Recovery - 2. Chapter 2

When Kei opened his eyes it was to a strange and unfamiliar world. There were buttons and knobs, shiny metal and…and was he moving? He tried to sit up but hands pressed him back.

“Take it easy, son. You’ve been out for a while.”

“What? Who…who are you? Where am I?” He managed to turn his head and blinked at the man who was smiling reassuring at him.

“Easy now. What do you remember?”

“Remember? About what?”

“You tell me.”

God, this was strange. He felt like he’d fallen through the rabbit hole. Where the hell was he? He thought hard and suddenly it hit him. Everything. Alex had left him. Alex had dumped him. Alex had broken it off. He was Alex-less, alone. And Maria and Jess and…. He closed his eyes, waves of pain washing over him and, for a moment, he didn’t hear what the man was saying to him.

“Take it easy there, son, take your time.”

“Take my time? I…. Sorry, I just…just remembered….” He couldn’t say it. Couldn’t speak of it to this stranger. “Where am I?” he repeated.

“Do you remember passing out?”

“I did what? Oh…Oh yeah. I was…was on the phone and…and everything went strange.” He looked around and suddenly realised where he was. “No. No, it’s alright. I don’t need to go to the hospital. I just fainted. It… It all got too much for me. My boyfriend broke up with me and I…I was just….” He bit his lip, fighting to stop the tears. He wasn’t going to cry in front of a stranger, no way.”

“You’ve been out for a while, son. It would be best if the hospital checked you over. I’m sure it will be fine, but it’s better to make sure.”

“A…alright.” Kei lay back. He was glad to, truth be told. His head was pounding. Those bloody migraines again. He’d been free of them for years but these last few months they’d been back with a vengeance.

“Are you alright there?”

“Yeah,” Kei mumbled. “Just a headache. I have migraines. They’ve been bitches these last few months. It’s mostly when I’m stressed.”

“Everything’s worse when we’re stressed. Are you a student? They all seem to be stressed out at the moment. My niece is doing her first year torture next week.”

“Week after,” Kei muttered, closing his eyes against the stabbing pain. “First year English Lit and Language.”

“Keighley’s doing Art. She’s very talented.”

“I’m sure she is.” He wished the man would stop talking now. Kei really wasn’t interested in his niece and the pain was making him nauseous. “Can you give me something for this migraine. It’s making me feel sick, with the motion and stuff.”

“We’re almost there. I’d feel better if you got checked over first.”

“Thanks a bunch.”

True to his word, less than five minutes later the ambulance slowed and stopped.

“Hold on tight,” the man said and Kei was startled.

“What? No, I can walk.”

“No doubt you can, but this is the five star service so just hold on and enjoy the ride.”

Yet again Kei’s world tilted and he found himself looking up at blue sky. He couldn’t believe this was happening.

Before he knew it he found himself in a cubicle surrounded by people who were all talking, although none of them seemed to be talking to him. They poked and prodded him and peered into his eyes. The bright light hurt his head and he wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of there.

“But I’m fine. Can I please just go home?”

A man in a white coat stopped barking orders at people and snapped at him. “You’re going nowhere. Just lie back and behave yourself.” Kei was so stunned that by the time he thought of something to say the man had gone.

“What the fuck?”

“Don’t worry about him, he’s rude to everyone.”

Kei jumped. He hadn’t realised there was anyone still there. A pretty nurse with blonde hair and a nice smile was standing at the side of the bed. For want of anything better to do he smiled back at her. “Can I go home now? I’ve a bad migraine and I want to sleep it off.”

“You can sleep it off here.”

“Yeah? Have you tried these beds?”

“Actually, I have but I’m not telling you where, what I was doing or who I was with.”

Kei’s eyes widened, then he laughed. “You’re teasing me.”

“Anything to see that smile on your face, beautiful.”

“I’m not beautiful.”

“Whatever you say.”

Kei sighed. “Why won’t you let me go home?”

“Because you passed out in the street and if we let you go without investigating and it happens again we could be sued.”

“Oh. What if I promise not to sue?”

“Can you really see that washing with Dr Butthead?”

“Butthead? Really?”

“Well, it’s Buxtead but call it as it is huh?”

“I bet not to his face.”

She laughed. “I bet you’re right. So…” She switched into professional mode. “Can I get you anything? Are you cold? Do you need a blanket.”

“No, I.…” As he spoke, he realised that he was, in fact cold. Very cold. “Um yeah… Yeah, I am cold.”

“I’ll get on it. Is there anyone I can call? You’re going to be here for a while. Butthead’s ordered a whole host of tests and they’re probably going to take all day. I’m sure you’ll feel better if there was someone keeping you company.”

Kei opened his mouth to say yeah, actually he would really like to have someone helping him to make sense of this nightmare. Then he remembered. “No,” he said sadly. “There’s no one.”

“No parents?”

“They’re… dead.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Family?” He shook his head. “Friends? You must have friends.”

