Chapter 12:
You might just get what you need:
Tick –tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, went the sound of the clock. Such an obvious notion, but silence brings out obvious actions. Waiting, sitting, breathe from the lungs as they let out the air. Shut of the eye lids when the body grows weary. Clench of the teeth when the news is given. Time is interminable, and when it does move forward it's a toss in the air, will you want to go back in the past? Go back to when the news was never given. Time is spent wanting to go forward, but sometimes when you get what you want, you'll do whatever it takes to return it for something you need.
Dylan sat with his doctor in the office the day after his routine check –up. His doctor sat with a serious look on his face. It wasn't looking good, and quite frankly Dylan didn't feel all too well either. What would the test reveal? The office was boring, gray, carpet, medical books; there was nothing comfortable about it. The smell was stale, and the lights were enough to give anyone a headache. Dylan couldn't fathom how anyone could choose to work in an environment like this. His doctor was an older, round man. He reminded Dylan of Santa Claus. Finally, Santa looked up from his file.
"I have some very serious news Dylan." Santa was not smiling his usually inviting smile.
"Just give it to me straight." Dylan requested with fortitude.
Santa took his glasses off rubbing them nervously, "It appears you've become a lot weaker. Your heart can't take the stress anymore. I'm afraid if we don't find a new heart for you soon, well, you may not make it to Christmas so to speak."
Dylan rolled his eyes, leave it to Santa to bring up Christmas…at least a Santa wanna be. Next to that, Santa needs to work on his bed side manner a tad, "Okay, how long before…well…I go?"
Santa let out a sigh, "Worst, worst, worst case, I would say six months."
Dylan now wished he were back in the waiting room, waiting for his appointment; an appointment that would never come.
Cycling round and round, but never are they broken. The days seem to repeat themselves in different fashions. If only for one moment could time pass without a heavy mind, a just to hold, and to be held. Simple moments in life mean the most. All these big events waited, hoped for, created to end boredom. What do they give us? What do they mean? The peace, the silence, the purity of one's heart on top of another's was not just a pleasure, but a privilege. Not everyone can click their heels and obtain such a gift. A moment between two people where there is total understanding in what each other needs despite what each other want. A craving Dylan never had gotten satisfied. A craving most people don't get satisfied, because answers come first over emotion. Curiosity and doubt takes a toll on the finest people.
"You've been staring at that cup of coffee for a half hour. What's the trouble?" Nat sat across from Dylan at the Peach Pit in a corner booth.
"It's nothing…everything…they're one in the same these days." Dylan looked up at Nat trying to keep an emotional expression off his face.
"You worried about the baby?" Nat inquired.
"Yeah," Dylan didn't lie, it was a legit worry of his, even if it wasn't his most recent worry, "Kelly is home now, on bed rest."
"Cheer up. I'm sure the doctors will keep a good eye on her." Nat offered a sympathetic smile.
"Assuming these doctors know what they're doing. One minute they say everything is according to plan, nothing to worry about, just put it off till the time comes, and then the next minute you're being written off." Dylan became aware of his ramble and stopped suddenly.
"Dylan, what are you talking about?" Nat looked at him dumbfounded.
"Nothing, I'm just not willing to put all my trust in one doctor."
"Then what are you planning to do?"
"What can I do? Facts are facts and you have to take them as they're given to you. You have to believe that it's the truth, and if it's not you lay there helpless like you've been all along. Now, suddenly you realize it. You notice your whole life you've been a pawn in someone's game. Nothing was ever yours. Now that what wasn't yours is taken away from you, it's just icing on the cake. That hole your stomach has had just widened, and slowly it'll become wider and wider until you dissipate.
Nat stared at Dylan unsure of how to respond. He quickly jumped up, "You need a piece of pie." He was off like a bolt of lightning, and Dylan didn't blame him for a second.
Steve stared at Janet contemplating. They had been working silence all morning, well Janet had been working while Steve zoned. Finally, she had had it. She got up and leaned over his desk with an angry face.
"I understand that our priorities have not always been on the same level, but we still have a dead line, and I can't carry this whole paper myself all the time, because quite frankly when I do it puts me in a very foul mood."
Steve bolted out of his char and as she did he sang loudly, "I have an IDEAAAA!"
