Nothing Lasts Forever by Cyndi Raye

noise loud and clear. “They are afraid he may have had a stroke.”
     
    “A stroke? A five year old? What! How?”
     
    “His brain injury. Let’s wait and see until we get there, okay?” Jon tried to be strong but she could see the fear in his eyes, how his face, so solemn, became pale and worried. He had a hard time looking at her so he kept his face towards the window at the cars zooming past.
     
    He smacked the back of the driver’s seat. “Mister, can you move this cab any faster?”
     
    “Sorry sir, there’s a bus ahead.”
     
    “Jon, calm down.” Abby wrapped her arms around his waist. She could feel his rigid body begin to relax when he realized the cab couldn’t move any faster. A large sigh escaped his lips. “Tell me what you know.” Abby prodded.
     
    Jon stretched his neck and lay his head against hers. “It’s possible Kevin had an Ischemic stroke. One of his arteries got injured when he fell out of the window. He’s been through terrible trauma, this may be more than he can handle.” Jon closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to face the world. He took her hand and brought it to his chest. He sat still, her hand in his as she felt the steady thump of his heartbeat against his chest.
     
    “Everything will be fine, Jon. It will be okay.” Abby closed her eyes too. There was a dread so strong in her heart she couldn’t let him know.
     
    “What if it isn’t? What then?” Jon’s weakened state broke her heart. It was difficult dealing with her own emotions but he began to unravel. Jon always kept it together, he was the strong one and yet here he was, about to lose it himself.
     
    The cab came to a stop in front of the entrance. Jon flung open the door, helped Abby out, then followed suit. He still had a hold of her hand as they ran through the lobby towards the elevator.
     
    “Jon, Abby!” Sallie raised her arm to get their attention. “ICU, he’s there.” The doors closed. The ride up felt like it took forever, but in reality took a few seconds. Abby stepped out from the elevator, unsure which way to go until she noticed the silver-plated plaque on the wall with an arrow that pointed to ICU.
     
    When Jon tugged on her arm, Abby’s feet stayed planted to the floor, no longer able to move towards the place where Kevin clung to life. Jon stopped and must have realized how scared she was. “I’m sorry Abby. We have to do this.” He took a few steps towards her and then gathered her in his arms. “We can do this, together.” His eyes bore in to hers. He was the strong one again, no longer the man in the cab who almost lost his composure. She took a deep breath, nodded and followed him through the doors.
     
    Monitors beeped. The sounds of machines that held the life of patients rang in her ears. The pull of air being suctioned through tubes and then the sound of it being released became so loud she wanted to place her hands over her ears. Their footsteps on the floor sounded small compared to the commotion in the quiet unit. Every nurse and doctor knew what to do, where to go and who to help.
     
    Abby looked around for him, but as their steps took them down the hallway, his little life was nowhere to be found. Then by the desk, she felt Jon steps falter and his body became rigid again. She closed her eyes before she looked up and gasped. Her composure weakened, she felt herself go slack against Jon, who held her up with his strong arms. “Take a minute Abby. We can’t go in like this.”
     
    Abby knew she had to get a hold of herself. She held the air in her lungs for a moment to steady herself. Calm down! You can do this! She felt his warm hands against her cheeks. He raised her face to his and the force of his strength began to flow towards her. “Abby. We can do this. We must, for Kevin’s sake.” She nodded, her face still in the palm of his hands and took a deep, unsteady breath.
     
    “I’m okay.” She nodded and stared in to his eyes to draw on his strength.