“No. No friends. Not anymore. I screwed up pretty good and I don’t….” He sighed. “Not anymore. I don’t want anyone. I’m fine on my own.” On my own, he thought. Alone. All alone. He lay back and closed his eyes, squeezing them hard.

“Anything you want to talk about?” He shook his head, not trusting his voice. “Okay, well if you do just give me a shout. I’ll go get that blanket.”

By the time she came back he was dozing.

He woke with a start when the bed he was on started to move. “What the fuck?”

“Take it easy there, dude. We’re just taking you down for some scans.”

“Some what? Why…? Oh.” Memory flooded back—the hospital, tests, craziness. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“Forgot? There you go.”

The orderly was cheerful, annoyingly so. His headache had eased up a bit and he desperately wanted to get up and walk out. But there were bars on the side of the bed and it wouldn’t be easy to escape, especially as the orderly would no doubt try to stop him. After a short internal battle he decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. Why not just go along for the ride? It’s not as if he had anything else to do.

The cheerfully orderly pushed him along a corridor where he counted the lights he passed, just to take his mind off everything that had happened, then through a set of double doors into a stark white room.

“Can you manage to undress on your own?” a clipped voice asked and he turned his head to see a sour faced woman in a blue uniform. “It would be a lot easier if you did.”

“Of course I can. Just put the stupid bars down. Actually, if you put the bars down I won’t bother to get undressed; I’ll just walk out.”

“Oh no you won’t. You’ll take off your clothes and put them in that bag. You’ll take off any jewellery or piercings and put them in that bag. Then you’ll put on that robe. There’s only one way out of this room and that’s through me so don’t even think of making a run for it.”

“I… I’m not a kid,” he said, his ire rising.

“Then stop acting like one,” she snapped and disappeared.

There were in fact two doors but when he peeped through the other door the room was empty apart from a piece of equipment that looked like something out of a sci fi movie. Oh great, just great. What the hell were they going to do to him.

He sat up, glad the headache had faded to a dull throb and he didn’t even feel dizzy anymore. Now how did these bars work? Reaching out to shake that bars he was shocked to find he had an IV in his arm. When had that happened? Why hadn’t he noticed? How the hell was he expected to get undressed with that thing in him?

“Hey,” he called. “Hey, I need some help in here.”

He had to call three times before the door flew opened and the woman stormed in looking cross and rather fierce. It was strange to see such sourness in a small and rather pretty young woman. Kei stuck out his arm. “How am I supposed to get undressed with this?”

Sighing with frustration, the woman did something with the tube and most of it fell away. There was still a piece of plastic hanging from his arm but at least he could get his tshirt off. “Thank you,” he said sweetly. The woman huffed, tossed her head and stormed back through the door. “Pleasure to meet you, sunshine,” he muttered under his breath as he finally managed to get the bars down and slid off the bed.

The gown wasn’t exactly attractive although he was pleased to find that it didn’t open down the back like some did. He’d barely pulled it down before the door opened and Little Miss Sunshine returned with a young man who seemed a lot more approachable.

“Are you ready yet?” the woman snapped. The young man rolled his eyes from behind her back and winked at Kei. He smiled, finding he was nervous suddenly.

“My name’s Roger,” the man said holding out his hand. “I’m the radiographer. I’m going to conduct the scans today. Don’t worry, all you have to do is lie still. It’s not going to be the most exciting experience you’ve ever had but it won’t hurt at all.”

Kei took Roger’s hand and shook it. “That’s good to know,” he said.

Roger smiled and led the way through the door into the scanning room.

***

It had been a trying day. Kei had been scanned, drugged, x-rayed and tested in all kinds of ways. He was sore all over and more desperate than ever to get the hell out of there.

“Can I go home now? Please,” he begged the nurse who, unfortunately wasn’t the same one he’d talked to earlier.

“Patience, patience,” she said in a pleasant Irish brogue. “Sure an’ you young folk are always rushing around. Take it easy there.”

“If one more person tells me to ‘take it easy’ I’m going to scream.”

The nurse chuckled. “Go right ahead. You won’t be the first and you won’t be the last.”

Kei grimaced and lay back against the pillows, crossing his arms. “You could at least have a tv or something. I’m bored out of my mind.”

“Are you sure there’s no one I can call for you?”

He sighed deeply and shook his head, glancing at his mobile phone which sat silent on the table beside the bed. He’d retrieved it from the plastic bag and set it next to him just in case…. But it had sat aggressively mute. He checked it now and again but he hadn’t accidentally switched it off or missed a text.

“Are you absolutely sure? This is not a time for pride. I’m sure your family and friends would want to know.”

“Know what? That I fainted and have been sat here all day being prodded and poked and goodness knows what—for nothing.”

“That you’re not well and feeling so alone. I’m sure that no one who knows ye wants ye to be alone.”

“How do you know? You know nothing about me.”

“I know ye’re a sweet boy and pretty as a picture. I won’t believe there’s no one out there who cares.”

