Once Upon A Dream (Kris Bryant)

41- By Your Side

Jayden

"Hello Miss Daniels, how are you feeling today?"

"A little bit better."

"On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?"

"Like a five probably."

"Okay. And are you experiencing any problems? A headache, muscle cramps, nausea, anything like that?"

"A little bit of a headache but nothing else."

"Alright. We're going to add some ibuprofen to your iv and get you fixed up."

"Thank you doctor."

After another run of tests and another dose of medication they were done with me until lunch time. I sip on my juice box and watch tv until I needed to do something.

Eventually Kris comes in and I start to pout.

"I thought I told you to home" I frown. I've been here for a week and he hasn't slept on a real bed because he's either been here or in the waiting room if they're doing something to me.

"I thought I told you that I'm not leaving you" he smiles sitting down. He sets a brown bag on my lap and sits in the chair next to me. He kicks his long legs onto the bed making me giggle. "Open it" he says.

Inside was a bag of sour patch kids and a cup of hot chocolate. And a hair brush.

"Oh, that's for me" he says taking the brush out of my hands.

"You don't use a brush" I remember.

"It's not for me, it's for you" he claims.

"Me" I ask.

"Yeah. I know you won't admit it, but it hurts when you brush your hair but you love it so much you won't cut it, so I'm gonna brush it for you" he explains.

"Kris, I can't let you-" I start.

"I don't want to hear I. Drink your hot coco and eat your sour patch kids and let me do your hair" he demands. I wanted to be mad but I had candy and hot chocolate and he was going to brush my hair so I wasn't going to complain.

I turn to the side and let my legs hang off the side of the bed. I eat my sour patch kids and he lightly combs through my hair.

"Are you really going to stay here for the next three weeks" I ask.

"Are you are teally trying to get rid of me" he asks.

"I'm trying to get rid of your anchor" I defend.

"You're not a anchor" he argues.

"I'm not helping you get better either."

"Hey. Look at me" he demands. I couldn't really move so he walks around the other side of the bed. She bends down and rests her hands on my knees. I look out at him and try my best not to cry. "Every day I get to be beside you, be learning from you and listen to you. I am getting better because I'm with you" he insists.

"I can't give you what you need. You leave for training camp next month and you sitting in a hospital all day isn't helping me or you or the team" I insist.

"The team? This was never about the team. You are bigger than the game of baseball. The only woman I have ever fell in love with. And I know you would never think of yourself above anything but on my list you're above everything. I love that you're worried about me being ready for the next season, but if something was to happen to you there is no next season. I can work out at spring training, that's what we're there for. But right here, right now, you are all that matters" he explains.

Even though it hurt I let a tear fall. For this was the love I always dreamed of having. But this one is better because anyone can love someone when its easy, but fewer people can love someone when it's hard. And it doesn't get much more difficult than this.

"I don't deserve you" I sniffle.

"You deserve everything I can give you and more" he claims.

"I really want to kiss you right now" I admit.

"Yeah, this no contact thing is harder than I expected" he shrugs.

"I'm so-" I start.

"Please stop apologizing. This isn't your fault" he insists.

"That doesn't mean I don't feel bad about it" I defend.

"Doesn't mean you should apologize. It just means you got to fight that much harder" he says and I smile.

"You're my strength" I insist.

He finished brushing my hair and I finish off my treats. I throw the bag away and we watch some tv. My hand set on the side of the bed and kris picks it up. He wasn't really supposed to but it didn't hurt and I was cold. He holds my hand softly but his touch was enough to make my whole body was warm.

"Are you scared" he asks and I sigh.

"A little. Mostly disappointed, but I'm scared" I admit.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you" he says and I turn to him.

"You can't think like that" I insist.

"Sometimes its all I can think about. It's like a nightmare and if you wake me up I just know as soon as I go back to bed it'll be the same damn nightmare. No matter how many times I tell myself this is real it feel likes it's not. Never would have I thought about having to walk this earth without you by my side. And for a little bit that was my reality, not some dream state.

I almost lost you Jay, you almost died. That mortifies me. I just keep looking at you, and every time I do I thank god I can still look at you. And although I can't touch you I can still feel you. I can feel your heart beating with mine. I cannot stand the thought of losing you. Not again" he explains.

"Is that why you don't want to leave. Because you're scared to leave and I won't be here when you come back" I ask.

"Yeah" he admits.

"I'm not going anywhere" I try.

"That's not up to you" he insists. "They're keeping you here for a reason. If they treated you and released you I would be ecstatic to be at home or on tour with you. But we're still here because you're still sick, and I won't give up until you're better again" he argues.

"Remember when I told you about when I found out how Anthony was sick and it was the hardest time of my life" I ask.

"Yeah. You said you learned the most important lesson life has to teach us" he remembers.

"And what was that" I ask.

"That love... it's stronger than anything" he says.

"Exactly. And it's true, I know for a fact I wouldn't be this well for if it wasn't for the love you or my family has showed me. No matter where you are, wether it's a million miles away or right next to me, your love will be what's keeping me going. You can go home, I won't be upset and I'm not going to die" I insist.

"Baby, I am home" he says tightening his grip on my hand. I smile big at him as he turns back to the tv. How lucky am I?