Chapter 4: The Secret's Out
"What happened?" Edna Harper questioned Colin upon seeing the two staggering into the clinic.
"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me." Colin panicked. "But it looks bad."
"Please - get my dad." Ephram begged with his back leaning against the wall of the foyer. He couldn't breath no matter how hard he inhaled air.
"Ephram - tell me what's wrong. Did you fall? Did someone hurt you?" Edna asked trying to decipher the cause of the problem.
Ephram couldn't stand anymore. He slid down to the floor with his back still leaning against the wall. He hugged his chest tightly.
"I want my dad!!" Ephram sobbed. "It hurts."
"Doc!!!! Need you out here NOW!!!! Doc!!!" Edna screamed down the hall as she crouched next to Ephram.
Andy came running to see what the commotion was about. "What is it Edna?" His voice trailed off when he saw his son sitting on the floor crying hysterically. "Ephram!!"
"Dad! Help me." Ephram whimpered thru blinding tears. "My back hurts really bad."
"We should move him into the exam room." Edna suggested getting ready to help Ephram up.
"No! Don't move him. Call an ambulance. We've got to get him to the hospital immediately." Andy instructed.
"But we don't know." Edna began to say.
"Edna, you don't understand." Andy said shaking his head. "He may be bleeding internally. Ephram's got an aortic aneurysm." Andy added. Shocked, Edna did as she was told.
"Ephram, I'm going to need you to lie down on the floor." Andy's voice squeaked as he tried desperately to remain calm.
"I can't move." Ephram coughed as Colin watched in horror.
"I'll help you." Andy offered as he slipped his arms firmly around his son supporting his back and waist. "Easy does it." The pain was so intense that Ephram grabbed his father's sleeves and refused to let go. Tears poured from his eyes. "You're going to be fine." Andy comforted.
"I'm scared." Ephram moaned as his back was laid gently to the floor.
"Here, hold my hand." Andy said taking Ephram's hand. "Edna! Get the oxygen tank from the exam room." Andy ordered seeing his son beginning to wheeze.
Ephram managed to stay conscious during most of the ambulance ride to the hospital. His father sat by his side never once letting go of his son's hand. Ephram didn't have the strength to cry any more tears. The painkillers left him tired and sleepy. Andy was nearly scared out of his wits when Ephram's tight handgrip suddenly went limp until the paramedics reassured Andy that Ephram was just asleep.
He awakened to find himself confined to a hospital bed. Numerous tubes and wires attached and inserted into his body freaked him out. The room was deathly quiet except for unidentifiable noises that came from the contraptions he was hooked up to. He searched fearfully for his father.
"I'm here." Andy said seated in a chair next to Ephram's bed. "Feeling better I hope." Andy attempted a smile. "I know it looks intimidating but it's not. Just keeps track of your vitals." Andy added upon seeing Ephram's bewildered gaze at the machinery that filled his room.
Ephram took a deep breath of oxygen and opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out on the first try. He tried again and this time, a loud grunt came from his lips.
"Shhh. You don't have to say anything. It's ok." Andy played with Ephram's long fingers. Ephram looked hard into his father's eyes. Andy had been crying. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy. Ephram didn't understand how his father, who was perceived to be so strong and always keeping his cool, can possibly breakdown into a sea of tears. Does the life of Ephram Brown end here? Was this it? What was going to become of his father and Delia? Was he going to feel any pain when he finally descends into the darkness never to return? Questions ran thru Ephram's head like wildfire.
"Dying." Ephram's bluish lips quivered. He decided he had to be man enough to handle the answer. He coached himself to accept the consequences.
"What? No!! That's not going to happen."
"Want truth." Upon seeing Ephram's questioning stare, Andy couldn't bear the hopelessness in his son's eyes. All he wanted was a piece of the truth. He wasn't asking for a whole lot. He had to give him an answer.
"The good news is the aneurysm did not rupture. Because of the circumstances, Dr. Sommers was able to obtain yesterday's CAT scan results back early." Andy sighed tearfully. "The aneurysm has gotten bigger by one centimeter. It's putting pressure against neighboring organs and blood vessels, which would explain the excruciating pain in your back, chest and arms."
"Looks like you're getting that surgery a lot sooner than we thought. Dr. Sommers scheduled it for tomorrow morning." Andy continued. "By this time tomorrow, you're going to be good as new."
Andy tried so hard to be strong but looking at his son this way broke his heart. Ephram's face was a shade paler with parched bluish lips. Gray circles hung under his dull tired eyes. His frame was so gaunt and frail that his collarbone protruded under his skin. Andy saw how fragile and weak his son appeared and wanted so bad to be optimistic. He would do anything to lift his son's spirits.
"You know what I heard? There's a going to be a Marvel and DC comic book convention coming to Vegas in January. I figure by then you would be up and running. How about we fly over and attend? It'll be fun!! Just you, me and Delia. You'll get to meet fellow comic book geeks - I mean buffs - across the nation." Andy laughed. "Would you like that?"
