Into the Sunset

Chapter 19

The next few weeks at the hospital were spent in rehab. Grayson did a lot of work on his computer from his bed, which gave Lawra and me a few hours of free time, which we put into shopping and sightseeing. I couldn't help but get Grayson a lot of things since I realized how much I loved him, I couldn't help but spoil him.
While sipping coffee at one of the malls, it hit me that tomorrow will mark the day we met. I can't believe that it's already been a year. I wanted to get Grayson something special, so I get him simple and elegant white gold cufflinks. Then I get him a biker teddy bear with a helmet and glasses wearing a Harley T-shirt. It was too cute. Before it got wrapped, I put the cufflinks box between its paws.

I head back to the hospital. Grayson was napping, so I hide the gift in the closet for tomorrow and snuggle up to him. He opens his eyes, smiles at me, hugs me, and goes back to sleep. I wake up when I feel Grayson's fingers in my hair. I snuggle closer and close my eyes again.
- I want to stay like this forever, I say.
I can feel his smile while he kisses the top of my head.
Lawra and John come by in the evening with a bag of food. We all have dinner, and then we headed back to Grayson's.
The next morning, I was up and ready by 8. Lawra was still asleep, so I leave her a note saying that I had already gone to the hospital. I stop by a flower shop and buy Grayson a nice bouquet. While it is being wrapped, I pick up a card and write on it:

My Darling,
On this day one year ago, we met, and since then, you have changed my whole life. Thank you for always being there and for loving me unconditionally.

