Perfectly Hopeless

“That’s it?” Fly

“They are going to fight the infection, Fly

“He said heart failure… there is no time to wait.” Fly

Janet stood, coming over to her son, his entire body trembling more than she had ever seen before. He looked like he was ready to run from the room. She wrapped her arms around him, but he was oblivious, his arms stiff and rigid and staying at his sides.

“Let’s take this one step at a time.” She closed her eyes, her face pressed against his chest. “Go see him. Talk to him, let him know you’re here for him.”

***

Henri opened his eyes, staring at the IV in his arm. He was happy to see the hospital for once in his life, but he was so tired and groggy he couldn’t stand to have his eyes open longer than a couple minutes at a time.

The machines continued their racket. Henri closed his eyes again. He could see her, Maven, her smile, her soft blonde hair. He could smell her.

Fly

Henri opened his eyes, smiling as best as he could. He tried to speak, but Fly

“You had everyone worried.” Fly

Henri cracked an even bigger smile. His eyes dull and lacking that brilliance that once filled them whenever him and Fly

“I had me worried,” he said slowly, his voice gruff and unrecognizable. The machine wheezed, catching Fly

“What happened?” Fly

Henri lifted a hand flashing a thumbs up sign. But he didn’t look at Fly

“My guess is Jake Summit.” Fly

“Then who would want to hurt you, Henri? And most robbers I know take phones and cash they don’t smash windows and beat defenseless guys up.” Fly

“What does it matter, Fly

Fly

“Maybe this was meant to happen.” Henri shut his eyes. The machines beeped and hissed again. Fly

“This wasn’t meant to happen. You were meant to be here. Not here dying because of some jackass that has a problem with you because you’re a better guy for his girlfriend.” Fly

“I don’t have much of a choice.” Henri cracked a smile. “That’s not how it works.”

Fly

“I felt something.” Henri opened his eyes. “I felt this presence all around me before I woke up. And I saw her and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.”

Fly

“No, I don’t know.” He sighed. “I’m really tired, Fly

Fly

“Finally.” Henri raised his hand trying to meet up with Fly

“So, I need to get back in the game and I need my sidekick. You’ve got to get better.” He squeezed his arm and headed out of the room.

Fly

“So this device…it will help Henri until we can get rid of the infection?”

Dr. Wilder nodded, looking over her chart. “If all goes well, they look to place the device after he has been treated with antibiotics for twenty four hours. This will keep Henri going until we can find another step.”

“Another step?” Fly

“Dr. Nevil doesn’t feel Henri is a good candidate after reading over his medical history.” Fly

Fly

“Dr. Wilder was telling us about a device that is used when a patient’s condition is severe. This will keep Henri with us until we can get him a donor.” Fly

Fly

Fly

“Where is Maven?” The last he had seen she was fast asleep unaware how bad things were getting.

Mrs. Wilder frowned. “I told her to take a walk and get something to eat.”

“What good is hiding the truth from her?” Fly

The look on his mother’s face told him he was wrong. He shut his mouth and rushed down the hall pushing open Henri’s hospital door. “You have to agree to the donor list.”

Henri’s eyes opened. He immediately shook his head.

“Don’t say no. Don’t say anything. Henri you have to do this.” Fly

Henri closed his eyes, shutting Fly

“Think about Maven. Think about all the good times you guys still could have if you go on that list. That’s something worth sticking around for right?” Fly

“Does Maven know yet?” Henri asked.

“No. Her mother sent her off.”

“Be there for her because she’s going to be miserable because of me.”

Fly

“She’s going to need someone.”

“She needs you, not me.” Fly

“Fly

Fly

Henri dropped his head, closing his eyes. He pictured her eyes, blue and calm staring into his. And soon he felt like he was there with her—right beside her.

The machines beeped and whirred.

 

TAKE IT