“That’s it?” Flynn said, cutting into everyone’s sadness. “What now?”

“They are going to fight the infection, Flynn. Doctors won’t make another move without an absolute certainty that his body can handle it.”

“He said heart failure… there is no time to wait.” Flynn exhaled, his words catching in his throat. “What happens if the infection doesn’t go away?” He already knew the answer.

Janet stood, coming over to her son, his entire body trembling more than she had ever seen before. He looked like he was ready to run from the room. She wrapped her arms around him, but he was oblivious, his arms stiff and rigid and staying at his sides.

“Let’s take this one step at a time.” She closed her eyes, her face pressed against his chest. “Go see him. Talk to him, let him know you’re here for him.”

***

Henri opened his eyes, staring at the IV in his arm. He was happy to see the hospital for once in his life, but he was so tired and groggy he couldn’t stand to have his eyes open longer than a couple minutes at a time.

The machines continued their racket. Henri closed his eyes again. He could see her, Maven, her smile, her soft blonde hair. He could smell her.

Flynn tapped on the door, interrupting his moment. “Care for a visitor?”

Henri opened his eyes, smiling as best as he could. He tried to speak, but Flynn shushed him. He pulled up the blue chair beside the bed, resting his hands on the side of Henri’s bed.

“You had everyone worried.” Flynn’s eyes hid the misery he felt on the inside. He told himself to hold it together, not to cry in front of him.

Henri cracked an even bigger smile. His eyes dull and lacking that brilliance that once filled them whenever him and Flynn carried on a conversation.

“I had me worried,” he said slowly, his voice gruff and unrecognizable. The machine wheezed, catching Flynn off guard.

“What happened?” Flynn raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. Henri’s eyes shut and he turned away. “I could guess. I always knew what you were thinking when we were kids.” He took a breath. “I know you were on your way home. I am guessing you ran into somebody on the way.”

Henri lifted a hand flashing a thumbs up sign. But he didn’t look at Flynn.

“My guess is Jake Summit.” Flynn crossed his arms, sitting back in the chair. Henri turned his hand downward. Flynn raised his eyebrows confused. He swore it was Jake Summit, who else would hurt Henri in Portwood? But there he sat staring at a thumbs down anyway.

“Then who would want to hurt you, Henri? And most robbers I know take phones and cash they don’t smash windows and beat defenseless guys up.” Flynn sighed. “It was malicious, everyone knows that much.”

“What does it matter, Flynn?” Henri said, he looked at him. “What does it matter?” His hand dropped to the side like dead weight.

Flynn scratched his head in confusion. “Because now your surgery is postponed because of the idiot who did this to you.” Flynn whacked the side of his bed in agitation. He didn’t want his cousin to be so nice anymore. For once he wanted him to do the right thing.

“Maybe this was meant to happen.” Henri shut his eyes. The machines beeped and hissed again. Flynn shook his head, ready to vomit.

“This wasn’t meant to happen. You were meant to be here. Not here dying because of some jackass that has a problem with you because you’re a better guy for his girlfriend.” Flynn’s jaw flexed in anger. “Don’t do this to us.”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” Henri cracked a smile. “That’s not how it works.”

Flynn raked a hand through his hair. “You’re giving up.”

“I felt something.” Henri opened his eyes. “I felt this presence all around me before I woke up. And I saw her and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.”

Flynn grimaced. “What are you saying, Henri? You died and came back?”

“No, I don’t know.” He sighed. “I’m really tired, Flynn. I need to get some rest.”

Flynn stood, not wanting to leave, but looking at Henri was enough to know he was struggling to carry on their conversation. He placed a hand on his shoulder, his fingers slipping in between Henri and the scratchy hospital pillow. “I broke up with Tori.”

“Finally.” Henri raised his hand trying to meet up with Flynn’s but failed. It dropped back down against the white sheet.

“So, I need to get back in the game and I need my sidekick. You’ve got to get better.” He squeezed his arm and headed out of the room.

Flynn returned to the waiting room where Dr. Wilder sat with his family. She clutched some papers in one hand, she and his mother seemed to be deep in conversation. Flynn took the seat beside his mother.

“So this device…it will help Henri until we can get rid of the infection?”

Dr. Wilder nodded, looking over her chart. “If all goes well, they look to place the device after he has been treated with antibiotics for twenty four hours. This will keep Henri going until we can find another step.”

“Another step?” Flynn questioned. “What about this procedure he was supposed to have?”

“Dr. Nevil doesn’t feel Henri is a good candidate after reading over his medical history.” Flynn’s mother dropped her gaze. She had gotten her hopes up for nothing. Another thing that turned out would never have happened for Henri anyway.

Flynn dropped his head into his hands. “So, now what?”

“Dr. Wilder was telling us about a device that is used when a patient’s condition is severe. This will keep Henri with us until we can get him a donor.” Flynn’s jaw dropped. Janet’s bottom lip quivered and tears filled her eyes. She shook her head, frustrated. “I know, Flynn, don’t remind me.”

Flynn’s muffled sobs escaped his hands. They all knew the same thing. Henri would never accept a heart. He would refuse to be added to the list. The same nightmare as the last time.

Flynn jumped up, ignoring his mother.

“Where is Maven?” The last he had seen she was fast asleep unaware how bad things were getting.

Mrs. Wilder frowned. “I told her to take a walk and get something to eat.”

“What good is hiding the truth from her?” Flynn snapped. “She cares about him. She deserves to know.”

The look on his mother’s face told him he was wrong. He shut his mouth and rushed down the hall pushing open Henri’s hospital door. “You have to agree to the donor list.”

Henri’s eyes opened. He immediately shook his head.

“Don’t say no. Don’t say anything. Henri you have to do this.” Flynn told him again.

Henri closed his eyes, shutting Flynn out. But that didn’t make him go away.

“Think about Maven. Think about all the good times you guys still could have if you go on that list. That’s something worth sticking around for right?” Flynn leaned against the doorway, he didn’t have the strength to sit down beside his dying cousin and beg him to accept the list. “She’s been outside waiting just like the rest of us. She cares about you.”

“Does Maven know yet?” Henri asked.

“No. Her mother sent her off.”

“Be there for her because she’s going to be miserable because of me.”

Flynn pushed off the doorframe. “Fuck you, if you don’t want her miserable then go on the damn list, Henri!”

“She’s going to need someone.”

“She needs you, not me.” Flynn gritted his teeth. “Agree to the device they want to stick in you and I’ll tell her.”

“Flynn.”

Flynn kicked the frame of the door letting out an angry scream, his tennis shoes screeching across the floor of the hospital as he took off.

Henri dropped his head, closing his eyes. He pictured her eyes, blue and calm staring into his. And soon he felt like he was there with her—right beside her.

The machines beeped and whirred.

 

TAKE IT