Usual disclaimer...All rights reserved. Copyright owned by the author. If you are underage and or offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now.
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Jake and I were quiet about the money. Nothing was going to change our lives. We would face the wealth when the time arose. That and our newly born relationship would have to be secrets. Secrets, that were bursting inside to be revealed, but because of the obvious reasons, they must remain buried. Jake's dad, my lawyer, was acting in my behalf and handling all my financial matters. He, nor Jake's mom would not reveal my inheritance. The bigger of the two secrets...the fact that their son and I were now lovers...would not be known to them.
Jake and I planned to take Jackie and Marsha to the Skyway Drive In on old Brainerd Road, Friday night, to see a triple feature. Marilyn Monroe in "Bus Stop", Anthony Perkins in "Friendly Persuasion", and Jane Russell in "The Revolt of Mamie Stover". These would last until after 1:00 AM, so the three of them had gotten permission to stay out late...and I...I suddenly had no one to ask...It was the first time I realized the change that the fire had brought to my life. I was alone. I didn't have parental supervision any more. I could leave town...do whatever I wanted, with no one to stop me. But, every time I looked at Jake in new eyes, I knew I would never do anything without him. He had become the number one person in my life, my raison d'etre.
We took my BelAir convertible with top down. Jake and Marsha in the back seat and Jackie, up front, with me. They snuggled on the right side of the back, while Jackie leaned over toward the steering wheel to allow me to put my arm around her. We were out in the open, under the stars, for all the world to see. No one would ever suspect anything out of the ordinary. In the first feature, Anthony Perkins played a Quaker conscientious objector, not wanting to fight in the civil war, but his love and honor for the country, made him change his mind. It was a good picture with lots of fun and action...then there were the sad parts where all four of us were wiping our eyes at the same time...just as we had done a week ago, when we first saw "Rebel" with James Dean...Had that only been a week ago? God, so much had happened in seven days. I had lost everything and found a "new" me, in such a short period. Intermission came and it was time to restock on buttercorn and cokes. Jake and I went to the concession while our dates went to the little girl's room.
"I wish we could sit together," said Jake.
"I know. I've been thinking the same thing."
"I can't stand to sit there and watch you putting your arm around Jackie."
"How do you think I feel about you and Marsha?"
"What time did you say this marathon was over?"
"Around 1:30."
"It'll be two AM before we get home and I can put my arms around you."
"Ssshhh. You want the whole world to hear?"
"If I could, I would get on the speakers and make an announcement."
"You idiot."
"I can't help myself, Chuck. I'm in love! For the first time in my life...totally, deeply, mad in love."
"Good. Why don't you just shout it out and we'll both be arrested and sent to Silverdale, the crazy people's asylum."
"Want me to?"
"Man, get serious."
"I AM serious...Couldn't you've said the same thing back to me?"
"I could...but I will wait 'till later."
"Boy, Marilyn and Jane are going to be the longest running features I've ever seen."
"I hear "Bus Stop" is real funny, and "Mamie Stover" is kinda dirty. Jane plays this whore..."
"You seen it?"
"No, I just heard about it."
"I'm so excited in my underwear, that if we don't get home soon, you're gonna see 'The Revolt Of Jake Abrams'."
The four of us laughed and once again, cried at "Bus Stop". We had ten minutes intermission before "Mamie Stover" and we all need a johnny break. The boys room was crowded as ten of us tried to pee in the same trough at the same time. In ROTC this would be called a short arm inspection. We had seen an army training film where all the guys had to skin their dicks back while the sergeant inspected them for VD. Since my new feelings had surfaced I wondered if I could skin myself back for any man without getting a hard on. Jake and I continued to fake peeing until everyone had left except us. The third feature had already started. Jake edged close to me and reached out to take my cock in his hand. He kissed me quickly. My cock sprang to attention.
"Stop it!...Now you've done it. I'll never get this thing back in my pants and zipped up."
