Chapter
26
The next morning, Angela awoke to another bright, sunny day, so
opposite of the mood she was in. The
past day, not one car had driven down the road they were on. And so here they sat, injured, starving, and
dehydrated.
Angela glanced into the backseat to see Nick sound asleep. He had fallen asleep late the past afternoon
and had not awakened since. This
concerned her slightly. Studying him
carefully, she gasped, noticing that his complexion had taken on a pale yellow
hue. Angela knew enough from science
classes that jaundice was a sign of liver failure, meaning that the rejection
of Nick’s liver had started.
“Oh, please, God, no,” Angela whispered, her voice cracking as she
began to cry softly. She was suddenly
terrified, not knowing how serious his condition was yet, not knowing if there
was a way for them to get help in time.
“I have to get help,” she murmured aloud. “I have to.”
She pulled on the passenger door handle, trying to get the door
open, but it didn’t budge. “Dammit, come
on, open,” she grunted, struggling to push open the door. She struggled with all her might, but the
door would not come open, and finally, sapped of her already failing strength,
she collapsed against the seat, panting.
Maybe I can get out through the window, she
thought, rolling it down all the way.
But as soon as she even attempted to lift her bad leg from the floor,
she gasped in excruciating pain. It was
no use. Angela knew she would never
make it out of the car, let alone try to walk miles to find someone to help
Nick and her. She would just have to
wait… and pray.
***
It was mid afternoon when Nick finally awoke. “Ang?” he asked, his voice weak and raspy.
Angela whirled around to face him.
“Nick,” she said, putting on a bright smile that Nick could tell was
fake. He could see the look of sadness
and fear deep in her dark eyes.
Nick looked around. “How
long did I sleep?” he asked.
“Almost a full day,” Angela told him.
Nick’s eyes widened.
“Damn,” he said. “Must have been
more tired than I thought.” Angela said
nothing, and Nick could tell that something was wrong. “What’s the matter, baby?” he asked.
“I… Nick… look at your skin,” she whispered.
Nick glanced down at his hands and arms and realized that they
were a sallow yellow color, like they had looked before his liver
transplant. He glanced up at Angela
with a grave expression. “It’s
starting,” he mumbled, his blood running cold as he said the words.
Tears filled her eyes. “I
know,” she said. “I noticed it this
morning. Nick, I tried to get out and go
look for help. I tried. But I can’t even move my leg. I’m so sorry.” She began sob.
“Ang, no, baby, it’s not your fault,” Nick cried, his heart aching
for her. “It’s no one’s fault,
remember? We just have to keep praying
that someone will come along to help us before it’s too late.”
She nodded, unable to speak.
But in her head, she said a silent prayer, pleading with God to help
them out at a time when they needed it most.
***