"I know what you are trying to do, dad. I'm not stupid." Ephram frowned. He was weak in body but his feistiness made up for it. "You're just trying to get my mind off surgery. It's not necessary."
"Oh, so you DON'T want to meet the creators of your X-Men's Wolf-Man and what's-it-called Masters of the Universe or Darkness something or other." Andy rebutted wittingly causing Ephram to chuckle. But instead, his dry cough shook his thin frame. "You ok?"
"First of all, it's Wolverine and second of all, it's Princes of Darkness. I think He-Man was more your generation." Ephram corrected in a hoarse voice.
"I'm going to make you a deal. You concentrate on getting well and I'll beef up on getting all the super hero facts straight. You can even quiz me before we go to the convention. What do you say?" Andy challenged.
"Sure. If you think you can handle it." Ephram grinned. Somehow, with his father by his side, ICU wasn't so menacing after all. The machines and the confinement weren't as bad as it seemed. 'Get used to it Brown, you are going to be here for a while' Ephram told himself.
He looked around the solitary room. There was a large window facing the outside to his left. The sun was setting behind the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. 'How lucky - a room with a view. When I'm not thinking about death, I can look out the window at a couple of rocks' Ephram thought ironically. He scrutinized the rest of the room. A couple of chairs and a small rectangular table stood at one corner. He noticed an interior glass window next to the door. Watching thru that very window were Colin, Bright, and Amy.
"They know." Ephram said turning to his father. Andy nodded.
"Sorry, but they had to find out sooner or later. They want to see you though."
"I don't want to talk to them right now."
"They're very worried about you."
"Just tell them I'm tired or something. It's not so far from the truth." Ephram blinked drowsily. "Please?"
"If that's what you want."
Ephram watched the melancholy faces of his three friends. Bright and Colin stood there quietly with their hands hidden in the pockets of their letterman jackets reminding Ephram of two bowling pins. The three of them watched him sympathetically. Except for maybe Colin, they couldn't possibly identify with the pain he was going thru. Then he switched his glance over to Amy. She was wearing a khaki coat with a fur collar. Her pretty face was filled with sadness and her lips trembled. He could've sworn he saw a tear glistening on her cheek. 'Was Amy crying?' Ephram thought. 'Did she care so much about me?'
"Do you need anything?" Andy asked.
"Yea. Nina." Ephram mumbled as he fell asleep.
* end of chapter 4 *
"What happened?" Edna Harper questioned Colin upon seeing the two staggering into the clinic.
"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me." Colin panicked. "But it looks bad."
"Please - get my dad." Ephram begged with his back leaning against the wall of the foyer. He couldn't breath no matter how hard he inhaled air.
"Ephram - tell me what's wrong. Did you fall? Did someone hurt you?" Edna asked trying to decipher the cause of the problem.
Ephram couldn't stand anymore. He slid down to the floor with his back still leaning against the wall. He hugged his chest tightly.
"I want my dad!!" Ephram sobbed. "It hurts."
"Doc!!!! Need you out here NOW!!!! Doc!!!" Edna screamed down the hall as she crouched next to Ephram.
Andy came running to see what the commotion was about. "What is it Edna?" His voice trailed off when he saw his son sitting on the floor crying hysterically. "Ephram!!"
"Dad! Help me." Ephram whimpered thru blinding tears. "My back hurts really bad."
"We should move him into the exam room." Edna suggested getting ready to help Ephram up.
"No! Don't move him. Call an ambulance. We've got to get him to the hospital immediately." Andy instructed.
"But we don't know." Edna began to say.
"Edna, you don't understand." Andy said shaking his head. "He may be bleeding internally. Ephram's got an aortic aneurysm." Andy added. Shocked, Edna did as she was told.
"Ephram, I'm going to need you to lie down on the floor." Andy's voice squeaked as he tried desperately to remain calm.
"I can't move." Ephram coughed as Colin watched in horror.
"I'll help you." Andy offered as he slipped his arms firmly around his son supporting his back and waist. "Easy does it." The pain was so intense that Ephram grabbed his father's sleeves and refused to let go. Tears poured from his eyes. "You're going to be fine." Andy comforted.
"I'm scared." Ephram moaned as his back was laid gently to the floor.
"Here, hold my hand." Andy said taking Ephram's hand. "Edna! Get the oxygen tank from the exam room." Andy ordered seeing his son beginning to wheeze.
Ephram managed to stay conscious during most of the ambulance ride to the hospital. His father sat by his side never once letting go of his son's hand. Ephram didn't have the strength to cry any more tears. The painkillers left him tired and sleepy. Andy was nearly scared out of his wits when Ephram's tight handgrip suddenly went limp until the paramedics reassured Andy that Ephram was just asleep.