“Believe it, lady. Trust me, there’s no one who cares; no one.”

“Whatever you say, me darlin’. Whatever ye say.”

They were interrupted when the door opened and a woman in a white coat, accompanied by another nurse came in. At least she looked a lot friendlier than Butthead, but she was frowning.

“Keyden Prince?”

“Yeah, you know it. I’d rather be known as Kei if that’s okay. No one but my parents have called me Keyden for years.”

At last the doctor looked up and smiled. “Kei it is. My name is Dr Bretton. I’m going to be your consultant while you’re here so you’ll be seeing a lot of me.”

“I don’t think so. I’m not going to be here long. As soon as you give the word I’m out of here.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be, Kei. You’re going to be here for a little while longer. We’ve had the results of your tests back and I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

Five minutes later Kei was in total shock, unable to process any further information and desperately trying to comprehend what he’d already been told.

“Oh God,” he murmured. “I wish Alex was here.” Then he started to cry, and be damned who was there to see it.

***

“Could I be speaking to Alex Chambers please?” the voice on the other side of the line asked in an Irish accent Alex didn’t remember ever having heard before.

“Um…this is Alex Chambers, but I’m afraid it’s not convenient to talk about charity, life insurance or filling in a survey right now. Why don’t you call back?” He hung up.

A few minutes later the phone rang again. He was tempted to ignore it. He wished he had when he checked it to see Kei’s number flashing from the screen at him. He cancelled it and threw it across the room.

“Kei?” Jess asked. Alex growled. “You should talk to him,” she said.

“I’ve got nothing to say to him.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I’ve given him enough chances. I’ve had enough.”

“Is it really that bad? That he’s always late? At least he turns up.”

Alex glared at her. “It’s not just that. He’s so totally unreliable, and he’s skipping classes and not handing in assignments and--”

“And none of that’s affecting you and neither does it make him a bad person or a bad boyfriend. You love him. End of. You’re just angry with him because he’s not doing what you want him to do.”

“That’s not it at all.”

“Isn’t it.” The phone rang. “At least talk to him.”

“No,” Alex said, crossing his arms.

With a sigh, Jess picked up the phone and answered. “Kei, I…. Oh.” Alex narrowed his eyes as Jess listened for a moment, her eyes growing wide.

“Alex,” she said, in a strained voice. “I really think you should take this call. It… It’s not Kei.”

Puzzled, Alex took the phone and held it to his ear. “Hello.”

“Alex Chambers?” that same Irish voice asked.

“Yes. I thought I told you… Hey, how did you get Kei’s phone? Is he there? Is he alright?”

“I hope you don’t mind I took the liberty of using Kei’s phone. I thought I had more chance of you answering and it’s important I talk to you.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“My name’s Kathy O’Reilly and I’m a nurse at The General.”

“A nurse? At the hospital? Is Kei alright?”

“I’m afraid not. I hope I’ve done the right thing. Kei told us he had no family or friends and was all alone. I didn’t believe that for a moment, not someone like him. Then he was asking for Alex, and I hope you’re the one. No one should have to go through this alone.”

“Go through what alone?”

“I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you but Kei was admitted to the hospital this evening. He… has a tumour… on his brain. Surgery’s scheduled for first thing in the morning. As you can imagine, he’s very upset and frightened and I don’t think he should go into surgery thinking he’s alone.”

“What? I… I don’t understand. I saw him this morning and he was fine. You must have made a mistake.” Alex had a sudden jolt of guilt. Actually he hadn’t been fine. He had a migraine. He’d been having migraines a lot recently, and he was tired all the time and… Oh, Jesus. He’d broken up with his boyfriend for being sick.

“I’m afraid he wasn’t fine. Kei collapsed in the street this morning and was brought to the hospital. We’ve been doing tests all day. I’m afraid there’s no mistake.”

“I… Can I come? Can I see him?”

“Of course you can. That’s why I called you. He’s in room 305 in the surgical unit. I’ll tell him you’re on your way.”

“Yeah…yeah I’m on my way.”

Alex let the phone fall from his numb fingers and sat down suddenly as all the strength drained from his legs.

“What’s happened?” Jess asked anxiously. “Has Kei been in an accident? Is he alright?”

“No.”

“No to what?” Jess knelt down in front of him and took his hands. He barely felt her.

“Everything. He…. He collapsed in the street, must have been after…after we…. They took him to the hospital and did tests. He…. He’s got a brain tumour. They’re operating first thing in the morning.” He ignored Jess’ cry. “He’s been sick. All this time. All the things I’ve said to him, the times I’ve been so angry with him and… and all the time he’s been sick and no one knew. We should have seen it, Jess. We’re his friends for fuck sake. We should have seen it. The headaches, tiredness, forgetfulness. It wasn’t like him. We should have seen. We should have known.”

“There’s no point looking back,” Jess said, getting to her feet, matter of fact as always. “We should have known, yes; we weren’t there for him then, but we can be there for him now. Get on your feet, I’m driving.”