How To Save A Life

Chapter Seven: An Empty Plea

It had been a few weeks since meeting Owen and Matt. Finding out that Matt was dying was definitely the worst, but it didn't mean that it was the only bad thing to occur.

Owen always seemed to be in good condition, and we never really talked about his cancer. I assumed that he was okay, and he was going to be okay, but life has a funny way of doing exactly what you think it won't.

So the morning of surgery, doctors busily bustled in and out of my room. My parents were there the whole time, but they wouldn't let any non-family members come in.

My parents knew about Matt, so they comforted me when I broke out crying randomly. It was hard to focus on living when you knew that your best friend and crush wasn't going to.

A bit after noon, Stacy came in, with a sad smile on her face. "It's time, Kaylen."

Minutes later, I was being wheeled into the hallway, and a pair of cute faces met me right outside the door. One dying, green eyed boy, and a super smart, bald one.

"We shaved it all off last night." Owen smiled. "That doesn't matter, sorry. I'll see you in a few hours, or maybe tomorrow." I nodded, finding it reassuring, and staring at his bald head.

As we got to the elevator, my parents kissed me on the head, told me how much they loved me, and waited.

I waited too.

But not a word. Matt just held my hand for a split second, let go, and then turned his wheelchair around. I knew that this was hard for him, and I had to come out of this alive.

I thought about this on the ride down, realizing that I had promised to survive for him. I had to give him the last few weeks he had.

Rolling down the hallway, staring at the ceiling, I knew it. I loved my parents, and I loved my new friends, and I couldn't let them go. I wouldn't and I didn't want to.

Sadly, like I said, life doesn't always care about what you want.

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"She's up."

My eyelids fluttered open, and my dry mouth struggled to speak. "W-water.

"Oh my gosh, Kaylen, honey! You did great, the surgery went great, and you're going to be okay." My mom smiled at me, putting a straw up to my lips.

I could feel the tenderness on my chest, and yet all I could think about was Matt and how good the water tasted.

"Can I see Matt and Owen?" My dry voice whispered, and the words hurt my chest even more.

"Dylan.." My mom choked out, calling my dad's name.

"Hun, you really just need to rest right now." My dad spoke softly, choosing his words carefully.

"What? No, I get it. But if there's anything you can do for me, tell the doctors I need to see my friends. Please?" I asked, choking a bit.

"Okay Sweetie.." My mom whispered quietly. I knew full well that she wouldn't allow me to see Matt and Owen yet.

Hours later, I laid in my old room, with Matt right across the hall.

When my parents fell asleep around 11, I took the opportunity to see the kid I've been waiting to see.

Pressing my call button, I was happy when Stacy arrived, not a panicked group of doctors thinking I was dying.

"Sorry, I know that this button is for emergencies."

"It's okay, hun. I had a feeling you were fine. What's up?" She walked to the edge of my bed.

"Well, I really want to see Matt."

Her face dropped as she spoke, "They didn't tell you?"

As if the whole world had just stopped, a million situations flooded my head. He couldn't have died. He had weeks. Maybe it was a good thing?

"Tell me what?"

"Matthew can't take visitors right now, he flatlined again. We got him back, but it doesn't look good. I'm so sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but there isn't a lot of time."

Crying, I yelled out, "You have to let me see him! He can't die without me seeing him again. Oh God, oh my God." My head pounded and I felt dizzy.

Everything had moved so quickly over the last few days, and now wasn't the time for Matt. He could get a heart. What happened to miracles? He promised me weeks, and I did too. So he had to have them!

"I'm so sorry, Kaylen. His heart just gave out, it's had too much. He just needs his family right now."

I nodded, knowing there was nothing left I could say to make her bend the rules. "How long?"

"It should be within the next few days. Maybe a bit more. He's slipping in and out of consciousness." Stacy spoke surely, but so softly.

I kept nodding, and sending prayers up to God, a God that I didn't believe in. I never really had a religion, and my parents never took me to Church. At that time, I vowed to go to Church every week if it meant Matt would beat this.

However, an empty plea to a God I didn't believe in wasn't going to cut it.

The next morning, doctors flooded in an out of my room, monitoring my stats and giving me my pain meds. I still felt groggy, but I felt so much emptier. Did Owen know about this? Why hasn't Owen come to visit me? Was he okay?

At around 3 that afternoon, I heard what I had been dreading to hear.

Crying from Matt's room.

My mom must've heard it to, because she wrapped me in a hug immediately.

Crying. Matt's parents were crying, I assumed. The realization hit. Crying was never good, crying meant death. Had Matt actually died?

I hugged my mom back, and starting bawling. I felt that I wasn't going to stop.

His door opened several times, but I couldn't look. Tears covered my mom's sweater, and my lungs felt like giving up. I waited for the pain to kick in and it did. But it wasn't worse than the loss I felt. I didn't even get to say goodbye. How unfair is that?

"Honey, try to breathe. You just had surgery, it'll be okay." My parents cooed.

Realizing that my health was in jeopardy, I took a few deep breaths, but continued crying.

Footsteps came into my room, and I took a minute to look up. Nurse Stacy stood there, teary eyed. She took a deep breath, and through tears said the words I never expected to hear.

"We have a heart."