After thanking the nurse for her help, Brian silently slipped back into the room to occupy the only other available chair. They sat in silence with one another for hours, until the first signs of daylight began to crack through the small window on that bleak winter's morning. There was only the noise of the reassuring beeps from the machines and Ben's breathing, which would hitch painfully every now and then. It was Michael who was the first one to break the silence.
"So... What did the nurse say?" His voice was tinged with worry as he spoke quietly from the corner that he was sat in, on the other side of the bed to Brian. He had hidden his face in his hands, so Brian could not determine how he was coping. Regardless, what Brian had to say next would not be easy to hear.
"God Mikey, I don't even know how to say this..." Brian began, searching for the right words.
"Just say it." Mike urged, more forcefully this time.
Brian took that as a hint to come out and say it. "Well, the doctor says that it looks pretty bad," seeing no reaction from his friend he pressed on "they said that there is a possibility that he won't make it." Micheal remained still, very still. Brian started to get worried. "Y'know Mikey, there is still a possibilty..." Brian began as an attempt to comfort his friend. "Save it!" A low voice cut him off, anger beginning to show through his tone. Even now Micheal didn't move, but remained sitting in the chair, his hands shielding his face.
They remained still for a long time after that, with Brian not daring to speak again. He only noticed the time when the earlier dim light had become brighter and began to shine painfully into his eyes. He blinked dozily and gradually regained awareness of his surroundings. Michael, not quite the insomniac that Brian was, had fallen asleep sprawled across Ben's legs, clutching his husband's hand in his own.
Brian took a minute to look over the scene in front of him before turning his attention to the life support machines. The beeps were less frequent than before, and Ben's breathing was far more shallow. With Michael being asleep, Brian saw a window to go to the bathroom and get some breakfast from the pair of them. He had gotten up and strode across the room to leave when he looked back and noticed that the beeping of the heart moniter had stopped.
