Chapter 2: Bad News

Mimi and Roger arrived at the hospital only to find that the rest of the

bohemians there in the waiting room. Even Benny." There you guys are!"

Benny said as the couple walked in.Although Roger hated Benny for

practicably evicting them, he knew that this was not the time.Angel ran over to

Mimi and gently gave her a hug, tears streaming down her face. She

kissed Roger and pulled away. Collins took off his cap and gravely shook his

head. "Why Mark, it wasn't supposed to be this way?" he said.

Roger bent his head down and said to Collins "Yeah, how could he be hit by a

car?'All was silent. Maureen and Joanne occasionally cried in each others

arms. Roger pacedaround the room. Angel finally broke the silence and

said:"We better go in to see Mark soon." Roger banged his hand against the

wall and nearly shouted at Angel " I know damn it. We got to wait until the

doctor calls us in!"Sure enough, a nurse emerged from the door and asked:"Is

someone here for Mark Cohen?" Roger stood up at once, followed by Mimi

and the others."All of us Ma'am." Roger replied.The nurse took a deep breath

" I'm sorry, but only two can be with Mr. Cohen at a time rightnow. Please

follow me." Roger and Mimi walked out of the waiting room, promising to

the others that they would see Mark. They walked down the long narrow path,

past the machines and the wheelchairs andstopped near the end; Room 602.

" Wait here please while I get Dr. Studley." the nurse said.

The couple nodded. They waited amidst the silence, slowly going insane with

the creeping silence around them. Suddenly, a young doctor emerged. She had

long brown hair tiedin a bun. She carried a clipboard and was dressed in green

scrubs. She walked over to Roger andMimi and reached out her hand."Hello

Mr. Davis, I'm Doctor Studley, Mark's primary doctor." she stated.Roger

shook her hand. "Hello doctor, how is Mark?" he asked.The doctor took a

deep breath and said: " Well, he has sustained a number of injuriesincluding a

skull fracture which we repaired and several broken ribs. Currently he is in a

coma, but we don't know for how long.""But will he make it?"Roger

asked.Dr. Studley sighed " That all depends on him. Now I'll let you see him.

Expect to be alarmed but just look at it like he is sleeping." she said.Doctor

Studley opened the door and Roger and Mimi walked in. Mimi instantly clung

to Roger at the sight of Mark. Roger looked at the body lying in the hospital

bed, shocked to believe thatthe body was Mark's. A portion of Mark's head

was bandaged and his face still had scratches and bruises. He was connected to

a heart monitor, several IV's and a breathing tube." How can this be Mark?"

Roger asked himself.

The doctor walked ahead, taking Mark's vital signs on her clipboard. She

turned to the couple and said:" Mark is connected to a breathing tube for the

time being because he had troublebreathing. His ribs practically punctured his

lungs, so he had to go in and repair it. The IV's areconnected to his medication

and food supply. Hopefully, we will be able to remove the tube in afew days,

but then again that all depends on him. I'll alert your party, and they may come

in to see him."

She left the room without another word. Roger and Mimi were still quiet,

until Mimi walkedover to the bed. She gently touched Mark's hand, hoping to

not set off anything. She kissed itand cried on his pillow. Roger walked over

and hugged her. Mimi bent down to Mark's ear and said: " Mark, are you in

there? Mark please don't die. We need you. Please pull through."

The door opened and the other bohemians walked in. Maureen ran over to

Mark and cried: " Marky!" Joanne hugged her, gently saying that it's alright.

Collins held Angel's hand and bentdown his head. He couldn't believe that

Mark was like this; in a hospital bed. " It can't be Mark." He doesn't deserve

this." he said.Even Benny was silent. Although he was the black sheep, he still

cared deeply about Mark. Joanne broke the silence by asking Roger:

Will he be alright Roger?"

Roger breathed deeply and replied:

"The doctor said that it all depends on him."

The bohemian family stayed in the room, praying to God that he will help their

weakest member. Before they knew it, visiting hours were over and they had to

leave. After each one gently touched Mark, they left the hospital, hoping to get

the call that he woke up.

Man this is a long chapter. Anyway, review and the next chapter will be Mark in a dream sequence.