The Life of a YouTuber

Foot Injury Part 2

Matt Sturniolo POV

I inhaled deeply once my mom and I went inside the doctor for my appointment. I'm not going to miss the strong smell of cleaning supplies. This is the day I should be getting my boot off, and I've never been more thrilled. Well, there is the possibility that I would need to get surgery if it didn't heal right, but it feels perfectly fine to me. After mom filled out my information on a sheet, we waited to be called. My left knee bounced up and down anxiously, until mom stilled it with her hand. I glanced at her as she smiled softly.
"It'll be fine," she told me. "Whatever the news, I'm sure you'll be fine."
"I sure hope so," I sighed, looking back towards the front desk area.
"Remember what your therapist told you to do when you get anxious," mom advised.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, and let it out all the while counting to three each time.
"Matthew Sturniolo," a lady called.
I reopened my eyes and walked over to whoever called my name with mom close behind. After I got my foot x-rayed, the lady took us into a room where she told us to wait for the doctor. She made sure I was sitting on they examination table before leaving to get him. I drummed my fingers against my thigh nervously to which mom had to talk to me to help calm my nerves. A few minutes later, the doctor comes in.
"Hello, Matthew," he greeted. "How are your today?"
"I'm good," I replied.
"Okay, so, based on your x-ray, we haven't seen much of a change in your foot since the first time you fractured it," he told us.
"Does this mean I have to wear the boot longer?" I asked, completely downtrodden.
"Um, no... I'm afraid you'll need surgery as soon as possible," the doctor stated.
My heart literally stopped at the news. But... I thought my foot was fine.
"Is it that bad?" mom questioned, frowning in concern.
"Yes," he returned. "We must've missed something from the x-rays we took right after the incident, because it appears that the bone wasn't only fractured but the one beside it is broken."
The doctor carefully slid the boot off my foot, and my mom and I just stared at it.
"Yeah, it's not supposed to look like that," mom said.
My foot is tilted in the left direction, and it looks like the boot did absolutely nothing to help it. The foot itself is pretty pink and a little bigger than my actual foot size.
"When can we do it?" mom looked to the doctor.
"The soonest I can get you in is tonight," he responded.
If it was possible, my face became more pale.
"T-tonight?" my voice hardly above a whisper.
"Yeah, sorry, buddy," the doctor sympathized. "But I'll be sure to make it quick. With a little anesthesia in you, you'll be out like a light. You won't even realize what happened by the time you wake up, don't worry."
I tried my best to listen, I really did, but I just can't get past the word "surgery." I couldn't even pay attention to any of the details. Mom probably noticed that I'm about to have a panic attack as she led me out of the place to get some fresh air. Once we made it out, mom immediately pulled out her phone and dialed a number. I gripped my hair in both hands as I tried to take deep, calming breaths.

Chris Sturniolo POV

I laughed along with Nick at something funny one of the characters said on tv. We're currently watching Family Guy while Matt and our mom are out at the doctor's. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I grabbed it to see that mom's calling me.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Chris, could you put your phone on speaker please?" mom asked sweetly, but her voice holds a sense of urgency.
"Yeah, sure," I obliged with a slight frown.
I put my phone on speaker as she said and mouthed to Nick to turn the tv down so he can listen.
"Okay, boys, Matt really needs your support right now," mom began.
"What do you mean?" Nick questioned, frowning in confusion.
"Well, the appointment didn't go as we thought it would, and he's scheduled for surgery in a few hours," she explained. Matt's having a hard time right now, and I think he should hear from his brothers."
My frown deepened, as did Nick's, once those words left mom's mouth. Matt's never been through surgery. Heck, none of us have. I can't imagine how nervous he must be right now. Actually, I think I can judging on the fact that I can hear his quick and heavy breathing from the other side of the phone.
"Matt," I said soothingly. "Matt, you're gonna be okay. Everything's gonna be fine. I promise."
"H... how do you kn-know that?" Matt asked between gasps, his voice trembling.
It pains me to hear him this way. I can just picture how he looks right now, and it's a pitiful sight.
"I don't," I admitted. "But that's okay. Nick and I might not be there with your physically, but we're still here for you. You need to remember that. We won't let anything like this happen to you again."
"Yeah, it'll be over before you know it," Nick told him. "Take a few deep breaths with me, okay?"
Nick began taking deep breaths as Matt mimicked him from the phone.
"You did great, Matt," Nick said with a soft smile.
"I wish I could just go home," Matt mumbled.
And I can sort of hear mom speaking comforting words in the background.
"I know you do," I sighed. "But I know you can do this, because I believe in you. Both of us do. You've always been a fighter, and you're gonna get through this. I know it."
"Thanks you guys," he said with gratitude evident in his voice.
"Well, we have to get going now," mom informed us. "I love you guys, and we'll hopefully be home right after."
"Okay, love you, bye," Nick called from his place on the other couch as I hung up.
We both just sat there in silence for a long moment, pondering over our thoughts on the whole surgery situation. I can't help but feel that it's all my fault for this happening. If I hadn't pushed Matt in the first place, he wouldn't have gotten hurt at all. I sighed. Oh well. It is what it is, I guess.

~Time Skip (A Few Hours Later)~

Nick Sturniolo POV

I yawned deeply as I checked the time on my phone. My eyes widened once my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the screen and saw the digits reading off 1:07 AM. Chris and I never left the couch since mom called us, and that was hours ago. All of a sudden, I heard a click from the door lock. I sat up abruptly, shaking Chris awake.  Chris groggily opened his eyes and lifted his head just in time to see mom wheel Matt in. We both stood up quickly and rushed over to our brother. He's out cold right now. This time, he's got on a cast.
"How was it?" I whispered.
"The surgery went well, and he'll get the cast off in about six more weeks," mom informed us with a soft smile. "He was really brave thanks to you two."
"What can I say? He's our brother," Chris returned genuinely. "We've always got each other's backs."

~Another Time Skip (After the cast is off)~

3rd Person POV

Matt, Chris, and Nick entered Target to grab a few things for their next video. At this point in time, Matt's already gotten his cast off. He's really glad to be able to walk around on both feet freely, but Nick and Chris are still a little cautious when he does anything remotely reckless. And to be frank, it's really getting on Matt's nerves. Right now, the boys are just messing around in the aisles as they search for the items they're wanting to purchase. Matt and Chris are doubled over themselves after they witnessed another one of Nick's hilarious outbursts over seeing a tele tubby stuffed animal. He had just got done saying how it's the ugliest thing that's ever been created. It's much more funny when the joke isn't explained. Anyway, Matt was n't paying attention to where he was going and ended up tripping backwards on the corner of one of the toy aisles. That's when the laughter immediately stopped. Matt grimaced slightly before standing up again to examine the damage. Chris and Nick went all parental mode on him and checked to make sure he wasn't badly injured. Rolling his eyes, Matt pushed his brothers away.
"Guys, it's just a scrape," he shook his head. "I'll live."
"Well, we can never be too sure after what happened the last time," Nick sighed.
"Yeah, we're just looking out for you, man," Chris clapped him on the back.
"I know," Matt grinned.