Heeeeeeeey! It's super nice of you to read this story! I'm going to work really really hard on it! Promise! But just a note about this chapter I know there's not much Newsies in it but the next ones will I PROMISE! This one is mostly for background knowledge that will help you relate to everything!"I'm going to get you!" I said laughing. I was chasing my four year old brother Blake around the living room.
"No you wont!" He yelled back in a high pitched little voice.
"Oh really!" I said running up behind him and picking him up, "I got you!"
He laughed and wiggled in my arms but I held him tight, then sat down with him on the sofa.
"What do you want to do now?" I asked placing him in my lap.
He shrugged his shoulders and laid his head on my chest. "I don't know, but I don't want to run around agian" he said softly "I don't feel good anymore."
I frowned holding him close to me. I knew this would happen, it always did. He would get random bursts of energy and then they would just go away, leaving him tired and feeling sick. All of his medication did that to him.
"I'm sorry baby" I said rubbing his back, "is it your tummy that hurts this time or your head?"
"My tummy" he whined wrapping his arms around his middle.
"Aww sweetie I'm sorry" I said looking over at the clock, "but it's time for you to have more medicine."
He sighed but knew there was no point in arguing with me. The medicine was keeping him alive and he knew it, but that didn't make him like it anymore. I picked him up and carried him into the kitchen, placing him on the counter. I walked over to the mini fridge and got out the right vile and syringe of his medication, filling it with the correct amount.
"Okay quick pinch" I said as he extended his arm out to me and I administered the medication. He winced but kept still as I finished.
"Good job Blakie, all done" I said taking out the needle and disposing of it, then taking him back over to the sofa. "Do you wanna take a nap or watch a movie with sissy?
"Watch a movie" he said looking tired "can we watch Newsies?"
I smiled turning it on then sitting down, knowing what he was doing. Even for a four year old, Blake knew that Newsies was my go to movie whenever I was stressed.
I had been beyond stressed lately. The three jobs I've been working for starting to conflict with my babysitting schedule, Blake's condition was getting much worse, and it seemed that mom has finally just lost it. She'd had been so strong, but when dad left everything just fell apart for her and I finally had to take over. Then Blake was born and she finally started to get better. But when he turned two and they found the tumor, she lost it for good. So at seventeen had to give up everything. Family, friends, boyfriends, my dreams of performing, you name it I gave it up to take care of him. I was there for every doctors appointment, every hospital visit, every bad dream, every crying fit, every vomiting episode, and every everything. Where was mom? Working or partying. So much of the money she made went into her drinks that we weren't making enough for his medication anymore, and I had to jump in. Three jobs. Eighteen hours a day. But I made it work and was always home in time from when he came home from his "specialized daycare." Until today. I had a huge money making job that I knew I would have to go to but that also meant mom would have to be alone with him for an hour, which tariffed me. I knew mom could take care if him, but I didn't know if she would.
"Hey baby can we talk for a second" I said pausing the movie and looking down at him. He nodded and tried to sit up slightly. "You know moms going to be watching you for a while today right?"
"Yes" he said softly.
"Well you know how she can get kind of "sleepy" (drunk) sometimes..."
"Yes"
"I want you to call me if she starts acting that way alright? I just refreshed the run away bag and I'll come right home if she dose."
The "run away bag" had been one of my ideas to calm him down one night. He was crying and saying he wanted to run away, so I made him a deal. The deal was that if it ever got to bad I would make and grab the run away bag and we would flee. I had packed everything we would ever need in it, medical supplies, emergency cash (around 3,000$ that I had saved just in case), and much more. At first I did it just for him to feel better, but as things got worse I kept it for just as much my sake as him.
"I will I promise" he said crawling back into my lap, "now shhh it's the king of New York song!"
I smiled and held him close to me, looking over to the clock to see it was 5:17 and I had to be at work by 5:45 so mom should be home soon. As if on cue the door opened and our mom walked it.
"Hellooo" she said walking in and smiling at Blake, "are you ready to spend some time with me."
I frowned at how happy she was acting, normally she only was that way when she was drunk, still I didn't smell any signs of it. "Mom can we talk for a second?"
"Fine" she said sternly to me as we walked into the dining room. I was slightly glad that was being stern with me, that proved she wasn't drunk.
"Okay he has already had his medications for the day and should be about ready for a nap." I said giving her information on that to to do.
"Annabella I know how to raise my own son" she said acting as if I was stupid.
