Ephram was woken up by his alarm clock's radio. The song was one that Delia dedicated to him when she got so sick she thought she was going to die; "Please Remember Me" by Tim McGraw. Instead of turning it off, he hit the snooze button, then got up to get ready for class. Madison and Delia were awake, talking softly as Ephram got ready for class. He was still upset, banging things around. Just as the radio came back on;
Remember me when you're out walking.
When snow falls high outside your door.
Late at night when you're not sleeping,
And moonlight falls across your floor...
And I can't hurt you anymore.
Please Remember me.
He broke down, crying angry tears, clenching the back of his computer chair and gripping really hard, "uuggh!!!" then pushed everything off his desk in one instant sweeping motion which made a large crashing sound. He threw his cell phone across the room. It hit the wall and broke into pieces, "This isnt happening!" he cried, hitting the wall, then collapsing on the floor, still crying. Delia and Madison quickly made their way over to him, tears in Delia's eyes, "Ephram, you're scaring me!"
His voice quivering as his face was in hidden in his hands, "I cant lose you! Ever since Mom died, you're all I have…I cant deal with this--" his voice faded. Madison pulled him to her and hugged him tightly. He tried to pull away but she held tight, whispering, "Let it out, Ephram, its okay to cry!"
He stopped struggling then wrapped his arms around her and just let all his emotions go. Madison held him, comforting him as he cried into her shoulder.
A few minutes later, Delia asked, "are you going to class?" she nodded her head, "I think you should. It'll get your mind off things."
Ephram wiped the tears from his face, "I don't think I'll make it through the day…"
"How about you just go to your first two classes, then afterwards we will call for the results, okay?"
He looked at Madison, his eyes still filled with tears, "aren't you supposed to work today?"
She pursed her lips and smiled, wiping a tear from his face, "I called out. This is more important."
Ephram covered his face with his hands, he was so emotional, "why am I such a wreck! You haven't even gotten the results yet! Uggghhhhh!" and he kicked some things away from him.
Madison kissed his forehead, then helped up so he could finish getting ready for class. Ten minutes later he reluctantly left t, not as emotional or upset as he was when he first woke up, "I'll see you at noon…"
In order to get through the day, Ephram disconnected himself from everything; he didn't even stop to visit Leah. He stayed for the entirety of his first class, but felt as if his heart was going to break, so he just talked to the professor and got the homework and handouts then made his way back to his room. When he got there, Delia and Madison were playing checkers, "hey you!" Madison said, looking up from the game.
Ephram collapsed on his bed, just wanting to sleep this nightmare away…or wake up out of this nightmare. Either way, he didn't want to hurt anymore.
After a while he softly said, "you know…the last time you got sick…I couldn't handle it, I didn't want to deal with it so I pushed everybody I cared about away. I shut everybody out…"
Madison made her way to him, sitting on the bed next to him, holding his hand. Tears formed in his eyes again, "I…am so…scared right now." he looked at Madison, "I'm so afraid I'll shut you out like I did last time. It broke my heart, but, in my mind it was the only way I could deal with it."
She tilted her head and pursed her lips, "I'm not going anywhere Ephram."
Ephram wiped the tears from his face, "I'm just so afraid of losing either of you." his voice quivered.
All of a sudden, the phone rang. Delia answered the phone, "hello?"
It was Andy, he called the doctor earlier that morning to get the results then called Delia to tell her the news. Tears filled her eyes as she handed the phone to Ephram.
"Hello?" he said, looking confused.
"I tried your cell phone, but I didn't get thru." Andy said indifferently. "You're such a strong young man, Ephram…stay that way."
"Dad!" cried Ephram, trying to hold back his tears.
"Delia's results came back, and………"