He awakened to find himself confined to a hospital bed. Numerous tubes and wires attached and inserted into his body freaked him out. The room was deathly quiet except for unidentifiable noises that came from the contraptions he was hooked up to. He searched fearfully for his father.
"I'm here." Andy said seated in a chair next to Ephram's bed. "Feeling better I hope." Andy attempted a smile. "I know it looks intimidating but it's not. Just keeps track of your vitals." Andy added upon seeing Ephram's bewildered gaze at the machinery that filled his room.
Ephram took a deep breath of oxygen and opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out on the first try. He tried again and this time, a loud grunt came from his lips.
"Shhh. You don't have to say anything. It's ok." Andy played with Ephram's long fingers. Ephram looked hard into his father's eyes. Andy had been crying. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy. Ephram didn't understand how his father, who was perceived to be so strong and always keeping his cool, can possibly breakdown into a sea of tears. Does the life of Ephram Brown end here? Was this it? What was going to become of his father and Delia? Was he going to feel any pain when he finally descends into the darkness never to return? Questions ran thru Ephram's head like wildfire.
"Dying." Ephram's bluish lips quivered. He decided he had to be man enough to handle the answer. He coached himself to accept the consequences.
"What? No!! That's not going to happen."
"Want truth." Upon seeing Ephram's questioning stare, Andy couldn't bear the hopelessness in his son's eyes. All he wanted was a piece of the truth. He wasn't asking for a whole lot. He had to give him an answer.
"The good news is the aneurysm did not rupture. Because of the circumstances, Dr. Sommers was able to obtain yesterday's CAT scan results back early." Andy sighed tearfully. "The aneurysm has gotten bigger by one centimeter. It's putting pressure against neighboring organs and blood vessels, which would explain the excruciating pain in your back, chest and arms."
"Looks like you're getting that surgery a lot sooner than we thought. Dr. Sommers scheduled it for tomorrow morning." Andy continued. "By this time tomorrow, you're going to be good as new."
Andy tried so hard to be strong but looking at his son this way broke his heart. Ephram's face was a shade paler with parched bluish lips. Gray circles hung under his dull tired eyes. His frame was so gaunt and frail that his collarbone protruded under his skin. Andy saw how fragile and weak his son appeared and wanted so bad to be optimistic. He would do anything to lift his son's spirits.
"You know what I heard? There's a going to be a Marvel and DC comic book convention coming to Vegas in January. I figure by then you would be up and running. How about we fly over and attend? It'll be fun!! Just you, me and Delia. You'll get to meet fellow comic book geeks - I mean buffs - across the nation." Andy laughed. "Would you like that?"
"I know what you are trying to do, dad. I'm not stupid." Ephram frowned. He was weak in body but his feistiness made up for it. "You're just trying to get my mind off surgery. It's not necessary."
"Oh, so you DON'T want to meet the creators of your X-Men's Wolf-Man and what's-it-called Masters of the Universe or Darkness something or other." Andy rebutted wittingly causing Ephram to chuckle. But instead, his dry cough shook his thin frame. "You ok?"
"First of all, it's Wolverine and second of all, it's Princes of Darkness. I think He-Man was more your generation." Ephram corrected in a hoarse voice.
"I'm going to make you a deal. You concentrate on getting well and I'll beef up on getting all the super hero facts straight. You can even quiz me before we go to the convention. What do you say?" Andy challenged.
"Sure. If you think you can handle it." Ephram grinned. Somehow, with his father by his side, ICU wasn't so menacing after all. The machines and the confinement weren't as bad as it seemed. 'Get used to it Brown, you are going to be here for a while' Ephram told himself.
He looked around the solitary room. There was a large window facing the outside to his left. The sun was setting behind the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. 'How lucky - a room with a view. When I'm not thinking about death, I can look out the window at a couple of rocks' Ephram thought ironically. He scrutinized the rest of the room. A couple of chairs and a small rectangular table stood at one corner. He noticed an interior glass window next to the door. Watching thru that very window were Colin, Bright, and Amy.
"They know." Ephram said turning to his father. Andy nodded.
"Sorry, but they had to find out sooner or later. They want to see you though."
"I don't want to talk to them right now."
"They're very worried about you."
"Just tell them I'm tired or something. It's not so far from the truth." Ephram blinked drowsily. "Please?"
"If that's what you want."
Ephram watched the melancholy faces of his three friends. Bright and Colin stood there quietly with their hands hidden in the pockets of their letterman jackets reminding Ephram of two bowling pins. The three of them watched him sympathetically. Except for maybe Colin, they couldn't possibly identify with the pain he was going thru. Then he switched his glance over to Amy. She was wearing a khaki coat with a fur collar. Her pretty face was filled with sadness and her lips trembled. He could've sworn he saw a tear glistening on her cheek. 'Was Amy crying?' Ephram thought. 'Did she care so much about me?'
"Do you need anything?" Andy asked.
"Yea. Nina." Ephram mumbled as he fell asleep.
* end of chapter 4 *