"Leave it out, and show Jackie what's she's missing...or rather...show Jackie what I'm NOT missing."
"You're incorrigible, Now stop it."
"Did I make it sore? Want me to kiss it and make it feel better?"
"You do and we'll land in jail."
"A cell for two?"
"Not at the ninth street police station."
I, somehow, managed to stuff my erection in my jeans and we returned to the car where the girls sat waiting on us, Jane Russell was sexier than ever. She sang a song called, "Keep Your Eyes On The Hands" and did these great make out scenes with Richard Egan. He was a hunk and a half. I didn't get aroused by Anthony Perkins in the first film, I found myself adjusting my crotch looking at Don Murray in the second...but I still hadn't gone down from Jake's shenanigans in the boys room and Jane and Richard were not helping my situation at all. Jackie noticed I was uncomfortable.
"Does Jane Russell excite you?" she whispered.
"No...why?"
"You always seem to squirm in your seat during love scenes, but tonight you are squirming more than ever."
"No, it's just that I'm wearing a pair of Jake's jeans and they don't fit me properly. I've been wearing his clothes all week. None of my were left from the fire."
"OK...I'll believe you."
Those were the first words I remembered her saying to me all night. We still hadn't had a private talk since the tragedy. My feelings toward her had changed...especially since my new encounters with Jake.
"You know, you haven't ever tried to kiss me, once, all night?"
"I'm sorry...I've just had other things on my mind...I'll make it up to you when I get to feeling more like myself."
"OK...I understand...You know I'm here for you any time you want someone to talk with."
I didn't want to get into a serious discussion, so I spoke up.
"Jake, we gotta go shopping tomorrow and buy me some clothes. Your jeans are riding up in my crotch."
"I didn't know you were much bigger down there than I was."
The three of them laughed.
"That's something you'll never know about, Jake Abrams."
"Well I didn't know you were related to John Wayne."
"What's that mean?"
"Nuthin' 'cept I heard he's hung bigger'n his horse."
"Jake, stop talking like that..."said Marsha, blushing.
"Sorry...but any ways I heard it."
"Let's watch the movie...it's just getting good."
The third feature finally came to an end. We hadn't cried in that one.
"You guys feel like a burger at Chow Hound?"
"No, it's too late already...and I should be getting home." replied Jackie.
"Me, too." followed Marsha.
The six hour drive in moviethon had just been that...movies...no passion pit tonight. Since Jackie's house was closer, we dropped her off first. Then we took the long drive down Riverside Drive to Battery Place to take Marsha home. Both of us couples just exchanged quick good night pecks without getting involved. Once she was inside, Jake hopped into the front seat with me.
"Now, just how fast will this Chevy take us back to my house?"
"Not quick enough."
We decided to take the usual route...up third street and through the Bachman twin tunnels. It was late and there shouldn't've been much traffic this time of the morning. Third street was notorious for jitney cabs. It was primarily a district for colored people and these unlicensed taxis drove like bats from hell to get to their next fares. They would dart in and out of lanes...stopping quickly with no warning or signal. We were approaching Central Avenue when an on-coming Buick decided to make an unexpected left turn just as I was nearing the intersection. I swerved to keep from hitting him head on...missed and ran straight into a telephone pole. I was only travelling 40 mph. I braced myself with the steering wheel, but with the sudden crash, Jake's head hit the dashboard.
The cab had not even stopped. The impact has caused my horn to go off...blaring out for help. I was pinned between the steering wheel and the drivers seat. I couldn't move. I looked over at Jake and couldn't see his face. It was covered with blood. He was moaning. I don't know how long it took for the ambulance to get there, but luckily, Erlanger Hospital was only three blocks away. They put us in separate ambulances...Jake's sped away first as they were still trying to pry me loose. He was screaming "Ohhhh" as they shoved his gurney into the station wagon. I must've blacked out. That was the last thing I remembered until I saw Ann standing over me in a hospital bed.
