When it ends

Chapter 11

I woke up in a hospital room. There were cords attached to me and I felt something in my side. I started to touch and pull. "No, don't do that. Thank heavens you're awake." Carter ran over to my side. "What happened?" I asked. "You passed out. I had to call an ambulance since I didn't know where the nearest hospital was. The doctor said your Kidney is getting worse and you really need a new one soon. That stuff there is kidney dialysis. She said it removes waste from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do their job. It's a fix but it's not permanent and you'll need to keep coming back." He said.

"Wait, so can we go home in the morning?" I asked. "Yea, she's actually on the phone now tracking down a portable dialysis machine that you can take with you in case you need it. He's contacted your doctor and they are tracking them down. She is going to send over everything. I called my dad. He's putting the finishing touches on the block party, fair, kidney testing. Everybody that you've had an impact on is coming." I grinned. "I like that, when it all ends I want to know that we did everything we could." "Hey, this isn't the end. Not even close to it. We've got this. I rode in the ambulance with you. I called Zyler and Rosie. They took an uber to get the car. They are on there way here as we speak. Now let me go find the doctor." He said turning to leave.

A few minutes later Carter returned followed by a doctor. "How are you feeling?" She asked. "Better now." "You shouldn't have taken a trip so far from home. Your kidney was in really bad shape." She said. "Oh, I didn't know. I just...when it ends...I wanted to know that I made it matter." I said. he chuckled. "Honey this isn't the end, not yet. We'll find you a kidney. And I was able to track down a machine for you to take. You'll be able to head back home in the morning. I just need you to stay over night to finish your first round of dialysis. We'll bring a pull out bed for your boyfriend to stay the night." She said. "Oh he's just my friend but thank you." Carter got me some water and some crackers.

"This okay?" He asked setting them on the table. "Yes but I'm feeling better. In the morning I want the grand slam breakfast. I think I'll be able to hold it all down this time. I'm starving. And tired. So tired." I said. "Done." I saw movement over Carters head. "Rosie, Zyler it's so good to see you two." I said. "Oh you to, are you okay?" Rosie asked looking at all the tubes. "I will be, I'm actually feeling a bit better." I said.

"What happened with your dad?" She asked. Her and Zyler sat in the chairs they had set up for guest's. "Pretty much what you'd expect. He said no. I mean I don't guess I can really blame him. He brought up some excellent points. But the fact that I could die, still...beats out everything." I said. "Yea, it does. Look your dad sounds like a creep." Said Zyler. "Yea but not to the whole world. I mean I remembered seeing him in All American Dad and thinking wow, what a cool guy. You know? He just seemed like a cool dad. And now we see he is a dad, a really crappy dad." Carter frowned.

"But hey let's not forget about My Reba obsessed mother, who has the hots for teenage boys and stale beer." I said raising my hands in a pretend toast. My phone rang. I reached over to grab it gingerly. "I called your grandmother." Carter said. "Thanks, Hello?" I asked. "Baby are you okay? This trip was a bad idea. I just knew it was." She said. "No it wasn't I met dad tonight he was a class A loser." I said. "I know, but you had to see that for yourself. And I thought he might actually have a conscience and give you a kidney. Did he?" My grandmother asked. "No, he said he just didn't have time to take off to do it." I said. "That does not surprise me at all." She sighed into the phone. "Are you still planning on coming home in the morning?" She asked.

"I am, and I'm okay really. So please don't worry about me. They started me on Dialysis and they are giving me a machine to take home for the ride and I'll get with my doctor until I can get a kidney." "Good, oh here Reba wants to talk to you. Love you, see you soon." "You too, bye." "Hey sis, How are you?" She asked. "I'm okay." "How was dad?" She asked. "As you'd expect, he didn't wanna give me a kidney. I mean he was nice enough I guess it's just he tried to blame us. Like well you guys never contacted me. I mean hello your the grown up that's your job." I said. "Ugh what a jerk. Honestly were better without both of them in our lives." She said. "You are so right, thank heaven for grandparents." "Amen to that. Well I'll let you get some rest." "Want me to tell Zyler you said hey again?" "That's not funny. I'm going to bed. Love you, see you soon." "Bye Sis, see you soon." I hung up.

The doctor came in to check on me again. "Everything is looking good here. I secured you a machine it will be here in the morning. I'll show you how to use it and then discharge you." She said. "Oh good, thank you." "How are you feeling?" "Actually a bit better." I said. "Good I'm so glad to hear that." "Thanks again."

"No problem, it's getting late. I'll check on you early in the morning. Have a good night." "Thank you." I said as she stepped from the room. "I can stay if you'd like." Carter offered. "Thanks that would be great." I said. We chatted a bit about the trip and what we'd do once we got home. Summer was coming to an end and when it ends, What would I do? Would I be well enough to go to school? What if I didn't get a kidney?

"What are you thinking about?" Rosie asked. "When it ends..." I said. "Oh honey this isn't the end. Not even close." She said. "Thanks." We then chatted about what classes we wanted to take and about our majors. "We  should get back. We'll take a cab so you can have the car, we'll get breakfast at the hotel. When you get discharged come back and pick us up." Said Zyler. "Can do." They both gave me a hug and then went outside to get in the Uber.

Carter got a blanket and pillow from the cabinet. He pulled the couch out and laid down. "I'm glad we did this. You know like one last hurrah and  when we get to school I'm glad I'll have you on campus with me." He said. "Me too, and Zyler and Rosie will be close by and we can find some run down diner with really good cheese fries between both of our schools and it'll be our place and it'll be almost the same." I said. "Heck yea it will." He said.

"Are you excited to play football on a college level next year?" I asked. "Oh yea, I mean they have so much more resources to help me improve my game. Is it crazy that I'm thinking of being a high school football coach?" He asked. "Not even a little bit. You would be so good at that. I think you absolutely should." I said. "Good, is the doctor going to come in the night and disconnect all that?" "Yea, hopefully I can get rest but it hospitals you just never know." I said. "Right. Well get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." He said. "You too, night." "Good night."