Watching this scene broke my heart. I hope you all enjoy it.
-Me
His knuckles coasted along the smooth edge of his desk until they reached their destination.
Come on Auggie, deep breaths. He chanted a few times in his head.
His fingers hovering over the button that would connect him to the man waiting on the other end of the line. He could feel his hand starting to tremble. One more breath in and he pressed the button.
Dr. Kessle.
Auggie.
Anything?
Our MRI results came in. I'm sorry to say you are not a suitable candidate for the experimental therapies at this time.
And just like that, all the air in his lungs vanished. His heart momentarily stopped. His stomach dropped. Who knew the human body could withstand so many blows at once from a sentence.
In the deep corners of his mind, Auggie knew that this was going to be the answer. But that didn't mean he hadn't hoped to God that it wouldn't have been. He hoped that he'd be suitable. That the cranial swelling would have receded. That the stem cell therapy would work for him. That he could see Parker's face. Annie's face. Drive the 'Vette. His dream car. The one he never got to drive.
Time seemed to stop as he stared unseeing in the general direction of the windows. He could feel his heart splintering at the thought of truly never seeing again.
Ok. Thanks. He said, trying his hardest to hide the hurt he felt.
I'm very sorry Auggie. He could hear the truth in the doctors words. He was terribly sorry.
Ok. Was all he could manage. He could feel his wall breaking. He had to hang up before he lost it.
Auggie- Dr. Kessle tried, but Auggie cut him off.
I gotta go. He said, his voice breaking in the slightest.
He hit the button again and disconnected the call. It felt like he was disconnecting from another life. His old life. One that he knew he needed to leave behind. The one he'd been clinging too since he met Parker. He needed to move on now. Accept his disability, and continue on with his life. His new life. He drew a deep breath in, closed his eyes and hung his head.
And just like that, he snapped back into work mode. Calling in to try and get North Star Marines General manager on the line. He needed to help Annie now. Get her home safe. He'd worry about this later.
But as he typed furiously on his keyboard, Auggie couldn't help the tremble that overcame his lower lip, or the tears that stung his eyes and threatened to fall.