Janet didn't bat an eye.
Steve looked at her filled with excitement, "Dylan is ill, Kelly is…bad and we're all flustered. Put all of this together and what do you get?"
Janet didn't miss a beat, "suicide."
Steve's face quickly dropped, "No." His face lit up again. "Party! I'm talking P-A-R-T-Y! We could invite all our friends back. Brandon, Brenda…you didn't meet her; Andrea, Val. We could have a reunion! How's that for raising everyone's spirits?"
"You just want another reason to let that boisterous animal out of you." Janet didn't seem impressed.
"What's wrong with this idea? It could be a surprise for Kelly and Dylan."
"Nothing is wrong with the idea. How do you know you'll be able to get everyone out here?" Janet inquired.
Steve picked up the phone, "We won't know until we ask them. MWAHAHAHA!"
Lying in bed all day was not all it was cracked up to be. Kelly could not imagine being forced to lie there for another seven months. By some miracle she had not lost the baby, but she was now bed ridden, and she had Gina Kincaid to thank for it. There was a knock on the door. Finally company! Kelly could use a conversation to entertain her.
"Come in." Kelly sat up.
Gina entered and Kelly's face immediately lost all signs off happiness. "I heard the baby was okay…" Gina's voice trailed off.
"Yes, the baby is okay, but not great Gina. I'm in such a risky position now, "Kelly sighed. "Why are you here?"
"I'm done causing you grief, at least over Dylan. I don't forgive you for what you did and you won't ever forgive me for what I did. Maybe we should leave it at that?" Gina stood keeping emotion out of her voice.
"You want to call a truce? Now? Look Gina, I won't go out of my way to make your life hell, I've never tried to, but we can't be around each other. At least, I don't want to be around you, and that feeling is mutual."
"You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours."
"Sounds like a good plan to me." Kelly raised an eyebrow.
Gina turned and walked away. She reached the door out of the apartment, but when she opened it she was quickly started. A moment passed where she only looked at him. She hated him, because loved him, and because he couldn't love her.
"I'm leaving town," was all Gina could get out.
"Am I the cause of that?"
"No, not really, I need a fresh start. This really isn't the right town for me. "
Dylan nodded his head, his thoughts owned by the news he had just received from his doctor, "Well, I hope you find what you're looking for."
"Me too." Gina gave him one last look, and then walked past him.
Smiling happily when Dylan entered the bedroom, Kelly quickly took him in her arms and gave him a kiss. They lie in bed not speaking, but holding each other was enough. It was all Dylan could muster up enough strength to do. Kelly worried immensely about the baby all the time, and since Dylan learned the new he worried too. Now, he couldn't bring himself to worry her about two things. He couldn't bring her to worry about the baby, and his condition.
"Why was Gina here?" Dylan was curious about the issue.
"She wanted to call a truce. What did you say to her?" It was now Kelly's turn to be curious.
"Nothing about what she did to you. I wanted to, but it probably wouldn't have helped matters. Besides she does feel badly." Dylan lied, truthfully saying something to Gina had not crossed his mind. He was in too much shock then, he was in too much shock now. He didn't want Kelly to know though. Her body couldn't handle the stress, and it shouldn't have to.
Kelly felt Dylan's arms around her. They were close, but so far away. Not in a physical manner, but emotionally something was wrong. She didn't answer his response about Gina, because he made a good point, it wouldn't have helped matters, and the yelling would have caused her to yell, and their fake truce would be off the table. Still, she new Gina's actions had upset Dylan. At the hospital he was fully prepared to give her a piece of his mind. What had changed? What had caused him to change his feelings?
Kelly was not a stupid woman, and she was very good at reading people. She did not believe a word what he was saying. She knew he didn't believe what he was saying either. She knew for some reason he had fibbed. It was very clear that there was a lie hidden beneath it all. Kelly fully intended on uncovering it, and finding out exactly what was wrong with the man who would own her heart forever, but not tonight. Tonight she knew he needed silence, he needed to process something. The obvious actions have to be noticed; they would breathe, and close their eyes as their body grew weary. For now a peaceful silence, arm in arm, was all they wanted, but soon Kelly would trade it for something needed…answers.
Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock
