Nicolas Winters is now thirty years old and has been cancer free for over twenty years. He has since finished school and a successful writer of children's books while doing photography on the side to keep busy.
His favorite is here once again as Chr...
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It has been nice talking to Jack and texting my parents during the chemo. I know Nicolas needs his rest and have been very glad he isn't fighting it but sleeping on and off. The nurse has popped in a few times to make sure vitals have been stable and that we don't need anything but I don't think Nicolas has noticed which is understandable with everything he is going through since he normally responds.
A relief floods through me and even from the looks Jack too when Dr. Moore comes in and informs us this first round is done. Part of me knows this is the hardest round the very start but I also know that from listening to so many people no round of chemo is ever easy. That it could just take more out of you with each round. So I still worry for all the other rounds he still has yet to have and need for the future coming since we are not sure how long this will be needed. I am thankful that they are treating it aggressively as long as Nicolas can tolerate it all which means multiple rounds of this weekly.
"Eve is asking what you may like for lunch?" Jack looks over to me across from Nicolas.
"I am okay with anything, I am not picky. I will repay her."
"No you will not either. We are all in this together and you have paid for some of our meals too. You are family now Natalie and one thing we do is take care of our family." Jack tells me and I nod with a smile.
"Thank you."
A knock sounds on the door and Jack let's the person in.
"Housekeeping is here to clean." Jack tells me before taking his chair again.
Just the normal everyday thing. They always keeps rooms clean here but it is even more with Nicolas having cancer and going through treatments. If he were to get sick it would be a major set back or could become critical for him due to his immune system being so weakened by the cancer and chemo treatments that has started.
My phone pings and I pay no mind to the hospital employee. Chrissy is checking in to see how the chemo treatment went today.
A hand grips my shoulder and I look up to see a man. The housekeeping employee. Not just any man though, it is a face I'd never forget and he looks like he hadn't aged a day after all these years.
"I thought it was you." His voice is gruff.
"Please remove your hand." I surprise myself when my voice comes out soft and professional.
"Don't be like that sweetheart."
"What's this about? The young lady asked for you to remove your hand." Jack stands from his chair quickly.
"Who are you?" The man that caused the wreck asked.
I didn't even know he officially got released from prison. My hands start to shake as that night comes rushing back to me tenfold. The screams that belonged to Chrissy and myself. The car spinning in circles while my foot on the break does nothing to stop the car from the speed of the impact. The horrendous crunching sound of metal hitting metal, making glass shatter around us.
"I may have wanted to make amends, no reason to get defensive." The man speaking brings me back to the present.
Jack walks over and stands in front of me to block me from him. Jack's hand moves behind him to hold my arm. Being shorter than Jack makes it easy for me to hide behind his back and I try to just become invisible, something I thought I would never do but to much is hitting me mentally and I've already became weak with so much on my mind.
Jack and the man talk but Jack more less commands answers. Though it becomes pointless as the man admits he isn't actually clean and never will be from what he was doing to cause the wreck.
"So what is the point in making yourself be known? It obviously is not for making amends." Jack huffs.
"I wanted to see if the little thing remembers, guess the wreck didn't fuck her up to bad. Not like I see any physical damage." His voice continues.
"Get out of this room. Get out now. You are no longer welcome to come in here to clean and I will personally see to it that another housekeeper comes in here, not you." Jack's voice gets darker than I ever heard before.
A beep comes over by Nicolas's bed and I turn my head.
Before I even look at Nicolas I hear a nurse ask through the com 'if everything is okay'.
"No it is not okay. We may need security to get this housekeeper out of my room since he isn't listening to my father and right at harassing my wife." Nicolas voice even though tired is dark with an edge.
In no time at all, security is in the room and dragging the hateful man away. Nurses came in and attempted to speak with him first while security was getting here but that seemed to infuriated the man to the point he starts spewing profanities towards me and trash talking how he wouldn't change a thing, which ends up to him blindingly admitting all the junk he is doing that could land him back in jail.
Finally, he is out of the room and I break down into tears. Nicolas is sitting up in the bed and I have stood close enough he is able to grab my arm and I go to him when I feel his finger tug my sleeve lightly. Not wanting him to use more strength then need be, I sit on his bed and he wraps his arms around me where I bury my face into his side.
I know I shouldn't let him get to me but it does. Maybe if it had been any other time not with this happening I may have been strong but I just can't right now. It is obvious he needs help but I can't be the one to help him.
"Nice save with saying your wife though." Jack talks with Nicolas and I catch that part.
"Well it's not a lie." Nicolas mumbles.
Jack doesn't even catch it with what Nicolas said.
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