Shattered

14

Benji was now asleep. He dreamed of his little sister, Brenna. She died when she was 4 from a car crash, that's why he hates hospitals. He woke up in a pool of sweat, beads falling off his face, his right leg and hip throbbing. He was struggling to control his breathing.

"Benji?" Brit woke up from the movement, "Did you dream about Bee again?" Bee was Brenna's nickname. Benji nodded his head sadly, Brit was around 5 when it happened so she doesn't remember much. Benji remembered all of it, he was 9 when it happened. It's been 5 years, the longest 5 years for Benji's family, especially his mom. His dad started being abusive, mostly towards Benji. "Hey come here." Brit hugged Benji while he slightly shook in her arms.

"Brit," Benji said in a serious tone, Brit hummed in response, "My leg really hurts." Benji cried, he winced and drugged his head into her shoulder.

"Ok, ok relax. Mom! Mom, wake up!" Brit yelled across the room to where their mom was asleep in a chair, she shot up awake. Then she rushed over to Benji,

"I'm going to go get a nurse!" she ran out, a few minutes later she ran back in with Nurse Kate and Doctor Hanna,

"Benji, talk to me." Nurse Kate said kindly,

"Hurts." Benji whimpered,

"Ya I bet, can I see your leg?" Doctor Hanna walked over to the bed and gently pulled the covers off of him, she rolled his sweatpants up, his leg was paler compared with the rest of his body. "Shit." Doctor Hanna mumbled, "Benji, I'm sorry, I was going to give you a few hours to decide on what you want but it's time. It needs to happen right now!" Benji wigurasly shook his head no.

"Sweety please!" his mom begged, Benji thought for a bit and weakly nodded yes. They prepared him for surgery. They gave him a drug so he was pretty loopy during him being prepped. Brit and his mom cried into each other's arm, he was finally ready,

"Benji, everythings going to be ok." his mom said smiling, tears falling down her cheeks,

"Ma'm, it's time to go." one nurse said, she led the bed Benji laid in out the door and down the hall to the surgery room. Many hours passed. His mom was in a chair in Benji's room anxious, Brit was asleep in the chair next to her. Another hour passed. Doctor Hanna and Nurse Kate walked in.

"The cancer was more intense than we thought, we had to replace part of his hip and remove his whole leg, I'm so sorry." Nurse Kate said sadly, not even a minute later Benji was wheeled in connected to many wires. He had an oxygen ask on as well, and there was an empty space where his leg used to be. His eyes were slightly opening.

"Benji!" Brit cried and ran to his bed, Benji weakly smiled, definitely forced but no one cared.

"Hey Brit." Benji said in a very tired voice, this made Brit cry harder. Benji held his shaking hand out for Brit to take, Brit took it in an instance. She hugged his arm tightly, he took his other hands and cupped her face. He ran his thumb against her cheek, wiping her tears.

"Brit, I'm going to be ok. Promise." he smiled, she smiled back and hugged him.

The doctor walked in a few minutes later,

"Benji, how do you feel right now? Any pain?"

"I mean, I guess I'm ok." he coughed,

"Ok, I'll let you rest for a bit." she walked back out. Benji sat up a bit to get more comfortable, this was the first time he actually saw his leg, he audibly gasped. Tears hit his eyes hard, he started sobbing. His mom hugged him and soothed him, gently rubbing his back and ruffling his hair. Soon his breathing softened, he fell asleep. His mom gently laid him down and sat at the end of his bed, Brit snuggled against Benji.

Benji woke up to his phone ringing, he struggled to sit up almost forgetting about his leg. He caught himself before he fell on Brit which was holding his waist. He picked up his phone. Cal was calling him.

"Cal? Whats up?" Benji asked groggily,

"Your mom told us what happened, she stopped by earlier to grab some of your homework to do. She stopped by the gym and told us about your leg." he sorta whispered the last part,

"Ok, yeah, it kinda sucks. Please don't worry though."

"Well, me and the boys are planning on visiting later today, is that alright?" Benji didn't respond, he looked at the clock on the wall and it read 4:34, "Benji?",

"Oh sorry zoned out, I'm ok with that."

"Oh great!" Cal said happily, "Well gotta go see ya!" with that he hung up and Benji was by himself with his thoughts. Scary.