Tom
I was sitting in Manchester’s office in Charleston trying to get my thoughts together. How could this be happening. We just got Ben back; again, I just came back a few months ago. How could I let all of this happen? How could we be losing Hal?... “No, stop those thoughts,” went through my brain. I can’t give up hope on Hal. He woke up last time and he’ll wake up again.
“Tom, how is Hal doing?” Arthur Manchester asked breaking me from my thoughts. I didn’t really know right now. He hadn’t seen Hal since he collapsed the first time, and Anne said she needed to check him over. “I really don’t know.” I said to Arthur. I continued, “One minute he’s fine and Anne says he’s just unconscious, the next I find him unconscious on the floor in his room.” I was just venting through Arthur. Arthur said, “Well all of the doctors and researchers will be here to help Hal.” I said to Arthur standing up, “I know, and I thank you.” I shook Arthurs’ hand then I left to go back to Hal.
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I was surprised when I came into Hal’s room and saw that his eyes were open now staring at the ceiling. No one was in his room. “I thought that Ben was in here,” I thought. “Hal,” I said stunned that Hal’s eyes were open. Hal moved the one body part that he could will to move and moved his neck over to look at his me. I could in my sons’ eyes that something was wrong. I moved closer to my son to see tears running down his face. “What’s wrong Hal.” I said gently. Hal moved his eyes over so he was looking at me now. “I can’t… I can’t move.” I asked my son, “Where’s Ben?” Hal said, “He went for you and Anne.”
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