Part Three: The Weight of Reality 1-28-2010

It was time for the second round of surgeries. Bruce and Avery had been in the hospital all night, and upon the second meeting with a doctor, they were painted an even clearer picture of the reality of the situation.

“We have undergone the first evasive surgery, but Colby still has severe internal hemorrhaging. Most of the shards of glass have been removed, but his legs are still a threat to his livelihood. We need to stabilize his condition so that we can evacuate him to the nearest facility which will provide the right care.”

The two standing before the doctor felt their hearts sink yet again as the weight of the moment hit them like a freight train on a straight-a-way. “Why hasn’t he already been shipped out?” Bruce said in a commanding tone of an ex-drill instructor at Fort Bragg.

“We have to ensure that his condition has stabilized to make the trip. If he is internal hemorrhaging in his legs that is bad enough, the trip could be hazardous to his health. If we stop it forthright, he will be fine for it, then the matter at hand will be with his legs, and that responsibility will be shifted to the hands of other, more specialized doctors. I will keep you updated after the surgery.”

“I’ll go call Sami this time,” Avery said as she looked up at Bruce with a tear sodden face. She hadn’t showered and her hair was falling out of the loose bun that she prepared the day before as she was getting ready for work. Some blond strands still diligently stayed where she wanted them while others fell down, straight, like rain to her shoulders, ears and the beginning of her spine. She turned and started for the parking lot door.

“I’ll wait here, babe. Are you okay?” Bruce said, knowing the answer just as the words slipped out of his mouth.

Avery turned back. “My son is in critical condition in a hospital, my girl isn’t even here yet, I am a mess, and I haven’t had any sleep for the past 24 hours. What the hell do you think?” Avery, at the point of insanity snapped back at Bruce in the waiting room. The receptionist quickly disappeared from behind her computer game of solitaire to a back room due to the rising heat of the words coming from Avery.

Bruce squinted his eyes to slits and bit his lip. “This is not the time nor the place to turn on me, Avery. We are both feeling this. I was only offering a bit of consolation, don’t take it out of proportion. I am going to wait here, go see why Sami isn’t here yet.” Bruce’s temperature below his skin drastically raised. His face reddened to a pinkish-reddish color and the muscles in his face and neck all contracted and bulged at once throughout his speech. Avery always thought that his mad face was one of the cuter ones that he used, although she never would admit that she would get on his nerves just to see the face. This time was an accidental argument; she merely submitted and dug her phone out of her pocket as she exited the building.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Sami said nervously as she picked up the phone.

“What is taking you so long? Colby is going through one more surgery and then they are sending him to Portland,” Avery said, feeling better that her daughter answered the phone instead of Erin.

“Erin and I got into an argument. She has to work in the morning and she couldn’t get a hold of anyone. She couldn’t call in sick again and she needed the car, so I rented one. I’m like a couple hours away right now.” Sami was still on-edge from the heated argument and driving as though her ass-end were on fire, then again, the roads were bare and the cops don’t tend to stay out after midnight on this totally black branch of interstate tar surrounded by woods.

“I don’t know. The doctor sounded pretty sure about this surgery going well. Can you still come up? We can pay for the car and the gas – as long as you come.” Avery said, partially because she wanted to see her daughter and partially to keep her away from Erin.

Sami changed in Avery’s mind when she decided to move away to college. She became more dependent upon her friends than her family, and that bothered Avery. Her stunning body attracted mostly useless men – that is, until Sami gave up hunting for men a couple years ago. Avery never quite forgave her for turning lesbian; instead, she dealt with it, holding her inner emotions in.

“Okay, I’ll be there soon. Tell daddy I love him!”

Avery felt a chill go up her spine as the cold edged its way through her black wool coat. She went back inside fully intent on leaning against her husband and letting her eyes rest. As she walked back in, she noticed the receptionist had returned from her hiding place. Avery kissed the stubbly cheek of her husband and told him Sami’s location.

Bruce never blinked an eye for the next two morning hours. He just sat with his mind wondering down the treacherous road that his son would now be bound to, never moving. His wife was propped up against him with her head on a pillow that the receptionist willfully found and gave to Avery. The pillow and her pretty head rested on his shoulder. The door to the parking lot finally opened to the face of which Bruce hadn’t seen for all too long.

He immediately got up, awakening his wife as he tried to quickly lay her down on the small couch – more like a large chair. Sami was at his feet before he got the chance to take a step.

He wrapped her in his arms. “Daddy, I missed you. Is Colby gonna be alright?” Her northern accident had faded and a new Southern appeal infected her words along with a tone of insecurity.

“We hope so. Why did you come? I think they are about to send him south soon, we hope, anyways.”

“Mom told me I should come, just in case.”

He never let go for quite a while, until moments later when the doctor came out again. Everybody stood together, anxious for news.

“Colby has gotten through the second surgery with success. We are preparing an ambulance and have already made arrangements and will evacuate him soon. They are prepared to take him. If you want to go in and see him, now is your chance. Follow me.” The doctor already knew they wanted to see him just by their body language. Bruce had piped right up when he found out he could see Colby. Avery almost ran the doctor over in anticipation as he walked down the hall toward Colby’s room.

They all walked into the hospital room. It was hardly big enough for all of them, with all of the equipment and the hospital bed. There was one chair, but they wouldn’t be there long enough to need it. The attention was directed to Colby. Avery tried not to cry again as she looked at numerous scratches and scars all over Colby’s face. She got tangled up in an I.V. tube before she could be at Colby’s side and nearly pulled the drip bag and stand over. Sami decided to go to the other side of Colby to comfort him.

There was a television set on a swinging hinged arm; it almost took out Sami as she went to the other side of the bed, not paying attention. She caught herself off balance and stumbled for a couple of steps, flailing her arms and trying to be quiet. Avery laughed at the sight, partially because she was frantic and needed the laugh, partially because the sight was comical, watching almost six feet sway back and forth while size 10 men’s tennis shoes tried to maneuver and keep up. Her arms were thrown in every which direction to try to capture balance once again.

Bruce did not laugh. The silent man stood at the door, watching Colby relentlessly. There were still no tears, but not a word was said to or from him yet. The doctor even knew better than to talk to him. His unrelenting gaze should have stared the life back into his son as he so wished it would.
Colby remained motionless, eyes closed.

His legs were under the sheets, but his feet did not make any humps. Nobody dared to pull the covers back and look at them.

Avery and Sami stroked at his brown hair, preying with all their heart that he would be okay.