One day in Brooklyn

Chapter 17

I wake up and go into the bathroom with a feeling like I need to relieve myself. As I walk I yank down my shirt but when I do it sits weird on me, it outlines an unfamiliar shape. I look at myself in the mirror. Overnight my neck has a large lump off to the side of it. I curiously yank off my shirt. My stomach has a large lump protruding from the rest of my abdomen. I know that my case has taken a turn for the worst. I quickly do what I came to do then I decide to take a shower. The hot water soothes my aches that I hadn't noticed until now. When I get out of the shower I dry off with a towel and put on some black dress pants, a white button down, and some black dress shoes.

I sprint out of the apartment not bothering, or having the appetite to stop for breakfast. I go to the hospital as quickly as I can. They were expecting me for an x-ray anyway. They usher me back as soon as they see me. I go into the x-ray and it goes by quickly. The nurse with the country accent brings me into the x-ray examination room where they look at you x-ray, and well examine it. I go in and the x-ray of my abdomen shows several large tumors sitting there. It is repulsing and makes me want to vomit immediately. I turn away for a second to gather myself then I turn back, knowing that I need to hear this information.

"Vito, what are we going to do with you?" Dr. Reed asks rhetorically with a small smile

I shrug sadly.

"The doses will need to be upped, I think we will do more frequent radiation and try a slightly different form." Dr. Reed says clasping his hands together.

"I'm sorry but you didn't tell me what is going on inside of me." I say plainly

"Well the tumors in your abdomen have enlarged and spread same with the ones in the lymph nodes in your neck." Dr. Reed says almost ashamed. A woman pokes her head in

"Dr. Reed we have a visitor for you, could you step out here?" She says sweetly, smiling at me as she closes the door. Dr. Reed excuses himself to go into the hallway.

I stand there looking in disgust at the x-rays of my insides. It is the most repulsing thing I have ever seen. I am starting to get lost in thought when the door opens. I turn around expecting Dr. Reed but I see Mrs. Cindy, Adrian's Mom. She motions for me to sit down in the chair beside the door. I do, confuse and she takes the seat beside me.

"I have always thought of you as a son, Vito." She says

"I have always thought of you as a mother." I say back

"Now, with that, I love you." She says looking in my eyes

"Love you too." I say and feel like we are playing follow the leader

"We are," She pauses wiping the tears at her eyes "We don’t have enough money to take care of the new plan of treatment, so, they are stopping it.”

"Oh," I say looking down

"No, listen to me. I have to provide for my blood before others. Vito, we aren't able to supply enough money even with your Mom's whole bank account and ours put together, we don't have enough to support the new radiation they are going to give to you." She says looking down as if she is embarrassed.

"I understand." I croak looking away from her. I don't want her to see that I am crying

"Boy, look at me." She says and I look at her. She is crying too, more like bawling "Thank you." She says pulling me into a huge hug.

"Why are you thanking me?" I ask confused

"For fighting, I know that this battle is something harder than your father, or my son Ben had to fight in World War Two. Thank you, for giving Adrian a friend and coming out of depression.” She says looking me in the eyes through her tears. Her face is red and puffy, swollen with sadness.