Backstage: Third Time's the Charm

Miles Lennox

Miles Lennox
Grade 11
Music Program

I struggled to sit up, caught in the scratchy hospital sheets.

"Miles, lie back down." My mother leaned over the bed and touched my shoulder gently. "You need rest."

"You won't let Alya see me?" I asked. My heart monitor beeped sporadically.

"Miles, calm down," she said firmly. "Your body can't handle stress and excitement right now."

"And you thought separating me from my girlfriend wouldn't stress me out?"

She pursed her lips. "It's for the best, and Alya agreed."

I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe you."

"Miles, you need another transplant. Your condition is considerably worse than last time. For now, I'm pulling you out of Keaton."

"No, mom, you can't do that," I protested. Pulling me out of Keaton would ruin everything.

She crossed her arms, "Oh really?"

"Please, mom." I switched tactics. "Music is one of the only things that makes me feel better."

She sighed and lowered herself on the end of the bed. "I know. You're incredibly talented. But I'm worried you take too many risks and push yourself too much."

I stopped struggling with the sheets and leaned back against the pillow. "I won't."

She stared at me for a moment. "I have one condition. You need to stay away from Alya."

"Mom!"

"If I hear that you're spending time with her, I will pull you out, Miles. Nothing matters to me more than your health right now."

She stood and walked out of the room. As soon as she was gone, I reached for my cell phone on the table next to the bed. I quickly dialed my best friend, Jax's, number.

"Hey buddy," his soft voice came through the speakers. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine." I ignored the pain radiating through my body, and shifted the phone to my other ear. "Make sure Parks doesn't give you a new partner for the remix project."

"Are you sure you're up for that?" He asked. "Do you know what happened yet?"

"Jax, I'm fine!" I snapped. "Keep working on the changes we talked about. This is really important to me."

I closed my eyes. My mom hadn't completely ruined my plan. Even if I couldn't see Alya, Jax and I could finish remixing one of his, Alya's, and Bianca's songs, "Everything's All Right". They'd sang it to me after my first surgery, and I planned to perform it at the winter showcase to surprise Alya.

"All right, Miles. But take it easy, okay?" Concern laced Jax's voice, but he didn't question me further.

"I have to do this, Jax. Not just for Alya, for me too."