I wanted to yell at her that he was more mine son than hers but I didn't want to start an argument. So we walked back into the living room and I kissed Blake on the forehead. "Okay baby I have to now. You be a good boy and remember what I told you. I love you."
He smiled and hugged me "I love you too!"
I looked to mom and reluctantly opened the door and left. I had a worried feeling in the pit of my stomach about all of this, but I had no choice. I took a deep breath and backed away from the drive way, preying this whole wouldn't take long.
-
"I'm home" I said placing my bag on the table and looking around, "mom where's Blake?"
"In bed" she said not looking away from the TV screen "said he was tired and wanted you, so I sent him to bed."
I sighed at her then walked into his room to see him on one side, sleeping. I smiled and sat down beside him and gently rubbing my hand on his back. I didn't mean to wake him but he did and turned to look at me.
"Annabella I don't feel good" he said trying to sit up "my head and tummy really hurt plus I feel weak."
"Oh baby I'm sorry, you know I didn't want to leave you when you were sick" I said feeling is forehead to find it not very warm "do you feel like your going to be sick?"
"Mabey" he whined holding his stomach.
I got up and grabbed the trash can and handed it to him. He took it and was sick on cue. I rubbed his back and waited for him to stop. Then he lifted his head for me to see his mouth and nose covered with blood.
"Oh God" I whispered realizing what was happening but not wanting to scare him, "baby come on we need to go to the hospital."
"N-no" he said starting to cry "I've been getting better! I don't wanna go back!"
"I'm sorry" I said picking him up gently in one arm and the"run away bag in the other, "but we don't have a choice this time." I quickly ran out of the room only stoping in the living room to grab my keys, but then realizing mom was in there.
"What's going on!" She yelled looking at Blake's weak body "what happened to Blake."
"He's relapsing" I said quickly "and I need to get him to the ER now!"
"I'm coming to!" She yelled standing up "I'll drive, you hold him in the back!"
It's sad that only at times like this was when she starts acting like a real mother. One with compassion and love. But that didn't matter, we just needed to get him safe.
I tossed her my keys and ran out to the car, jumping in the back seat with Blake. Mom jumped in the front and quickly began driving. I held him close to me, completely ignoring the blood getting all over my shirt, trying to comfort him best I could.
"Annabella" he said in a whisper "I'm I going to die this time?"
I looked at him shocked and tried to keep myself from crying. "No baby, why would you even think that" I said lovingly.
"Are you sure" he whispered "because right now, I really just want to fall asleep for forever."
"Baby lesson to me" I said sternly but with compassion in my voice "you are not going to leave me tonight. Your going to go get some more medicine that will make you feel all better. Then you will come home and everything will be the same again. I need you here with me buddy, I don't know what I would do without you. I love you to the moon and back."
"I love you even more than that" he said with a weak smile and closing his eyes to sleep"I'll try to stay for you I promise."
I kissed the top of his balding head and held him super close to me. But soon we were near the ER and went to wake him, but there was no response. "Blake?" I said my voice going high "BLAKE!"
We pulled up to the ER. Mom dropped us off at the front and pulled the car around. I quickly got out and ran to the right room screaming, "someone please help me! He won't wake up!" Two nurses came running over and a doctor took him from me. I went to follow them but a nurse looked over my appearance and pushed me back "I'm sorry parents or parents consent only."
"Look" I half yelled at her "I'm the closest thing he has to a mother, I'm his blood sister and our biological mother is on the way. Someone needed to be there if- when he wakes up!"
"Alright" she said and with that I quickly ran, following the doctor. I looked at Blake and then at the doctor and yelled "no no your holding him wrong! He hates it when he's held like that! JUST GIVE HIM TO ME!"
Shocked at my reaction the doctor obeyed and handed him to me. I lifted him correctly with his head at my shoulder and followed the doctor. Soon we were at the room and I gently laid Blake onto the tiny bed, then watched as the doctors and nurses began picking, prodding, and placing things on Blake.
All I could do was watch horror. And for the first time that night I got a tariffing thought.
What if he does die tonight?
But no that wasn't going to happen. Blake needed me and as much as I didn't want to say it, I needed him. Blake was the only reason I got up in the morning. The only reason I smiled every night I came home. Blake was why I breathed, why I smiled, why I laughed. Blake was why I lived. And if he died... I would have no reason to live. I looked over to Blake, then to the doctors and nurses, then back to Blake. I sighed and looked off to nowhere and spoke to no one whispering "Blake has to get better, someone please let me help him."
