The Call 9/10
Chapter Eight:
Charlie was choking.
"Don't fight it, son. Relax, let it breathe for you." His father's voice was calming but Charlie couldn't help but panic, afraid he couldn't breathe again.
Charlie heard Don's voice call out, "We need a doctor in here!"
Suddenly there were hands and lots of voices and someone was removing the tube that had been making him choke.
Charlie gulped in air; desperate for the freedom to breathe he'd been denied earlier, fearful he'd run out of oxygen again.
Soft but firm hands held him down, urged him to relax.
As oxygen poured into his lungs his vision began to clear.
"Dad... Don..." He tried to speak but little more than a croak came out. It hurt to speak but he had to talk to his family... He had to tell him he loved them...
"Shh..." His father stroked his forehead gently. "We're here. You're going to be okay. Just rest."
Don was standing over his bed holding his hand. Not since he'd been cradled to sleep by his mother as a child had Charlie felt so cared for and so loved. He wanted to just relax and let the feel of his family's hands comfort him but he couldn't rest just yet.
He motioned with his hand for something to write with. Don pulled out his notebook and pen and placed them carefully into Charlie's grasp.
'Love you' he scribbled and that was enough to push both men over the edge. Alan hugged his child and sobbed, "I love you too, son. I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd lost you too."
Don simply squeezed Charlie's hand tighter and let the tears he'd been holding back finally flow.
He finally got up the strength to speak.
"Love you too, buddy."