A Reunion chapter 14 by: Guitar Hero
Keith knew he had to tell his parents but he had to find the right moment. Keith walked into the living room where his parents were watching some romantic movie. Keith could tell this was a bad time. He could tell his parents were kissing heatedly. They were oblivious to the world around them. "Mom, Dad, I have to talk to you." Keith said shyly. The two lovers stood up. "No I think you will want to sit down." They started to get worried. "Alright start talking." "You guys know that I haven't been feeling well, right?" Keith asked. They shook their heads yes. "It is because of a condition I have." You have a condition?" Luke asked. "Yes." Keith said. "I have Infectious Arthritis. It is a type of arthritis that can be treated if right away." But?" Luke asked. "The bacterium that caused it keeps returning. It's because I also have a condition where my immune system is very weak. I have to take anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics for the rest of my life. The arthritis is held off by the medicine but it already spread to just about all my body making moving almost impossible but do able. When I was 24 and in the army I had heart failure that caused a condition called Pulmonary Edema, this caused me to cough up blood. That was treated but if I have heart failure again it will return. It was life threatening. Just last year I asked for a cancer screening…but they said I did not have cancer…but they said…it could form any day. Even a cold could kill me." The tears started to well up in Lorelai and Luke's eyes. Luke looked for a sign that would tell them it wasn't true but it never came.
Keith held his parents in his arms. Soon the sobbing subsided. "So how long until you can't move your fingers?" Luke asked sadly. Next year they'll do surgery to replace the joints in my fingers. If it successful they'll do a replacement for the fingers on the other hand." Luke nodded with sorrow in his eyes. "Your shoulders?" They can't do anything about them. To many nerves to damage." Luke nodded again. "Only my fingers can be replaced. Even when they're replaced I'll still have pain." "And the threat of cancer?" Luke asked knowing what would happen." They could try to treat it, but there would be no guarantees I would survive, but with today's technology I have a 60/40 chance of surviving." This brought the group's spirits up a bit. "I take it one day at a time." Keith said. "I'm happy because of the acting coach job. It's really fun. Acting is about the only thing that doesn't cause me much pain." The elder Danes were happy he was happy. They were gonna do what Keith does, take it one day at a time. Their family was held together by love. If their love didn't keep Keith alive nothing would.
End of chapter 14
I hope you liked the plot twist in chapters 13 and 14
I wasn't planning on it but I think it adds quality to the story.
Tell me what you think. Reviews are always welcome!