Love Of My Life

You're My Best Friend- July 1, 2015

Photo of Allouette Lake, BC

Recommended song - You're my best friend by Queen

Canada Day 2015

Tyler POV

The drive to Allouette Lake was loud, as expected with 4 boys in the minivan. Tyler was quiet, playing a game on his phone while Simon entertained Jeff and 8 year old Kevin, who had joined them a few months before.

"Ok let's go over the rules" Debbie announced as they were pulling into the park.

"Nobody in the water unless I'm there. That includes toes Jeff. We can swim then I will make lunch so that means?"....

"Out of the water". They all said. Jeff a little louder than the others.

"Good. Let's park, unpack, grab a water bottle, sunscreen, a hat and we are ready to have fun!". Jeff and Kevin cheered.

"I sound like my mom" Debbie whispered to Tyler who just chuckled.

It took them no time at all to get organized and head to the beach. It was a beautiful day. The water was so calm, not a cloud in the sky, it was early enough that it wasn't too hot. Kevin and Jeff made sandcastles while Simon and Tyler sat beside them and encouraged them on "the best sandcastles they had ever seen".

Debbie smiled. She and Peter loved these boys. They hadn't told the boys yet, but they had applied to adopt both Tyler and Jeff. Their parents had lost their parental right years ago so it was just a waiting game at this point. Simon would be next, if the initial paperwork got approved. She wondered how Shane was, hoping everything was ok and like Tyler she had a bad feeling. Two years with supervised visits with no issues but something was nagging at her.

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Canada Day 2015

Benjamin POV

After giving the kids a short ride along the shore in the kayak, Benjamin and Mike were ready to go for a long kayaking trip across the lake.

Donning their touring drysuit, paddling shoes and touring PDF, first aid kit in their dry pouch and water bottles in hand they were ready.

They quickly set out, using their paddles in unison they made good speed. They took a break in the middle of the lake to take pictures and hydrate.

"This is awesome Benjamin". Mike said looking behind him at his best friend.

"It really is. It's been a great day. One for the books". Benjamin laughed, using his usual catch phrase.

"Yeah, one for the books". Mike laughed and signaled he was ready to go again.

Benjamin noticed that Mike wasn't paddling in unison on the way back. He was sitting ahead of him and could tell something was off.

"Are you alright Mike?".

"Yeah. I think the sun is getting to me. I'm exhausted all of a sudden. Benjamin raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. Mike was a skilled firefighter, ex football player and athlete. This was completely out of character for Mike to be exhausted from their short jaunt across the lake.

"Alright buddy. You just rest and I will paddle us back. Take it easy ok?"

Mike just nodded. Benjamin paddled as fast as he could and they were close to the shore when Mike started leaning over and nearly fell into the water. Benjamin grabbed him by the life jacket and hauled him back in upright.

He looked down at Mike who was pale, clammy and unconscience. He called to the shore. "Jeremy!!! Get your first aid kit!" And he saw him jump up and run to the parking lot. Within moments he had made it to shore and a crowd was gathering on the beach. He lifted Mike out and laid him on the sand.

Jeremy was a paramedic and sprang into action.

"Please Mike, please be ok. Don't leave me" Benjamin cried to his best friend. Lisa wrapped her arms around him and brought him back a few feet so Jeremy could work on him.

"Everybody, please move back. Give them space and privacy" he saw two teenage boys moving the crowd along. He started to weep, frightened that he was losing his best friend. No, he couldn't leave him. He would be lost without him.

"Morgan, go move the van so we can get Mike to the hospital" she ran as fast as she could.

"Ok Benjamin. We're going to carry him to the van. You drive and I will keep working on him in the backseat. Give your keys to Lisa and they will drive the car back".

Benjamin just nodded. He held Mike's hand and they lifted him and carried him to the waiting van. It would be the longest drive of Benjamin's life.

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Tyler POV

They had just finished their lunch when he heard someone yelling from the lake. He couldn't quite make out what he said but he saw a man jump up and run to the parking lot. He looked back at the lake and saw a man paddling quickly to the shore. Something was wrong. Tyler thought. He saw a large crowd gathering on the beach and he was immediately annoyed. He needs you he heard a familiar voice say clear as a bell. He didn't know what it meant but he sprang into action.

"Simon, help me move the crowd away
Whatever happened they don't need an audience". Benjamin looked at Jeff and Kevin. "You two stay with Debbie". They nodded solemnly, knowing the situation was serious and not to argue.

Simon nodded and they ran to the beach. They stood in front of the group with their arms outstretched. "Everybody, please move back. Give them space and privacy", surprisingly they listened to the teens and moved along. He looked back at the scene and felt so much sadness for the man crying holding hands with the man laying on the beach. They walked back to their picnic table and didn't say a word.

Debbie was on her phone when they returned.

"Oh my God. What hospital?" Debbie was in tears. *We will be there in an hour".

"It's Shane. He's in the hospital." She cried out. They gathered all of their belongings quickly and ran to the van without saying a word. The drive back to the city was quiet except for the hushed cries and sniffles.

Finally Debbie spoke. "I don't know what happened, but our Shane is unconscious. He has a broken arm and I don't know what else".

Tyler held hands with Jeff who put his head on his shoulder. He said a silent prayer. He had never prayed before, even when he was living in his personal hell years before. He just accepted his miserable life, but Shane was the most important person in his life. He was his ray of sunshine and his reason for fighting so hard to overcome his hardships. He loved being the person Shane looked up to. He had lost so much in his fifteen years, he couldn't bear losing him too.

He sobbed and there was no stopping his flood of tears. Simon reached back from the front seat and held onto his and Jeff's hands. Finally they arrived at Vancouver General Hospital and quickly parked before running inside, getting the information from admitting and running to emergency.