Determination Read Online Free PDF Page B

happen if I could help it.
    “Brian,” I said, louder that time, and looked around for something to prod him with, but there was nothing within reach.
    “Goddamn!” I cried as I rolled onto my side and pain lanced through my body. Reaching down, I smacked Brian’s arm once, and sweat beaded my forehead when I fell on my back against the pillow.

    Determination
    23

    Tears of pain welled in my eyes and then fell unobstructed. But by the grace of God, Brian sat straight up, his head now visible as I lay panting.
    “Oh my God, are you okay?” Brian asked as he looked over to see me clutching my stomach and rocking gently back and forth. He sat on the floor, disoriented for several seconds, as his hand rested on my arm.
    “You were having a nightmare…,” I panted, “… couldn’t wake you up.” He groaned as he lifted himself off the hard floor where he had been sleeping, and I scooted over the best I could as he climbed in bed with me. He lay on his side with his head on my shoulder. As small as the bed was, he must have been clinging to the edge.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered and kissed my sweaty forehead.
    Pushing the damp hair away, he let his lips rest against my temple.
    “Why were you lying on the floor, anyway?” I tried to change the subject from the horrible pain and focus on something else. My breathing still felt labored, and a bead of sweat rolled down my cheek.
    “I didn’t want to bother you while you were sleeping, but I couldn’t make myself leave,” he whispered. Running his fingers up and down my arm lightly, he kept touching me, and the feeling of his skin on mine calmed me. “I didn’t want you to wake up alone.”
    I lifted the arm closest to him and wrapped it around his shoulders.
    “Wait.” He rolled off the bed quickly, careful not to jostle me, and left the room. For several minutes, I stared at the closed door and wondered where he’d gone. I didn’t hear anything outside the room and felt a little disoriented. In Steven’s apartment, we could usually hear street traffic or noise from the other apartments. I looked over at the bedside clock and saw that it was just past three in the morning. That might also have something to do with the lack of noise.
    The door opened, and Brian came in with a mug. After setting it on the side table, he closed the door quietly behind him and sat on the edge of the bed.
    “Do you need help sitting up?”

    24
    Jamie Mayfield

    I honestly didn’t know if I did or not, but I found scooting up in the bed was easier on my injuries than trying to roll over. Propping myself on the pillows, however, caused some considerable pain.
    “I have some more pain pills for you, and Dad wants you to take them with this. It’s just a cup of hot soup,” he explained and handed me the pills. I snatched them out of his hand and dropped them into my mouth, which felt like the Sahara at that moment. My hands trembled when I took the mug of soup, and I spilled a little of the broth on my naked chest in my haste, singeing a few of the hairs there.
    “Hey, take it slow,” Brian warned, but I wanted to get the pills down. Pain radiated through my body, and I was desperate to feel that numbness again. The hard, chalk-like pellets finally passed the lump in my throat and slid down into my stomach. With a desperate sigh of relief, I tried to hand the mug back to Brian, but he refused to take it.
    “You need to drink all of that.” His voice was firm but kind as he pushed the mug gently back toward my lips. “Dad wants you to drink lots of clear liquids, and then when you’re up to it, start with some soft food.” Brian leaned down and kissed my lips lightly. His whisper was conspiratorial against my ear, and I failed to suppress a shiver.
    “If you drink that soup and keep it down, I’ll make you a grilled cheese and some tomato soup later for lunch.”
    “I used to love grilled cheese and tomato soup. I don’t think I’ve had it in years.” The sadness