Pill Popper {Book One}

Pill Popper { Sixteen }

{Chapter Sixteen}

Zane

      IT HAD BEEN two days since Sam was admitted to the hospital. She had not woken up yet. However, she did move her thumb the slightest bit the first night. The doctors said that it was a good sign, but didn't find it promising enough to believe she would be waking up anytime soon.

      I had not left her side. The first night, my mom came down to sit with me. She did stay the entire night, only dozing off a few hours at a time because of how uncomfortable the chairs in the rooms were.

      "Gosh," she had whispered, so she didn't wake Mikey. "you would think that they would provide us with better chairs so we could rest."

      I only nodded.

      The next day, my mom had to leave to return to work and to make sure my younger brother, Jace, was on track with his schoolwork. She hinted that I should go with her. Telling me that I only needed to go home and shower or get some sleep, but I wouldn't budge. There was no way I was leaving Sam.

       The rest of the time it was just Mikey and I. Usually we would sit in silence, residing on either side of Sam's bed. If one slept the other would stay awake to watch her and make sure she was okay. It was a little routine he and I had become accustomed to for two days.

       Mikey practically never left her side. He would sit on the right side of Sam's bed, holding onto her hand, never letting go. When he slept, he would either slump deep into his chair, or rest his head right next to Sam's shoulder. He never moved. Not even to eat.

      "Mikey," I spoke up after a couple hours of silence. He looked up at me with tired eyes. "you haven't eaten in two days. Why don't you go to the cafeteria, walk around a little? Sitting in this room isn't good for you." I was one to talk. I had not left her side either. But while my mom was here, she did make me eat a little bit.

      He shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm not hungry."

      "I can get you something."

      "That's okay, Zane. I really can't eat right now."

      I didn't say anything. While I understand the pain he was in at the moment and food was the last thing on his mind, he needed to take care of himself. If not for him, he needed to do so for Sam. She wouldn't want him to waste away to nothing.

      I sighed. I couldn't imagine what Mikey must be feeling right now. I know how much it hurts, because Sam's my girlfriend and I love her and it is absolutely killing me to see her like this, but she is Mikey's sister. I couldn't even begin to fathom the pain he was in.

      Was family coming in? I mean, grandparents, aunts or uncles? Mikey shouldn't be facing this alone. He needed the support of his family. He and Sam needed to be surrounded by people who love them. No one could get through this alone. 

      "Hey, Mikey," I got his attention again. "when is your family coming by?"

      He looked up at me, face contorted with confusion. "What?"

      I paused for a moment. What did he mean by 'what'?

      "You know," I said. "aunts, uncles, cousins. Are any of them stopping by?"

      He looked at me for a short second, then he relaxed his facial features and leaned back in his chair, still having a hold of Sam's hand. "Oh." Mikey said quietly. "We don't have any."

      What? They don't have any family? Mikey must have saw the confused look on my face because he smiled sadly. "We... we don't have any other family besides our parents." He looked back down at Sam, still smiling. "I never met my grandparents on my dad's side. He didn't talk about them much. Only saying that they missed out on meeting Sam and me." Mikey let out a breath and rubbed the side of his face tiredly. "As for my mom's side, my grandma died when I was five, before Sam was born, and my grandpa is currently living it up on Honolulu. Or the Bahamas. I can't remember. I have not heard from him since my parents funeral."