AN: Hey guys! Sorry, this is up late but better now than never! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope you continue to read this story.
Evan's POV
When I woke up it was 8:45. I checked my phone for about 10 minutes before getting myself into my wheelchair. I went to the kitchen to grab some water when the doorbell rang. Shit, I forgot Connor was coming over. I wheeled myself over to open the door.
"Hey Connor," I say.
"Hey Ev," Connor said before looking down at what I was wearing. I rubbed my neck and felt embarrassed as I spoke.
"Yeah, um sorry. I just woke up. I forgot you were coming."
"Anyway," He says, changing the subject. "I'm gonna assume that you haven't eaten breakfast, want me to make pancakes?"
"Oh, no it's fine. I'm not really hungry." I say. I didn't like it when I seemed like a burden.
"I know you don't like it when people help you but if you haven't noticed, your like 20 pounds underweight." I glanced down at my skinny body as if I didn't know that it looked like that.
"Bu-" I start to say.
"No buts. I'm making pancakes whether you like it or not." Connor says as he starts to take the pancake mix and milk out. I sighed. I should have known that Connor wouldn't listen.
"So, how's therapy going?" He asks. He's mixing the batter with one hand while the other took out a pan to put on the stove.
"Ok, I guess," I say. I didn't feel like talking about it right now but I didn't want Connor to think I was mad at him. It took about 20 minutes for Connor to finish up the pancakes. He brought them over to the table and pulled out two plates and some syrup. I reluctantly took one pancake and started picking at it. I really wasn't hungry but I also didn't want to waste Connor's effort. Connor, on the other hand, had already finished two. A few moments later, the front door burst open.
"YO ACORN!" Jared yells as he enters my house.
"What are you doing here Jared?!" I asked.
"I don't know, I was bored so I decided to come to see my friend!" Jared says, way too enthusiastically. Then he spots Connor.
"Oh hey, Murphy!" He says while reaching for a pancake. Connor slaps his hand away.
"Hey who said you could have one!" Connor says! In a minute, they were in a full blown argument. This is gonna be a long day.
Around 12...
Connor and Jared had gone back home and my mom's shift was ending soon. Connor had made me some mac and cheese before he left. I ate it while waiting for my mom. At exactly 12:20 I heard her car door slam and her keys as she unlocked the front door.
"Evan! I'm home!"
"Hey, mom!" I say. I roll over to greet her.
"I have some great news!" My mom had a huge grin on her face
"Go on," I say.
"So, the doctor's said that there's this surgery that will strengthen your legs and support your spine that gives you a better chance at walking again!"
"Really?! That's great." I say.
"I scheduled an appointment with Doctor Erin to go over it."
"Wait, so I might actually walk again!"
"Yes!" My mom says with tears in her eyes. "You're gonna walk again!" She says as she engulfs me in a huge hug.
"I have to text my friends!" I wheel myself to the table to grab my phone.
EH: Guys! I have the best news!
JK: What Acorn?
CM: Oooo what is it?
ZM: Tell us!
EH: So my mom just talked with Doctor Erin
JK: Who?
ZM: Evan's doctor from when he was in a coma
CM: I forgot that Jared wasn't there when Evan was in the hospital
JK: Well I'm sorry! I'm here now!
EH: GUYS
ZM: Sorry
JK: Sorry Acorn
CM: Sorry Ev
ZM: So what's this great news?
EH: Like I was saying, my mom talked to Doctor Erin
CM: And...
EH: And there's this surgery that can increase my chance of walking again!
ZM: That's great!
CM: Awesome!
JK: Really?! That's great Acorn!
EH: Thanks, bath-bomb
ZM: Oooo when did calling Jared bath-bomb become a thing
CM: HA BATH-BOMB
JK: EVERYBODY SHUT UP
ZM: Now back to Evan. I'm so happy for you!
EH: Well it's not 100% set in stone that I'm gonna do it but I think there's a high chance
CM: YAY
My appointment with Doctor Erin was at five. I couldn't wait. This could be it. I could walk again.