I add 3 XXX since I wanted to tell him face-to-face that I was madly in love with him. I was pretty nervous.
I walk into Grayson's room and see a big happy smile on his face while a guy who had his back to me is telling him something.
- Hey, babygirl, you're here. Wow, beautiful flowers. Thanks, my love
- Good morning, baby, I say while hugging and kissing him.
- I missed you.
Then he looks at me and says:
- babe I'd like you to meet Derek, my brother. Derek, this is Yaz, my babygirl.
I turn around and look into his sweet, handsome face.
- It's nice to finally meet you in person, Derek. I've heard so much about you that I feel I already know you. I'm sorry I didn't get to see you the last time you came. I hope the emergency you had to fly back for was resolved.
He gives me a hug, then smiles and says,
- Nice to meet you too, and thanks for taking care of my brother.
He says it with tears in his eyes, and I blush. I didn't know what to say. Thank God, Grayson laughs and says:
- Come on, you guys, it's all good.
- I'm sorry, bro, I got emotional, and to answer your question, Yaz, yes, it was resolved. Thank God.
- So Derek How long are you staying for?
He looks at the both of us and says:
- To be honest, after what happened to you, brother, it got me thinking that life is too short, and me being a workaholic, I look back at the past few years and realize that all I did was work and nothing else. I'm lonely; I have no family to come back to. I miss having you and my friends you know? I'm just tired, so I decided to move back... There I said it.
I look at Grayson, then back at Derek. It felt kind of awkward; I thought this conversation should have happened in private between them, so I start to back up, but Grayson grabs my wrist, which makes Derek get out of his funk and says:
- Oh, I'm sorry, Yaz. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just don't mind talking in front of you, though we just met.
- I understand. I just thought you might need some privacy or something.
- Oh no, no, all good.
- Well, I can't be happier than to have my brother close to me. Wait, you're coming back to California, right?
- yup
- The house is big, so you can stay till you decide what you want to do. I even have an empty office you can use; just tell John what you need and he'll hook you up. What do you think, babe?
- Welcome back to the family, Derek. I say.
The happy look on Grayson's face was priceless. You can tell those two are as thick as thieves.
Derek inhales, then slowly exhales, and smiles one of those "Thank God, a big weight is off my shoulders" kind of smiles.
We hear a knock, and the truck driver pokes his head in. introductions were made, then I saw him bending at the waist and speaking in Korean. I decide then to make myself busy and to put the flowers in a vase and hide the card with the gift in the closet for later. After a long conversation, the truck driver takes his leave as Jasson walks in. When he sees Derek, he kind of stops in his tracks and looks at Grayson, then lowers his head as his tears start flowing.
- Hi Jaysson, I say, How are you today?
- better, thanks Yaz
- So are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to come and say hi? Graysson says
Jaysson's eyes shoot up and get brighter in a flash. He walks over to Grayson's bed and just stands there with his head down. It was the first time he saw Grayson after he woke up.
Derek and I both give Grayson the "cut him some slack" look.
Graysson smiles and points to a chair next to his bed for him to sit on.
- I missed you, buddy. Graysson says
Jaysson starts apologizing and tells him again what happened that night. This conversation was not for me, so I decide to go grab coffee and snacks for everyone. Lawra and John were just walking through the hospital main door, so we all headed to the cafeteria, and I filled them in on what had happened so far.
From then on, Derek and Jayson were there to help Grayson with rehab and to give me some time off, as they put it. We all get into this routine where I leave in the morning after spending the night at the hospital; since I couldn't sleep alone at home. I'd run errands, grab lunch for everyone, then in the afternoon I'd go back to Grayson's house for a few hours, then head back to the hospital with a home-cooked meal for dinner.
One night after everyone left, we sat there hugging while talking, and just like that, tears started rolling down my face. I just couldn't stop crying.
- Hey, what's wrong, baby?
- I...I, and I start crying harder.
Grayson holds me tighter and says:
- Let it all out; I got you.
He caresses my back and kisses the top of my head from time to time. I was so tired that I fell asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night to find Grayson still awake.
- Hi baby
- Hi
- Feeling better?
- Yeah
I give him a big hug and say,
- I'll be right back; I need to use the bathroom.
On the way back, I grab the gift I got him and say:
- I wanted to give you this a few days ago on our 1st anniversary, but things got hectic, so happy belated anniversary, baby.
He takes the bag from me, pulls out the bear, and starts laughing as he finds it really cute.
- Read the card at the end, please.
- OK.
He opens the box and takes out the cufflinks.
- I love them, babe, thanks.
He taps the bed for me to sit next to him so we can cuddle and says:
- Can I read the card now?
I nod my head; he opens it, reads it, and then looks at me with tears in his eyes.
- I love you, I say. I am madly in love with you.
- I love you too, Yaz; you don't know how much you mean to me.
We just started kissing. God, I missed his kisses and just miss him, period.
- Want to tell me why you were crying, babe?
I start playing with the hem of his t-shirt as I lower my head. He puts a finger under my chin and says:
- Look at me, sweetheart.
I look up, and he says:
- Talk to me, baby, please. Tell me what's wrong.
With tears in my eyes, I say:
- I'm sorry, Grayson. Im just... I have aftershocks, and usually when I know everything is OK, I just... Grayson You died on the operation table, and the doctor said that a miracle happened, they got you back, and that St. Charbel guided his hands because he said you were not supposed to make it.
I looked up into his eyes, then said:
- I was so scared of losing you that I don't think my heart could've taken it. I'm sorry. I know you're here now and all, but I was so scared. That's when I realized that I love you with all my heart. I can't even sleep alone at home because you're not there in case anything happens to you. I...
I start crying again, and he hugs me tight. A few minutes later, he says:
- Babe I'm sorry I scared you. I have to tell you something, though. The doctor told me what happened and how you made them put the bracelet on my wrist and the oil on my forhead, and how you told him St. Charbel would guide his hands. Do you know that I saw him? Yeah, I saw St. Charbel, and he told me I was going to be OK.
I look into his eyes with a big, teary smile on my face. I knew he would be there for him because Grayson is a loving, caring, tender, honest, and generous guy.
- I love you, Yaz. I fell in love with you the first day I saw you, but I was scared that you didn't feel the same.
- Oh Grayson I love you too; I can't imagine my life without you.
We kiss for a while and go back to sleep.