Home Away From Home

Chapter 10

Nick had fallen asleep on the chair next to his mother. He opened his eyes and looked at his mother, pitiful for her and himself. Sally was asleep. Valerie came in with 2 cups of coffee. She smiled at Nick and walked up to him.

"How are you doing?" She asked as she gave him the coffee.

"Still trying to register this in me."

"It'll take awhile." She sat down at the chair next to him.

"I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go talk to the doctor." He got up and left the room. He walked up to the reception desk and asked a middle aged woman where he could find his mother's doctor. After she told him who he doctor is and what room he's in, Nick dragged his feet towards the elevator/ He tried his best to maintain hope. He can't lose the only family in his life. No matter what, his mom was there for him. She's his best friend, he can't lose that. He walked up to room 323 and knocked. He heard a voice call him in. "Dr. Johnson?" He asked.

"Yes?" A middle aged man looked up from his desk.

"Hi. I'm Nick Conan, Sally Conan's son."

"Ah yes, I've heard a lot about you. Please, sit." Nick sat down on and Dr. Johnson got up. "Before you say anything, I'd like to thank you for fighting for our country." He said as he pointed to Nick's suit. Nick looked down at his uniform. He was sort of proud of himself. He was finally following his dream, but he was losing something else.

"Thank you. Anyways, I'm not here to talk about me, I'm here to talk about my mother. How bad is it?" He wanted to know the truth.

"The brain tumor? It wasn't as bad as before, it's gotten worse. I'm sorry."

"How did she get it?" Nick held back his tears.

"It just spread, it started without anything. It happens sometimes. But the good news is that when these type of brain cancers happen, out of nowhere, there's a good chance it will go away."

"So you're saying that it can go away?" He almost jumped out of his seat.

"Yes, but I'm not sure about it being cured."

"When can I take her home?" He wanted his mom to be home and get better, not sick in here.

"She's very weak at this point, but we're giving her medication and she's gotten a little better. I would say about a week. But son, you should be very proud of your mother, she has stayed strong through this whole thing, even without you by her side. But with you here, you actually give her motivation to stay stronger. She doesn't want to give up, even though the pain is surreal."

"I know. I'm gonna stay by her side no matter what. Just please, make sure she stays healthy." His voice was soft.

"I'll do the best that I can."

"Thank you." Nick got up.

"Wait, did your mother talk to you about surgery yet?"

"What surgery?"

"Maybe you should sit down again." Nick obeyed as he watched him carefully.

"What surgery?" He asked again.

"She can take surgery to stop it, but she doesn't want to do it."

"Why not?!? You said it will cure her, so let's do it."

"She's scared because there's a chance that when the surgery is taking place, she will, um.."

"Die?" He could barely say the world himself.

"Yes. I'm truly sorry."

"Just please do whatever you can, but keep her alive. I need her alive." Nick got up.

"Of course." Nick looked down and walked out. He couldn't take it. He saw the men's bathroom and raced in there. Thankfully, no one was in it. He looked at the mirror and tears started coming down his face. He ran his hands through his hair and paced back and forth. He looked back at the mirror and opened the water. He splashed it on his face a couple times. He closed the water and looked back at the mirror, without bothering to wipe his face. A old man came in. Nick quickly tried to hide that he was crying.

"It's okay, son. I'm here to do that too." The old man said.

"Do what?" He tried to act like he wasn't just bawling his eyes out.

"Cry. My wife is slowly dying right in front of my eyes and I can't do anything about it. What are you here for?"

"My mom. She has brain tumor for the past 4 months and I just found out, and she doesn't want to take surgery because there's a good chance it might kill her, and she's becoming weaker and weaker, and I just can't loose her.." Nick started crying again. The old man hugged him. "She's the only one in my family that hasn't left me. I can't have her leave me."

"Shh, it's gonna be okay." Nick hugged the man back.

"I know it won't, you don't have to lie to tell me it will."

"Your mother is strong, she will get through it."

"How do you know?"

"Every woman is strong, they're even stronger when they have a special man in their life. You're her special son."

"I'm sorry about your wife."

"Don't be. She'll get through it."

"What's wrong with her?"

"She's severely burned. A fire occurred in our home and I was at work. I ran to the hospital. I don't work as much anymore, and I'm glad I don't. I love her, and I will be there for her, no matter what. Cause that's what love is." The old man let go of the hug and put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't give up, son." The man walked out leaving Nick alone. He looked back at the mirror.

"I will not give up on her." He said before walking back to his mothers room.