One day in Brooklyn

Chapter 18

When I wake up I lay in bed for a second. I finally decide to get up and when I do the pain comes. Just like before radiation, but worse. I clutch my stomach and fall to my knees. It feels like a thousand needles being pushed into my abdomen. The tumors go for the double strike. I start choking and crawl into the bathroom trying but failing to stand up I go to the toilet. I lean my head over the side and dry heave. I sit on the floor tears are rolling down my cheeks from the pain. I am able to stand up but when I do I stagger and lurch in all directions. I grab the counter for support. My knuckles turn white as I hold on with my death grip.

I hold onto the wall for support as I take small steps towards the living room with my jelly legs. I fall onto the couch and shift around finding the position that isn't as uncomfortable. How could it get this bad in one day? I know one thing for sure though, tumors and cancer are hell. My head hurts so bad, it feels like I am strapped to the front of a steam engine at full speed. I grab my temple groaning. I hear the door unlock and look that direction.

Adrian turns closing the door saying "Vito I brought you sick people food!" She hasn't noticed me yet. When she starts walking to the kitchen she looks into the living room and directly at me. "Oh god why?" She says running my way and stopping with her hands reaching towards me. She stops unsure of what to do.

My head hurts so bad I wiggle and writhe trying to make it stop. I know it won’t. I reach up to grab my hair in some attempt at causing more pain to distract me from the other pain. I didn't have enough radiation to make my hair fall out. Thank goodness.

Adrian reaches forward pulling my hands to my sides. Then she gets onto the couch and sits on my chest, careful to avoid my abdomen. She looks at me with eyes of worry and pain.

"Stop Vito stop." She says calmly her voice makes me want to relax and calm down too "Don't hurt yourself anymore. I know it hurts but it will be gone in a second. Just calm down, please? Take a breath just focus on one thing." She soothes me

I try to talk but it just comes out a groan and a grunt full of agonizing pain.

"Shhh," She hushes getting off of me and going back to the floor. She goes and fills a glass with water. Slowly I make my muscles relax and unclench. The pain leaves slowly but eventually I am just lying on the couch panting. My stomach grumbles in protest to the dry heaving I just experienced. Adrian takes note to the grumbling then she goes into the kitchen. She is gone for a little bit but when she comes back she is holding a small bowl of chicken broth.

"Eat," she says blowing off a spoon full and handing it to me. I don't take it at first because I refuse to eat. "Vito, you need something in your system." She says all playful gone. Her eyes are stone cold like a mother's with a sick child.

"Fine," I croak quietly taking her spoon. I dump the liquid into my mouth. It rolls down my throat and feel so good. She smiles because I know she can see my eyes light a little more with the fuel that the broth gives me. I take a few more scoops but then I am sucked into deep sleep. No dreams only darkness.

I wake up and I lay in silence for a little. I don't have rehearsal for the rest of the week until Saturday which is our concert. I try to go back to sleep but I can't. Adrian is sitting in the chair across from me. She is sleeping and smiling. She looks so happy. Suddenly I start gagging waking her up and I kick myself for that. She rushes to my side with a miniature trash can. I vomit up this drippy liquid that I am guessing is the broth.

I dry heave for a while and Adrian so nicely holds the trash can for me. She is looking away though, I don't blame her. I know I probably look disgusting. I lay back on the couch and she puts the trash can down. She reaches her hand to my forehead and pulls it away as if I burnt her "Vito, you are burning." she mutters walking to the bathroom. I hear the sink turn on and off quickly. She comes in pressing a cold cloth to my face. Extra water drips into my eyes but I don't mind it.

I let out a loud smile and then I grab my temples in immaculate pain. I groan and writhe and she drops her hand from my forehead. She rushes to the light and turns it off then she yanks the curtains closed. Light aggravates my eyes when I have a migraine this bad. I lean into the couch and burry my face into it I groan loudly and tears spring out of my eyes wetting the couch cushion. I sob into the couch and rack my head trying to do anything to make it stop.

"Vito, shh," She coos rubbing circles on my back. "Look at me." I flip over and the tears drip into my mouth. I taste the salty water. I look at her through blurry eyes full of tears. "Calm Down. We did this earlier. Relax yourself and don't freak out please?" She says kissing my head lightly in a sister way. I try to take a breath but it hurts so much. My lungs ache. I start freaking out, too late to calm down. I can't breathe. I start wheezing with every breath and Adrian's eyes go wide. She pulls me into a sitting position.

"Cover your mouth and nose with your hands." She demands so I do when I do she shoves my head in between my legs. "Breathe like that." She says her voice like an army general's.

My breathing starts to regulate and the wheezing slowly stops. She looks at me and I see that she isn't breathing. I sit up and say "Breathe, Adrian." She is pulled out of a trance and takes a deep breath. I can see it is full of relief as are her eyes.

We sit in silence for a little then she pushes my head back down onto the pillow telling me to sleep. I drift of quickly, but what a surprise there?