Troy has now been in the hospital for a week and a half since his accident and was sicker than ever. Fighting the infection in his leg was taking a toll on him. He began to appreciate the things in life and how they can be taken away quickly. He was fighting as hard as he could and was staying strong. Basketball was so important to him; he loved it more than anything. Every day after school he would play, even after practice. Troy had worked hard to get to where he was today. He was the best. He was not about to lose everything he had worked for just because he is hurt, he was better than that. The doctor said he was progressing but is still has a long way to go. It was Tuesday night and Troy was laying there playing with his phone. Dylan came in wearing his basketball jersey, he just got out of his game.

Troy: "Well well look who it is, the bench warmer."

Dylan: "Ha ha very funny, I scored 17 points tonight thank you very much." He said pulling up a chair next to the bed.

Troy: "No way? Awesome job dude. I wish I could have been there; it was your first game on a school team. "

Dylan: "Yeah don't worry about it we have more games. So what have you been you too?"

Troy: "This." And pointed that the bed and the walls "Haven't done anything."

Dylan: "When will you be out?"

Troy: "I don't know, hopefully soon. Why? Do you miss me or something?" He said chuckling.

Dylan: "Yeah ever now and then, no homo. I am stuck doing all of your chores so you do need to hurry up and come home."

Troy: "Well in that case I will take my sweet time." With a smirk.

Dylan: "You're a butthole you know that right." He said laughing shaking his head.

Troy: "Yeah I think not. So what have you been doing? How is school?"

Dylan: "Eh school is school. Just hang and stuff on the weekends the usual. Dad has been on my case extra hard about basketball, practice, practice, practice all day everyday its getting on my nerves."

Troy: "That is how he was when I was in 7th grade don't worry about it he will calm down. But right now I am not for sure since you are the golden child now."

Dylan: "What do you mean?"

Troy: "Well since I can't play basketball anymore, dad is probably going to be extra hard on you making sure on the top of your game."

Dylan sighed "Greeeaaat…"

Troy: "Yeah don't worry about it though, when I come home I will work on it with you and I won't be as hard as him. Because when the season starts in high school dad won't have time for anything."

Dylan: "Ok I sure hope so. Are you and Gabi dating yet?"

Troy: "Nahh, I wish though." He said with a sigh.

Dylan: "Then why don't you ask her out?" he said with confusion.

Troy: "Well I like her a lot and she likes me…so I think but I don't want to ask her to be my girlfriend here. I want to get past all of this. I don't want her to feel obligated that she has to take care of me and be here all this time. It's not fair. I was just going to wait until I got out and I'm not in a wheel chair and be able to take her on a date and do it the right way."

Dylan: "Oh gotcha, well I hope she still like you for that long at the rate your going." He said laughing.

Troy picked up a pillow and knocked him in the head with it.

"You are a punk." He said rubbing his head laughing still.

Troy: "Just because I can't run and catch you right now when you run away screaming like a little girl, doesn't mean I can't hurt you."

Dylan: "Touché'. Oh yeah so Michael got that new Black Ops game, I went over there yesterday and played it. It is so tight." He said with excitement.

Troy: "No way, I want to get that so bad. Did you talk to Chad when you went over there?"

Dylan: "No, Michael said he doesn't really talk to anyone anymore."

Troy: "Oh. Well if you see him tell him to text me and stop being a little baby." Troy was getting angry that Chad wouldn't talk to him,

Dylan: "Ok. But for real though you need to come home and do your chores so I can actually do things with my friends."

Troy picked up the pillow again and hit him in the head and they both laughed. Troy and Dylan were close, but they did fight like brother for sure. A couple of days have passed and Troy was feeling better. He wanted to get out if the room and called the nurse. The nurse took him out and wheeled him around the hospital.

Troy: "What is there to do here?"

Nurse: "Well Mr. Bolton there is really nothing to do here. There is a kid's room for our younger patients; you are welcome to go play in there with them."

Troy: "Well I guess it is worth a shot. Anything is better than sitting in that room."

The nurse wheeled Troy in the room. There were a few kids in there playing with toys and doing arts and craft. The nurse left him in there and told him she would be back soon to check on him. Troy sat there look around. This little girl with a bandana around her head came up to him.

"Do you want to play arts and crafts with me?" She said in her tiny squeaky voice.

Troy smiled, how could he say no. "Of course."

She went and got the paper, glue, glitter, foam shapes and a bunch of other stuff.

"What is your name?" asked the little girl.

"Troy. What is yours?"

"Lucie!" She smiles at him.

"Lucie? That is such a pretty name. It is very nice to meet you."

Lucie giggled "Do you have cooties?"

"Nope I am cootie free! I promise. How old are you Lucie?"

She held up four fingers and smiled

"4? Wow you're a big girl then aren't you?" Trying to act all surprised. (How grown ups talk to little kids)

"Yeah! I can do everything! What do you want to make?" she said in an excited voice.

"Do you want to help me make something for a special someone?"

Lucie : "Yeah yeah! Let's make it pink!" She got out the pink construction paper.

Troy folded it in half and cut it into a heart.

Troy: "I am going to write her name on it, and then can you help me decorate it?"

Lucie: "Yeah! It is going to be so pretty!" She was jumping up and down.

Troy wrote "Troy loves Gabriella" on the heart.

Lucie: "Who is Gabbbb-weee-illaa?"

Troy laughed; she was so cute "She is just a friend of mine. She is really special."

Lucie: "Really? My mommy says I'm special too!"

Troy: "You are very special!" he said with a smile. Lucie had made Troy's day better. He didn't know why he didn't think of coming down here before. Lucie started putting glitter and other colors on the heart.

Lucie: "I am going to put blue glitter on here to match my bandana!" and started pour blue glitter on the paper.

Troy: "How are you feeling today Lucie?" Trying not to be rude and ask her what was wrong with her.

Lucie: "I am good today. The doctor said my leukemia is getting better. I don't know what that means but he says it is good." She said coloring not looking up at him.

'Wow' Troy thought. This four your old has a chance of losing her life and she has no idea. She lives everyday and is always happy. This opened Troy's eyes up a lot. He hopes Lucie would beat her cancer so she can go live a full life; she was such a sweet little girl.

Lucie: "There all done!" and held it up. It was perfect. "I hope she likes it! We worked hard!"

Troy smiled "I think she'll love it. Thank you for helping me, I could not have done it without you." All of the sudden she gave him a hug "Your welcome!" and he hugged her back.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Trying to put little things in there. More to come.