"Chuck?"
"Chuck?"
"Mrs. Abrams?"
"Yes, dear, I'm here."
"Where am I?"
"You're on the fourth floor in Erlanger hospital."
"Oh God...the wreck!!...Where's Jake?"
"He's on the third floor."
"Is he all right?"
"He's...fine...Fred is down there with him."
"God, what happened to me?"
"Dr. Burrows said you have three cracked
ribs and some internal organ injuries...but you will be fine."
"And Jake...does he have any broken bones?"
"No, he was spared that."
"God, I remember...that stupid cab cut across right in front of me and I ran straight into that telephone pole...where's my car?"
"Your car wasn't so lucky. They hauled it away to Dothan's junk yard...Chuck, your car was totalled. The police said they didn't know why you and Jake weren't killed on impact."
"Did they find the cab driver?"
"No, the police are still looking for him. The man who called for the ambulance saw the whole thing and gave a full description to the police."
"Damn...sorry, Mrs. Abrams...darn...When can I get outta here?"
"Probably in two or three days...They just want to make sure they didn't miss anything and that you're going to be all right."
"I'm sore as hell...I mean 'heck'."
She smiled..."It's all right...I know what you mean."
"Do you think I'm allowed to walk...I need to go to the bathroom?"
"I'll ask the nurse and then I'll go downstairs and tell Fred you are awake."
"Jake is not unconscious or anything?"
"...No."
"Well, tell him I'll be down to see him as soon as I can."
"Don't rush things...just stay in bed and rest...until the doctor thinks you're well enough to walk around."
"OK...just tell Jake I'm OK and not to worry...You know how he is...he loves to worry about something all the time."
"I'll tell him, Chuck...now I'll go get your nurse."
Nurse Wycliff, the horror from hell, entered my room with a bedpan. She reminded me of the nurse that took care of Raymond Massey, who played James Dean's dad in "East of Eden."
"Well I hear we want to go to the bathroom..."
"Well I don't know about "WE" but I have to."
"Here, take this bedpan and..."
"I can't pee in a bedpan. I want to go pee in the toilet. This room DOES have one doesn't it?"
"Yes, this room has one...but do you feel strong enough to walk."
"I don't have time to walk...I need to run...and NOW...I'm about to pop."
"OK, let me help you."
I stood up and the room began to swirl.
"Wait a minute I'm dizzy."
"Let me go get you a urinal."
She left the room...I called after her. "I don't have time to wait for you to go get a urinal." I saw a water pitcher and grabbed it and peed until it overflowed. I had finished by the time she returned.
"Well we were in a hurry to pee."
"Oh? Did you stop to pee, too?"
"OK, smarty pants. give me that pitcher and you put this urinal beside your bed...Let me know if we have to do Number Two."
"God, you gonna are you gonna shit with me, too?"
"Now watch your language, young man...I don't need to hear any kind of that talk."
"Then you better get the hell outta here, or you're gonna hear a lot more."
She left. I laughed to myself. I had told her off, just like James did in the movie.
I sat there trying to adjust to my new surroundings, feeling sorry for myself...I lost both parents, my house...and now my car was gone, too. What's next. I didn't have any clothes. I had nothing else to lose. At least my life was spared...and Jake's. I had had two close calls with death inside of one week...a fire and a car wreck. I must be living on "borrowed time."
I managed to drink a cup of soup before I dropped off to sleep. I don't know what time I awoke, but the sun was up and I heard the sound of visitors going up and down the hospital hallway. Fred still hadn't come by to see me. Well, he was with his son. That's where he ought to be. My dad would be my side...if I still had a dad. I felt alone, again. There was a radio on my nightstand. I clicked it on until I found WDXB, 1490 Radio playing, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" by the Platters.
