CHOICE & CHANCE }completed{

Chapter 7

Shenwei lay on his hospital bed. His nervous fingers played on the sheet that covers him. He stared at Yezun, who stood at the foot of the bed trying to smile encouragingly. Shenwei smiles beautifully on his twin, for he felt if he did not do that he will soon begin to cry.

"You're going to be fine, fine... Before you know eat you'll be playing tennis again.' Yezun said.

Shenwei nodded.

To Shenwei's relief, Dr.Zhou entered followed by a nurse who carried a tray of medication.

" where is yunlan? yezun asked.

"I quite push him to do his rounds," Shenwei answered.

The oncologist filled a large hypodermic with a colorless fluid.

"Shenwei, this is methotrexate.before we're through you'll hate that word. but remember all the while, this is the stuff that fighting those cancer cells." Dr.Zhou explains
She tightened a length of thin tan rubber rubbing around Shenwei's biceps until the vein in the inner side of his arm stood out. She swabs the area of alcohol to sterilize it .then slowly she injected the powerful fluid into him.

"There we are...first treatment..
There would be nurses available just press the buzzer...We'll know what you're going through the mean time you can read, watch television. "Dr.Zhou said.

In the afternoon Shenwei had received a second injection of methotrexate. He began to feel the first wave of nausea. He reaches for the buzzer but before he reaches it the feeling overcome him. A nurse rush into him.

" nurse--, nurse--"Shenwei began to say but the words were drowned in another wave of sickness. The nurse held a stainless steel basin to his lips.

"Its alright Shenwei....this is part of the coarse so don't be afraid." The nurse said.

The first siege was over. Shenwei lay back on the bed.

"We'll get some clean things and you'll feel better," the nurse said then quickly leave.

Shenwei heard the door open.even his eyes close he knows his husband scent and steps.

"Wifey,.." Yunlan called.

"Yunlan ...I'm a mess" shenwei try to smile but failed.

"I know the nurse told me, anything I can do?" Yunlan asked.

The nurse comes back.

"Dr.Zhao.." The nurse nod in  respectful manner.

"Out of bed Shenwei." She said briskly.

Yunlan took him fast out of the bed. The woman quickly stripped the bedsheets and remade it with new linen. She give new clean gown for Shenwei., Yunlan helps him to slip into it.

" now back on the bed...
There...good as new....aredon't we?" the nurse said.

"Until it happens again," Shenwei said.

"Don't feel embarrassed ...you're doing just fine wifey," Yunlan said.

"Where's Yezun?"
"I led him to leave,. He's out to make his things..." Shenwei said.

The nurse left and close the door.

"Yunlan just stand close in. He strained to observed, to see if he could anticipate the next wave of nausea.

In a while, Shenwei began to feel the evil stirring on his stomach, the burning on his throat.

"ohhh...Yun... "Shenwei called.

Yunlan held the steel basin, held it to his wifey's mouth, and embraced his quivering body as he vomits again.

The hard times gradually passed. He had sweat through his fresh gown.he was breathing hard.but for the present it was over.

Yunlan turned to set aside the basin.

"Yunlan" Shenwei softly called.

" yes, my dear wifey?"yunlan softly asked.

"Hold me...hold me for a little while." Shenwei requested.

"Of course, wifey...Of course.."He hugged him not to tight..till Shenwei sleeps on his arms.

There had been several changes of gowns, but no need to change bed linens again. Between them, Shenwei and yezun had mastered the problem until it becomes a routine. At times Shenwei was able to lapse snatches of sleep.

When he wakes up, it was dark out.

" It is night?" what are you still doing here yezun?" Shenwei asked.

"It's not late..don't worry about me gege," Yezun said.

"How can I not...I am the one supposedly taking care of you..not the other way around." Shenwei said.

"I love you. Gege " yezun hugged him.
" you need to have your dinner.

Dr.Zhou said you should have eatenYezun said.

"I don't feel like eating " Shenwei wined.

"She said you have to try anyhow
I'll buzz for the nurse." Yezun said.

In a short while, the nurse places a tray on the rolling table and raised the bed so Shenwei is in the position to eat.

Shenwei looked at the bland food, the nurse smile.

"Give it a try...please." The nurse said then she left.

Shenwei tried. The food was tasteless.  but he realizes why it was all so bland. Any spice at all would start the unhappy process all over again. He ate as much as he can.

Throughout the morning, Zhao yunlan Adhered to his vigorous schedule of examination, consultation, studying Xrays, and surgeries. All the time he felt as if he were dragging with him an extra burden. It was a shadow, a presence that follows him, clouding his thoughts. When he was conscious of it, he knew it was his wifey, in room 206.With an intravenous drip in his arm infusing what he hoped would prove lifesaving chemicals into his body.

Twice he found a reason to go to his room, to drop in and see how Shenwei was bearing up. each time he found him in bed, He seems in excellent spirits.
Aware of his concern, Shenwei tried to treasure him.

"It doesn't hurt ..Yunlan," Shenwei tries to smile.

"Your great wifey," he said kissing him. He keeping track of the time. two or more hours the after-effects would commence.

In that afternoon, after his surgical case and with half an hour before his next schedule operation, he stripped off his or greens and hurried back to his wifey's room.

He found him in Yezun's arm. vomiting on a stainless steel basin. He slipped into Yezun's place, took his wifey's frail body in his arms, and held him close. as if to give his strength to him, his body seemed to relax but only a little. He breathes more deeply.

"Better wifey,? Better?" He asked softly.

He tries to nod but suddenly another wave of nausea welled up in him. the phone on the wall rang.

"Don't answer the damned thing!" Angrily he said to Yezun.

It continued to ring. Yezun lifted the receiver.
"Yes...yes, he's here...I'll tell him," Yezun said he hung up.

"That was surgery.....Your next patient is ready...you have to scrub." Yezun added.

"Yunlan go....they need you more...I will be fine...You will save a life again right!" Shenwei forces himself to smile.

Reluctantly he surrendered his wifey to Yezun., but before that, he kissed him on his forehead and cheeks.

"I'll be back..for the meantime, Yezun will be with you..so don't worry you'll be ok wifey...you'll be fine," Yunlan said. Shenwei faintly smiles.