SPINE [Completed]

CHAPTER 2

It was exactly 24 hours after the Red Hawks had won. But no one was in the mood to celebrate. The entire Red Hawks team spent the night at the hospital waiting for the news from the doctor. Just then, a very familiar face walked through the hospital doors. "Taylor! You're here. Thank goodness you're here." James's mom ran over to hug Taylor Brookes, James's girlfriend since freshman year. "How is he? Is he okay?" Mrs. Turner looked over at the rest of the team. She ushered Taylor closer to her. "We don't know what's wrong yet...but we think it's what his father had. Leukemia." In sheer shock, Taylor began to cry. Her golden hazel eyes started to drown in her own tears. "But...but, he's going to be okay, right? He'll be okay?" Mrs. Turner hugged Taylor tightly. Taylor had ran over here from her soccer game. Just like James, Taylor had received a D1 scholarship to play at UConn. Their plan was to go to school together with their scholarships and start to take care of their families. They had grown up together. Never one without the other, James and Taylor watched each other's backs and next to their own parents, were each other's biggest fans. Taylor had lost her mother to a car accident when she was very little so they found peace in their own brokenness and since high school started, they were inseparable. "How was your game Taylor? Did it go well?" Mrs. Turner tried desperately to change the subject. Taylor wiped away some tears and stood upright. "Yeah, we won. We're moving into the regional tournament next week." Within her fog of emotions filled with thick sadness and utter grief, Mrs. Turner found comfort in Taylor's smile and smiled back. "You know James as well as I do, Taylor. He'll fight through this. I know he will." Sam and Quincy came over to hug Taylor. "Hey T. We're here for both of you. JT is strong you know that, right? Let's just wait it out. The doctors said they'll come back to us soon." Sam said as he looked back at his teammates. They were all still in their uniforms. None of them had gone home to celebrate. Even coach Daniels left the championship ceremony and postponed it to a later date.

After a few more minutes, the doctors finally came out to the waiting room to greet all of the people waiting for James. "Mrs. Turner? Can I speak with you in private for a moment?" "With no disrespect doc, but, I know James only has his mom. But we're his family too. I think we all deserve to hear what's wrong." Quincy said as he stood up. He went over and put his arms around Mrs. Turner. The rest of the team stood up. "Well then, we ran some tests. And we found out that James has leukemia." There was no response from anybody. Not a single sound. A gesture. Nothing. Everyone dropped dead silent. "Is he going to make it?" Sam asked. "Yes. But, he needs a bone marrow transplant and he needs a perfect match for him. I take it that all of you would be willing to run some tests to see who might be a match, am I right?" Everyone nodded. "Is he awake?" Taylor asked walking over to the doctor. "He'll be up shortly. You can come in now if you would like. We can start the testing tomorrow. Looks like all of you need some rest and a shower." Taylor and Mrs. Turner started walking with the doctor to James. "Hey T, make sure you let us all know what's up, okay? We'll be back tomorrow." Sam said. Taylor nodded and the rest of his teammates gave Taylor and James's mom a hug. Coach Daniels was the last to say goodbye. "I want you to know that James has taught me so much over the years. I wish you all the best and I know he'll come back stronger." Mrs. Turner smiled and gave him a hug.

James opened his eyes to see the two most important women in his life by his side. Still feeling very weak and out of it, he slowly tried to get up. "James, no. Just rest, okay? I'll get you anything you need, you know this." Taylor said as she caressed his head in her hand. "How was your game?" James asked. His voice was very soft spoken and scratchy. "It was good, we're moving onto regionals next week. Heard you hit a pretty crazy shot last night." Taylor responded smiling. It was something about her. There was a glow about the way she carried herself. An energy that came off of her skin created from her heart that just made people want to be around her and never want to leave. James felt it every single day of their childhood and it grew and grew as the years went by. "Hi sweetheart, how's my baby boy?" James's mom came over and gave him a kiss. James smiled back again. Despite the pain and the circumstances, James was still beaming. "I'll leave you two to catch up. I need to go to talk to the doctors and nurses to figure out how our next move." James's mom got up, blew a kiss to James, and closed the door behind her.

"So, did the doctors tell you what's wrong with you?" Taylor asked. She wanted to lay down next to him so badly. She never saw him so broken...so weak...so vulnerable. James nodded.He peered over back at her and then turned his head. "Taylor." The only time she ever called her by her full name was when he grew serious and worried."Y-yeah...?" Taylor's voice shook mightily. "I'm scared. I know exactly what happened to my dad. And I don't want the same thing to happen to me." In that moment, James let out cries that had been long bottled up since the day he lost his dad. Sounds that echoed pure sorrow and pain...that cracked Taylor's heart and pierced through her mind and soul. Biting her lip and trying her best not to reciprocate the same behaviors and emotions, the ones chained away since her mom passed away, Taylor brought her hands near his heart. She laid down next to him. "I will not let that happen. You listening to me? As I long as I am here,I am not going to let that happen. Neither will your mom. Or my dad. Or your boys. We are here for you." James turned over to face Taylor. "Hey T...you know I might lose all of this hair too, right?" Taylor let out a slight giggle. "Yes,my favorite thing about you. I might have to make it into a wig and keep it."James stared. "You're just weird." Taylor leaned in and pressed her lips on his. All of a sudden, within the hospital they first met when James's dad had passed away, now became the vessel of nostalgic memories and new beginnings of conquering and renewing.