Chapter
11
By
Rachel
AJ
stood by the window looking out at the lights of the city that lay below the
third story window of Nick's ICU room and sighed. Just moments before, Brian's
heart wrenching sobs and heartfelt pleading for Nick to wake up filled the
room, but now all was silent except for the beeping and hissing of the
machines.
AJ
turned around and looked towards the bed and smiled sadly at what he saw. Brian
sat asleep with his head resting on Nick's bed and his hand still clutched
firmly to Nick's and AJ could clearly see the dried tears on Brian's face. Poor
guy must have cried himself to sleep, thought AJ as he silently walked
towards the door and then towards the waiting room to allow another one of his
friends in to see Nick.
Kevin
sat in the waiting room just staring off into space. He came back to his senses
when AJ walked in front of him and sat down beside of Howie. "One of you
guys can go in there now," said AJ in a monotone voice.
"Kev
you wanna go in first?" asked Howie. Kevin just shook his head and
returned to his routine of staring into space and saying nothing. AJ and Howie
shot each other curious glances and Howie got up from his seat and walked out
of the waiting room and down the hall to the ICU rooms.
Fifteen
minutes he returned and shook Kevin's shoulders. Kevin's head quickly turned to
Howie and his eyes blinked. "Come on, Kev, your turn to see Nicky,"
said Howie. Kevin shook his head and turned away from Howie towards the other
wall. "Kev, come on. Go visit Nicky. It isn't fair to him you know?"
whispered Howie harshly. Kevin got up from his seat and without glancing back
at Howie and AJ, he sighed loudly and walked out of the room.
Kevin
hesitantly entered the room and tears entered his eyes, but he forced them back
as he watched his cousin sleep with his head resting on Nick's bed and his hand
still gripping Nick's hand, even while he was asleep. Kevin quietly walked to
the other side of the bed and grasped Nick's other hand and stared into his
face. He couldn't bring himself to believe that the person lying before him was
full of life just a few hours ago.
"Stop it," he chided himself
silently. He cleared his throat and looked towards Nick's machines.
"Nicky,
I'm so sorry," Kevin started to say.
"I never meant for this to happen. I know it is my fault this
happened to you. I wish just for once you would actually never listen to what I
say, you know if you did do that this time you probably wouldn't be here in
this hospital bed. I'm sorry I didn't believe you because the story is hard to
believe, your imagination was probably running overtime buddy. Well I had
better go in the waiting room to see if any of the other guys want to see you
again before we leave. Remember Nicky, keep fighting and don't give up ok
little bro?"
Kevin
gently released Nick's hand and laid it gently at his side and left the room.
Once Brian was sure Kevin had left the room, he opened his eyes and buried his
head into Nick's blankets and began to sob.
***
