One day in Brooklyn

CHAPTER 7

As I lay in this hospital room my mind keeps floating back to my Cello. The last thing I remember is setting it down to pickup that little girl. Someone may have picked it up for me but in truth I have no clue where it is. The doctors come in and look at me with grief in their eyes. 

"Where is my Cello?" I croak trying to sound threatening but it doesn’t come out right. 

"We gave it to a Mr. Sanchez, said he would watch It." the shorter overweight doctor says. 

"Vito kid, we got some news." the taller, balding one says looking down unable to meet my eyes. 

"You were asleep and we ran some of the radiation. Now remember we are new with this and you have a terrible case. Rarest I've seen." The shorter one says and I can’t help but think they are stalling. 

"WHAT?" I yell and my voice breaks 

"It is spreading; it is now in the lymph nodes in your stomach. Radiation will help, but there is no way of knowing what will happen next." The tall one says his gaze turning sympathetic.

Hot tears stream down my face. I know I am only fourteen and others would scoff at me calling myself a man. Though, my father taught me that part of being a man is showing your emotions. They don't make you weak. It is mistaken because covering them is what really causes the damage. So I consider myself closer to being the true man my Father was when I cry. Now, I don’t cry often, but when it is necessary, yes.

One round of radiation and my insides feel like they will explode. I am only doing this for the music. It's only the music keeping me here.  

"Leave." I say barely audible but they hang their heads almost in shame and walk through the blue sheet that separates me from the next patient. I sit in my misery and contemplate what I am going to do with the rest of my life. After about four hours of thinking about my life a shadow comes to the other side of the curtain. I can tell it is a woman by her composure and flowing long hair.

She seems to stop before going in and when she does her face is a relief. "Vito," She says halfway running to my side and pulling me into a huge hug. "I love you so much baby boy." she says with tears in her eyes. 

"I love you to, Mother." I say trying to keep it together so I won't start her torrent of tears.  

"Double shift has been killing me, there is no time at all and I decided when I heard about the most recent episode I was taking a day off. I'm working so hard Vito. The money is little but we will make do." she says nodding and squeezing my hand that is plugged to an IV. I notice her hair. Grey tints the dark roots. Her face is bony and wrinkles line her face. She used to look so young, happy.

I guess that is what happens when God takes your kid boy away from you. She looks at me with a mournful stare as if I am already gone. I can see it in her eyes she knows it will happen too."Mother, when was the last time you ate?" I ask sincerely my voice dropping 

"That doesn't matter." she says looking to the ground. 

"Mother. Tell me." I say with a serious glare. Tightening my grip on her wrists. I might have little strength but I will always have enough to protect my mother.  

"Three days." she murmurs and I barely hear.  

"Take this," I say sighing in anger about her trying to hide the truth feeling around for the gelatin I was given but never ate. At first she denies it but I shove it at her and she takes it giving me a grateful smile. It isn’t the same smile I have seen so many times, it is sad and cold. It isn't my Mother standing here beside me. It is a shell of her being. She eats the sticky, wobbly substance called food quickly. With a short thank you. 

"Vito, look at me." she says and when I do the charade is over. She had her eyes covered in a fake happy look but now they are truly showing. Cold and emotionless vaults. They stole her familiar glow and are locking it inside. 

"What Mother?" I ask concerned 

"You can't leave me. Not like your Father you have to stay with me son, you can't leave me alone." She says in a panicky tone 

"Never, Mamma." I say taking her fragile bony hand in mine and kiss it, a soft peck. 

"Vito, I have to go back to work but I am sending your sister here to visit. She has been dying worrying over you." Mother says kissing my forehead and leaving me alone in the sheet room.