A/N: So this story has probably received the most feedback out of all my stories. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing and favoriting and alerting this story! It means the world to me! You guys are seriously amazing and I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the first one!
I would like to thank my best friend 76-trombones for helping me with this chapter. You're the best.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance life is suffering, and only the very young or the very foolish imagine otherwise- George Orwell
It started with a fever.
Hector Garcia had always been sickly, so no one in the Garcia family thought anything of it for the first week or so. It was the random bruises and constant vomiting, coupled with the ever-present fever, that caused the family to take Hector to the doctor. After running various tests, the doctor had a diagnosis that shocked the family senseless.
Their sweet little nine year old Hector had acute lymphobatic leukemia.
They received the news only eight weeks ago, but for Carlos, the transformation he saw take place in his little brother was terrifying.
As Carlos sits by his brother's beside, he looks over the nine year old increduously. Though Hector had always been small for his age, he now resembles a skeleton. His face is gaunt, the healthy flushed hue completely wiped off of his face. His cheekbones jut out, his skin tightly stretched across their sharp edges. The chemo had caused Hector's spiky raven hair to fall out, so Carlos' mother tearfully requested the nurses to shave it off. Now, his young face looks even older and sicklier than Carlos thought was possible.
The doctors tell the Garcia family to not lose hope. Hector was young, they claim, and acute lymphobatic leukemia has many types of treatment they can administer should the chemo fail to work. Hector's main doctor, a young woman named Alexis Johnson, insists that positivity is the number one treatment they have. Dr. Johnson says she has witnessed the power of positivity at work, and that it truly is the key to any person' recovery.
Carlos doesn't doubt what the good doctor says, but as he hold Hecktor's hand and listens to his ragged breathing, he doesn't know if all the positivity in the world could save his little brother now.
He fears it's too late.
The door to Hector's hospital room opens and his mother and father walk in, along with a person Carlos hasn't seen in a while. Carlos' big sister Gloria hesitantly approaches the bed, her hands shaking as she leans over to hug Hector. The nineteen year old then turns to Carlos, her light brown eyes darkened by the sorrow she feels. Knowing his brother is watching, Carlos keeps his composure as he hugs his big sister, fighting the urge to collapse into her embrace. After several minutes, the two part and Carlos is better able to see the state his sister is in.
For most college students, the biggest anxiety is doing well in their classes. Though Gloria is a pre-med student, Carlos knows the bags under her eyes are not from her classes. He can't even imagine how she must've felt when she received the phone call from her mom about Hector's illness. Almost reflexively, Carlos tries to offer a small, comforting smile to reassure his big sister that everything will be okay.
The Garcia family sits in the hospital room for hours, attempting to reassure one another that love and hope will get them through this ordeal. Eventually, they fall into silence, allowing themselves to explore the recesses of their mind.
Carlos has never been one for stillness or contemplation, so when the silence proves too great for him to handle, he asks his sister about college. Though he isn't really interested in hearing about microorganisms and bacteria, he is grateful for the distraction, though half-hearted it might be.
The family continues this pattern for the duration of their time. After what feels like both an eternity and an instant, a nurse enters the room, politely telling them that visting hours are over. Mrs. Garcia fights back her tears as she kisses her baby's forehead, wishing him sweet dreams. After Mrs. Garcia comes Mr. Garcia, who kisses Hector's forehead as well, promising him that they would be back as soon as visiting hours started in the morning. He gives his son a reassuring pat on the shoulder before he steps aside to let Gloria say goodnight. Keeping a brave front, she hugs him and tells him everything will be okay. She gives him a quick peck on the cheek and gives Carlos room to say goodbye.
Carlos' stomach plummets to his feet as he approaches his brother's bed for the last time that night. He avoids his brother's eyes as he leans in to hug him, knowing that if he looked into Hector's eyes, he would completely break down. Carlos feels his brother wrap his bony arms around him weakly, which doesn't help Carlos' current emotional state at all. Staying in this position for some time, Carlos strains to feel the rhythm of his brother's heartbeat, hoping it would serve as a reminder that his brother is still of this earth. Though soft, Carlos definitely feels it, and for the first time that night, he allows himself to hope.
The two brothers break the embrace, but Carlos lingers. Logically, he knows his brother will still be there in the morning, the doctors gave no indication that his condition is that advanced. But he still can't bring himself to leave his baby brother.
When he sees that Carlos is not moving, Mr. Garcia places his hand on his eldest son's shoulder, and gently leads him away from Hector. With one last goodbye, the Garcia family leaves the hospital room.
A/N: I want to dedicate this chapter to those who know what it's like to have loved ones extremely ill and/or dying. My prayers are with you.
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter! I really hope you liked it. Next chapter will be about Logan's secret.