The morning passed into the day. Dr. Burrows came by and examined, tapped, and poked me. The nurse had given me two white pills and a pink capsule...something for pain and something to keep me from getting depressed. I needed a lotta that medicine after what I'd been through in the last eight days. About 4:30 when visiting hours were over...they had never begun for me, as I had had no visitors...the door opened and in came a nice looking man...about 25 years old. Let me think...he sorta looked like...who? I always identified someone with a movie star. Jon Hall...he looked like a younger Jon Hall...Jungle Jim in the serials. He was dressed all in white...all he need was one of those jungle cargo hats and he would have looked exactly like Jungle Jim.
"Hi, I'm Steve, your orderly. The nurse sent me in to help you go to the bathroom...and if you feel up to it, I can massage you and loosen you up a bit. You can get stiff lying in a hospital bed...and you might feel sorta banged up from the accident."
Now, this was more like it! I would love to go pee with him...even if he wanted to pee with me.
"Good...help me stand up. I was dizzy the last time I tried."
"Well, we don't want you to fall, so why don't you just put your arms around my neck, and we'll try to walk."
He leaned over, his face approaching mine. God, his eyes were blue. They looked like Van Johnson's...the way he always stared at June Allyson or Esther Williams. I placed my arms around his neck and tried to stand. I was wobbly and I lost my balance and fell into him. It was only an accident, but my mouth touched his slightly in the "almost fall".
"Sorry," I said.
"It's all right. That's what I'm here for, to help you."
"I mean, I wasn't trying to kiss you."
"I know that...but if you were...then that's all right too."
I had heard that all orderlies were queer. That's why they went into the profession...to touch all those naked bodies. Well, somebody had to do it. Why not Jungle Jim? Damn! His eyes were blue!!
"OK, lean on me and we'll take it one step at a time."
Slowly we made our way into the tiny bathroom. There was no tub. Just a shower and a toilet. When I stood up, I felt the cool draft on my butt. I was in one of those white hospital nightgowns with no back to it. My right arm was around his neck. He steadied my with his left hand, placing it just above my left naked buttock. We walked up to the toilet.
"Now can you handle it from here? Or do you want me to help you?"
"Just hold me up. I can pee, myself. Just don't watch or I won't be able to go."
He laughed..."I understand. I can't go either if someone's watching me."
I just stood there. I wanted to pee, I had to pee. But I just couldn't pee.
"Here, let me help you."
"What?...Wait!"
He reached his left hand into the shower and turned on the water.
"Sometimes the sound of running water helps."
"I thought you meant you were going to..."
"I know what you thought...Just listen to the water hitting the tiles...relax...and let it go..."
It worked. I started to pee, unassisted. A minute or so later, my bladder was drained.
"You need to sit down?"
"No, I think I'm constipated...I tried to use the bed pan earlier...but no luck.:
"I'll tell the nurse and see if the doctor wants to order you an enema."
"No,,,that's all right...I don't want that nurse out there sticking anything up my ass."
"That's all right...she wouldn't do it. I would."
"Well maybe later...IF I need one...OK?"
"OK...now you ready to get back in bed."
"Yeah."
"Need a massage to loosen up those tense muscles?"
"With these broken ribs, I can't lie on my stomach,"
"You can just sit up and I'll rub your back and massage your legs and arms."
This was the best thing that had happened to me all day.
"Just sit on the side of the bed and take off your hospital gown while I get some lotion."
"Well, lock the door, I don't want anyone walking on me sitting here naked,"
He laughed. "You know there's no locks on hospital doors...unless you're on the psych ward...OK, now, you ready?"
"Ready."
In spite of the coolness of the lotion, his hands were warm and strong as he began to knead the muscles and leaders in my shoulders and neck. I was much more tense than I had realized. This felt wonderful as his thumbs did slow circular motions just reaching he top of my scapulas.
"Oh, God, yeah...Oh how great this feels."
"Just relax and breathe deeply...Good."