Soon enough I heard my mom call me over.
"Evan! Time to go!"
"Coming!"
My mom stood by the front door with her purse and car keys in her hand. She opened the door and I rolled myself to her car. It took about five minutes until we actually started driving.
"You excited?" She asks, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Yeah," I say. I wanted to get this surgery but I'm pretty sure it would be really expensive. I had already cost us a fortune being in a coma and needing therapy.
"What's wrong? I can tell you're thinking of something." She says.
"It's just, I've already made you spend so much money and I'm sure this is gonna be expensive too."
"Oh, Evan. Don't worry about money. I don't care how much it cost. I'll find a way to pay for it. As long as your happy."
"But I don't want to seem like a burden."
"Evan, you will never be a burden. I will love you no matter what. You understand?" She says. I nod my head. Before we knew it we had arrived at the hospital. We waited about 5 minutes until Doctor Erin called us back.
"Hi, Evan. How are you doing?"
"Fine,"
"So today we're here to talk about surgery for Evan, correct?"
"Yes," My mom responds.
"So, what we would do in this surgery is stabilize his legs with some metal rods, and add a metal support on his spine."
"And this will help him to walk?" My mom asks.
"That's what we're hoping for, yes."
"How much would this cost?" I ask. I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt.
"Around 30k." Doctor Erin says. I hear my mom gulp. I feel my hands start to get sweaty. I knew that it'd be expensive.
"And there's another downside," Doctor Erin says with a monotone voice. Shit. "This surgery is very risky. There's only a 30% chance that he'll make it through."
"What?!" My mom yells.
"But we have a group of very good surgeons that I trust very much."
"But there's only a 30% chance of him living! And even then it's not an 100% chance that he will be able to walk!" My mom looked furious.
"I can give you some time to think about it if you like. You two can talk it over a bit."
"Thank you for your time." I say. I didn't want to leave on a bad note. My mom and I made our way back to her car. We started the drive back home.
"Mom?" I say quietly.
"Yes sweetie?"
"Are you still going to let me do the surgery?"
"I don't know honey."
"But I really want to."
"I know honey. But, I don't want to lose you." I look over at her and I see tears in my eyes. "We'll talk about it later okay?" She says.
"Okay," I say. I pull out my phone to text my friends.
EH: I just came back from the doctor
ZM: How'd it go? Are you gonna do it?
EH: We still haven't decided
CM: Why?
EH: Well there are two reasons
EH: First off, it's kinda expensive
JK: But it'll allow you to walk again!
CM: Yeah! And plus, if your worried about finance Zoe and I can help out
ZM: What's the second reason?
EH: Well, there's only a 30% chance of me making through the surgery
ZM: WHAT
JK: SH*T
CM: FU*K NO
CM: So you're saying that there's a 70% chance of you dying?!
EH: Yeah, that's why we still don't know whether we want to follow through with the surgery
EH: I'll text you guys later when we decide.
Connor's POV
After Evan texted I got up from my bed and punched my wall. I yelled and screamed. Evan finally had a chance to get better and now there's a high chance that he'll die in the process. I heard a knock on my door.
"Go the fu*k away!" I yelled.
"Con? It's me." I heard Zoe's voice. Before I could respond I heard my door click open. "You ok?" She asks.
"Do I look okay?" I snap. I see her flinch and take a small step back. "Sorry," I mumble.
"Look, I know your upset about Evan,"
"Aren't you? I mean, he finally has a chance to walk and then he comes with the news that he might die!" Zoe stood beside me and started to rub my back.
"I know it's hard but no matter what Evan chooses, we should support him."
"I know, but it's just so difficult seeing that your best friend might die in the process of something good."
"It's hard for me too, Con." We both sat down on my bed for a while. I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I read the caller ID. Evan. I answered the phone. Evan said one quick line.
"I'm gonna do it."
