Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 11 - An Unexpected Visit

()()() 4 Days Later ()()()

I woke up early due to the pains in my stomach. Gosh, I wasn't feeling very well at all. I threw up a few times, before rolling over. I hate this. I hate this more than anything.

Just one more month, I told myself. One more month and this is all over.

"Morning Cooper, Breakfast is here."

I rolled over to face Nurse Genella.

"I'm not hungry" I said.

"I know that."

"I'm not eating."

"Oh yes you are."

I sighed and rolled over. Nurse Genella moved the bed up and pulled the table over to me.

"My stomach hurts. Please. I really don't want it."

Nurse Genella sighed. "We have this same argument every single meal time. Wouldn't it be faster if you just ate it?"

"Please, just this time, please. I'll eat every other time, I just, I'm feeling absolutely horrible."

Nurse Genella dipped the spoon into the cereal. "Come on, food time."

I groaned, but ate a few spoonfuls. I finished the bowl, much to my dismay. But I didn't throw it straight back up, So I guess that was good.

"See? All that fuss." Nurse Genella said, packing her stuff up.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." I grumbled. I had a right to be cranky in my opinion. I was sick enough to get away with it.

Nurse Genella sighed. "I'll be back soon."

"See you then."

I moved the bed back down and curled up against the blankets. My head was pounding and my stomach was swirling. Just feeling overall horrible.

"Cooper? Oh god, Cooper?"

I turned to face the door. My eyes went wide. "Uncle Randy?"

Uncle Randy's face was one of shock, and horror.

"Oh my god, Cooper. I can't...I can't believe it."

"Well, I can't believe you're here. It's been years since I've seen you."

Uncle Randy looked away in guilt. "I wanted to be there. I always wanted to be there for you. But after the whole affair with the lottery ticket, your father cut me off. He forbid me from going anywhere near you or Harper."

Harper was my sister's name.

"He never told me anything. I always told him that he could come to me. He could come to me about anything. That I could help him. But he pushed me away. From him, and you. That's the reason I moved away. Because I knew that if I stayed, I wouldn't be able to stay away from you. And then I got that phone call last week. I mean, He never told me you were sick. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I WOULDN'T believe it. And the fact that Dan is...gone. And that he didn't trust me..."

Uncle Randy collapsed on the chair and a tear ran down his face. "Cooper...I'm so sorry for not being there for you. I will make it up to you, I promise."

"Well, you've got until Christmas." I said with a shrug.

Another tear ran down his cheek. "Just...the shock of it. I didn't know. I didn't know what to expect when I arrived. I mean, last time I saw you, you were the perfect example of healthy. You were happy, and so was Harper, and...now look at you!"

I felt an urge and I had to grab the sick bag from beside my bed.

"Listen, Uncle Randy (Vomit), maybe today isn't a good (vomit) time, so would it be okay if you came back (vomit) when I'm feeling a little better? (vomit)."

Uncle Randy patted my back as I threw up. "I'm not leaving you, Coop. Not now."

I sighed. Was it really that bad that I didn't want him here? I mean, sure, he wanted to be here for me, but could he really expect that after 5 years he would just show up and we'd be best buds? Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. I didn't know anything about him!

"So, tell me, how's the treatment going?" He asked. He looked very worried about me.

"Fine, I guess. I feel like crap all day every day, and I've only got a few months before I kick the bucket, but hey, apparently the tumors in my head are shrinking, so yeah." I said.

Uncle Randy nodded. He looked at me like I was made of glass. Like I could break at any moment. I hated being looked at like that.

"But yeah, I'm fine." I said to try and change the mood.

"Well, that's good."

"Listen, Uncle Randy, I appreciate your visit, but I'm really not feeling that great, so is it alright if you come back later?" I asked hopefully.

Uncle Randy looked hurt. "Yeah, sure, okay. I'll leave if you want me to."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Uncle Randy stood up and grabbed his bag.

"Oh, I got this for you." he said, handing me a teddy bear.

"Thanks" I said awkwardly.

Uncle Randy nodded, before leaving the room. I sighed. I was relieved that he was gone, to be honest. I curled up and looked at the poster on my wall. I liked that visit a lot more than this one. I mean, Rhett and Link didn't talk about my illness, or treatment. We spent time talking about cheese sandwiches. They made me laugh. Was it bad to say I liked them more?

"What was that about?"

I turned to face Nurse Genella. "Why'd you kick your uncle out of your room?"

"I didn't want to speak to him." I said plainly.

"Yeah, no kidding. Honey, he flew over from London to see you."

"He lives in London?" I asked, astounded.

"Lived. He's moving back. To take care of you."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"But...what if I don't want to live with him?"

"Why not?"

"He just disappeared! I don't know him! He's practically a stranger!" I said.

Nurse Genella sighed. "Honey, just give him some time. He cares about you. A lot. So much so that he's moving over from London."

"I don't have any time! I'm going to be dead in 10 months!"

Nurse Genella went very quiet after that. People don't like talking about my death. I've figured that out. It makes them uncomfortable.

"I can't help you sweetie. You'll have to talk to a social worker."

"Okay." I said.

Nurse Genella took my vitals, then left. I curled up and tried to fall asleep.