His hands slipped over and squeezed the top of my arms and biceps. He did a thumb over thumb movement down each vertebra of my spine. His hands worked on my scapulas as his fingers reached under my arm pits, stroking down my sides and back.
"You're very tense."
"I've had a lot to happen to me this past week. Enough to make anyone tense."
"Just concentrate on relaxing and I'll take care of it."
His fingers pressed into my buttocks and did more small circles. I needed this. I could feel the warmth in my back as he restored circulation in my back muscles. He continued these motions for several minutes. Then he came around the bed to face me.
"Hold out your arms for me."
I extended them and he began to massage my fingers one by one.,,then my wrists and forearms...up to the front of my biceps.
"Let me have your left foot." I raised my left leg. "You can even carry tension in your toes."
"That tickles."
"Breathe deeply."
Individually my toes received the glow of his magic touch, which my aching calves were begging for. The way Steve used his hands and fingers, he must've been a musician or worked in a bakery kneading big gobs of bread dough. He bent my leg with one hand and did flat circular motions on my kneecap with the palm of his other. He switched to my other foot, calf, and knee to even the circulation distribution.
Once more, he rubbed his hands to warm a new dollop of lotion. His hands began making long strokes up the top of my left thigh, sliding down where my scrotum connected and back down under my upper leg.
"Excuse me," he said as his fingers had grazed my ball sac.
"That's OK."
He went for my right thigh repeating his therapeutic regimen.
"How's that?"
"You have terrific hands."
"I use to work at Colonial Bakery on Riverside Drive."
"I knew it!! As you were working on me...that was my thought...you must've kneaded dough in a bakery."
He laughed, "Now you know where I got my training."
"It feels fabulous."
"Want to feel something even better."
"Sure."
"Let me help you lie back on your pillow."
"Now, what?"
"Close your eyes."
I exhaled a sigh and shut them, waiting for my next marvel.
Gently he placed three fingers between my scrotum and my rectum and began to apply circular pressure. This felt so great, I wondered why I had never done this to myself during my nightly masturbation? I couldn't wait to try this on Jake...Jake...why hadn't I heard from him? How was he doing? I don't know whether it was my thoughts of Jake or Steve's motion, but I felt my penis becoming erect.
"I think you'd better stop before you tighten another of my muscles...and this is one you will have difficulty in relaxing."
"You mean this one?" he asked as he grabbed the shaft of my cock.
"Yeah, that one."
"That one is easy to relax. Want me to show you?"
"I wanna say 'no' and at the same time, I don't want you to stop."
"A good massage is never done until we get rid of all your stiff muscles."
"Yeah, but, you're a guy and I'm a guy and I don't let guys do that to me."
"Want me to go get Nurse Wycliff to do it?"
"Hell no, if she touched my dick, it would turn to stone."
"Then let me finish...you'll feel much better."
"Go ahead, but be careful...and understand...this means nothing between us, OK?"
"OK. Now relax...close your eyes again."
I felt a newly lotioned hand grab my dick and slowly begin to slide my shaft up and down. His other slippery hand was cupping my balls. I was tense...yet relaxed, as he continued his venture. The lotion had made my glans supersensitive. I flinched each time his fingers ran across it.
"I'll let you know when I get close."
"You won't have to. I use your scrotum as a warning gauge."
"What do you mean?"
"I assume you do masturbate?"
"Well...yes."
"Well the closer you get to reaching a climax, Your testicles retract and try to slide up into body...making your scrotum contracts and gets smaller."
"Well you had better get a towel ready, because I feel a contraction coming on."
"You're talking too much...you're gonna miss the full sensation. Now hush, lie back and close your eyes."
