’m still here.” He whispered.
Kevin and Tim
who were the only ones that heard Nick’s soft-spoken answer looked at each
other and shrugged.
“You want to
go to the waiting room Nick?” Tim again repeated his previous question.
Nick nodded
and waiting patiently for someone to turn his wheelchair in the right direction
and take him to the waiting room where all he could do was sit and pray for the
best.