A few days later, Jeff sits beside Nero and sighs. He was dreading the upcoming meeting with the doctor. Ever since he and Nero had an argument, Nero had began doing worse. Jeff closed his eyes and sighed, remembering the argument.
Nero was laying with him, watching a movie when he turned and looked at Jeff. "Dad.. I can't do this much longer." He said.
Jeff looked at him sadly and whispered. "You have got to try.."
Nero teared up and shook his head. "Dad. I'm in so much pain.. I just want it all to stop."
Jeff wiped his tears and asked, "So what is it you're saying?" he asks.
"I want you to let me go.." Nero pleads.
Jeff looked at him hurt and began to argue. "No! I'm not letting you die!" he shouted.
Nero sighed and looked into Jeff's eyes, his weakness beginning to show.
"I read online, that they can give me enough morphine that I'll just go to sleep. As I sleep, they can up the doseage so that I just pass away in my sleep. I'd rather die peacefully and painlessly." he said.
Jeff stood up and looked at Nero in shock. "No Nero! Suicide is not the answer." he shouted, tears starting to roll down his face.
Nero covered his face, crying harder. "That's easy for you to say! You're not the one who has to lay here in this bed, in pain, weak, worrying if each minute will be your last."
Jeff shot him a flaming glare. "Nero Alexander, I went through hell to bring you into this world. I refuse to let you go!" he exclaimed. Nero opened his mouth to speak but was unable to make a sound.
Jeff turned his attention from his son to the door as his sister Jessica walked in. She glanced from Jeff to Nero's tear-stained cheeks and snapped. "Why is he crying? You know it's not good for him to get all upset like this."
Jeff sighed and looked at her with tears still streaming down his face. "Nero wants to give up the fight." he says.
She looked over at Nero and sat on the bed beside him. "Why is that?" she asks calmly. Nero reached up, wiping his eyes. "Aunt Jessie, I'm tired of it all. The pain, the struggle, and the worry." he replied.
She nodded and looked at Jeff. "Let's go talk in the hall.."
Jeff nodded and followed her into the hallway.
"Has the doctor told you for sure what his chance at survival is?" Jessica asks as she closes Nero's door. Jeff shook his head and sighed.
"The doctor told me that he is in fact dying, and there is nothing we can do. They want to send him home and take him off his medications." he said.
Jessica nodded and walked back into the room, looking at Nero. "Is this what you really want?" she asks calmly.
Nero nodded weakly as he wiped more tears from his face.
Jeff is pulled from his thoughts as the doctor entered the room. He looked at Jeff and spoke. "Mr. Hardy, I have the consent form for the procedure here to sign."
Jeff nodded and took the form, signing his name on the line. "So, what exactly will happen during this procedure?" he asked.
The doctor took the form and sat down. "I will send in someone to give your son a dose of morphine, then after a few hours, gradually increase the doseage. The morphine will then take effect over some period of time, stopping his heart and his breathing, allowing him to pass on." he explained.
Jeff nodded and sighed. "May I have some time alone with him before the procedure?"
The doctor nodded and left the room with the release form.