I could feel a huge eruption building up as I was aware of my testicles retracting. I had never noticed this before. I didn't know that there was a medical procedure for jerking off. I was so relaxed, I was tingling from head to toe as I felt the oncoming climax gushing forth, I held my breath and let out a quiet moan as I felt a warm, wet towel eugulf my cock. I must've shot the largest wad of my life coming in about ten to fifteen spurts. I had never been able to achieve such self-gratification as this. When I felt there was no more sperm to emit, I hesitated opening my eyes. I didn't want to be embarrassed in front of him. I peeked through one lid. Then both of my eyes were wide open as I discovered the "towel" he had used. Steve had lowered his head and had taken my cock in his mouth. It had been so hot and wet I had assumed it was a towel. It never dawned on me that he would go this far. He swallowed as he raised his head.
"How was that?"
"It was fantastic...but you played a trick on me...you let me shoot in your mouth."
"Would you've let me, if I had told you first."
"Hell, no."
"That's why I didn't tell you."
"Are you some kind of queer?" I asked in my most unassuming masculine voice.
"'Queer' is rather a strong word. If you liked it and it felt good, there's nothing queer about it...unusual or unexpected, maybe, but definitely not queer."
"Do you do this to all the patients?"
"Just the men." he said in a sort of proud way.
"Well, let me say, you are very good at your job." My envious and somewhat guilty thoughts returned to Jake. "Do you work on the third floor?"
"No, the fourth, sixth, and seventh. The fifth is for maternity patients."
"Who does your job on the third floor?"
"I don't know if any one does my "job" or the same things that I do, but there is another orderly that takes care of the that floor. Why did you ask about the third floor?"
"I have a friend down there. He was riding in the car with me when I had the accident."
"A close friend?"
"My best friend. He's like my family."
"Oh, I see...a very close friend."
"Yeah... a very, very close friend."
"Do you guys...? I mean, are you, two...?"
"Kinda...but no one knows it...after what you just did to me, I think it's all right to tell you."
"How bad was he hurt?"
"I don't know. I can't find out and it killing me. His mom was up to see me yesterday, and I haven't heard a word from her or anyone since."
"You don't have any folks?"
"No,,,I lost them both in a fire...last week."
"God, man, you've had a lot to happen. No wonder your body was so tense."
"He, my friend Jake, is all I have left in the world. We sorta grew up together since the first grade...Do you think you could go down to the third floor and check on him for me? His name is Jake...Jacob Abrams. And keep your magic fingers off him. He's mine."
"You think I would do something like that to a patient that wasn't mine?"
"I think ALL men are your fair trade. No man is safe with you around." Steve laughed. "Better still, you think you could get a wheelchair and roll me down to see him after the 8:30 visitors have gone?"
"There's nothing on your chart that says you can't travel, assisted in a wheelchair, I'll be back around 8:45 with your chariot."
"Before you go, could you clean me up a bit, after the mess you made. And don't start anything else. I don't need another massage today."
"OK, let me walk you into the shower. I'll hold you up while you bathe,"
He supported me as we, once again, returned to the tiny bathroom. He adjusted the water temperature and I entered the stall.
"You OK?"
"I'm having a little trouble keeping my balance."
"Hold on to the shower head for a second."
The shower curtain opened and Steve got in. He had removed his white uniform and was stark naked.
"Hey, man, I said I didn't want to do anything else."
"I can't steady you and get my clothes all wet. Now, trust me and soap yourself. Nothing's gonna happen you don't want to happen,"
I took the soap and began to lather my chest and face.
"Don't get the wrong idea,,,but you want me to wash your back?"
"If you just WASH it...nothing else..."
"OK. OK. I got the message."
His strong hands returned to my back and as he began to coat my skin with the foul smelling hospital soap. He lowered his hands to my buttocks and he had just enough room to kneel to wash my legs. I could feel his hot breath on my butt cheeks, due to the closeness of the shower stall. As his hands approached the upper part of the back of my thighs, I felt his hand explore my ass crack.
"Gotta make sure you're good and clean here."
"Just make sure you know what you're doing down there."
"I know exactly what I'm doing." he said as one of his fingers sank into my hole,
"Wow...watch it...quit that."
"Sorry...just doing my job."
To stop his exploration, I turned around. This was worse than ever. I had hit him in the face with a newly created erection.
"Ah ha! I must've touched a nerve."
"You have some nerve."
"What do you want me to do with this thing bobbing in my face?"
"I want you to...suck it."
"I thought you would never ask."
"God, you are impossible...don't you ever get enough?"
"I love my work."
"They pay you to do this?"
"No, it's sorta a fringe benefit."
"I hope my insurance covers this."
"I assure you. there's no extra charge for my services."
"Well, if you're gonna do it...do it."
I felt his mouth take my cock all the way down his throat. I held my head back as I let the water shower all over me and the kneeling orderly. He worked on my methodically. If I could muster up another load to match my first one. I didn't want to disappoint him.
"Would you have a snit fit if I jerked myself off while I'm sucking you?"
"Hell no...be my guest...do whatever you have to do."
I could feel the water splashing on my ankles as he began to masturbate himself. It didn't take long before I felt my second cumming ready, I said nothing. I just let it rip. I was hoping he would be surprised and cough and choke without being ready for it. While I was unloading my milky geyser down his throat, I felt warm droplets landing on my feet. He was shooting at the same time as I.
"Are you through?" he asked.
"The question is...are YOU through?"
"All done."
"Me too.:
"Now stand still while I rinse the soap and other liquids off you."
He guide me back to the bed after towelling me. Put a fresh gown on me and went into the bathroom to re-don his uniform.
"OK...you lie there and rest. There will be as aide to come by in about fifteen minutes and feed you some wonderful hospital food. I think it's dog food meatloaf tonight, with some brown vegetables. Don't worry there's some antitoxin and Ipecac on the cart. I'll be back around 8.45. OK?"
"Thanks, Steve."
"Just doin' my job. You can write my supervisor a note when you leave about how well I did."
"Yeah, I'm sure I want to see that in print,"
He started to go out the door, stopped and turned to me.
"Chuck...I just want you to know that I think Jake's a lucky guy."
"No, I'm the lucky one...I have him."
"See ya, later, alligator."
"After while, crocodile."
He left. I sat there mulling over the last actions of the past hour. I didn't feel guilty. After all...it WAS therapeutic.
Steve was right about the food. They must use the leftovers to euthanize the terminally ill patients.
Around 8:50, he returned with the wheelchair and a few minutes later we were on the elevator, and then down the hall to find room 319. The room was dark. I could make out a person lying in the single bed. Steve switched on the bedside lamp and for the first time in two days I saw my love, Jake. His head was wrapped in bandages...all over the top. over his eyes and extending down to the bridge of his nose. Steve wheeled me over near the bed.
"Jake?"
"Jake?"
Still no answer.
"Jake?"
His head turned slightly toward me.
"That you, Chuck?"
"Yeah, buddy, it's me."
"How you doin'?"
"I'm OK. I couldn't find out anything about you and I had Steve, my friend here, who's taking care of me, to roll me down to see you...How are YOU doin'?"
"Not so good, Chuck."
"Whaddya mean?"
"Did my mom or dad talked to you?"
"I saw your mom for a few minutes yesterday...I haven't seen Fred, yet."
"They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
He began to cry. "It's bad, Chuck...real bad."
I froze in a panic.
"What's bad?"
"I can't see you, Chuck."
"I know...you've got all those bandages over you eyes."
"I mean,,,I can't see you...ever without the bandages."
"What are you saying?"
He burst into tears. "I'm blind, Chuck...Blind!...My head hit the dashboard and the windshield and the glass cut the corneas of my eyes. I can't see you...I won't ever be able to see you."
"Oh no...this can't be...not now..not ever..." I screamed.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Steve. I looked up at him in disbelief as I noticed a tear rolling down his face. Steve was crying too.
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(to be continued)