“What happened to him?” Tess looked at me with concern.
“He’s been slipping in and out of consciousness. Nose bleeds. Nausea. He’s going into acute liver failure,” I told her, my voice wobbling, unable to hide my emotion.
Tess narrowed his eyes. “Yossarian Frazier,” she said.
“Yes, that’s him,” I nodded.
Tess looked back down at his chart. “This doesn’t look good, does it?”
“No, it doesn’t.” I tried not to sob. Tess must have heard it.
“It doesn’t look like the bloom will have a chance to fade, huh?” Tess observed.
“I hope not, Tess. God, I hope not.” I turned towards the window looking into Yoss’s room, pressing my hand against the glass.
I felt Tess’s hand on my back and didn’t say anything else. I took comfort in her unspoken acceptance.
“I’m not staying here, Dr. Howell. Is there any reason I need to?” Yoss demanded. It was almost nine o’clock. Dr. Howell looked tired. Yoss had been arguing his discharge for the last forty-five minutes.
“Yoss, we’d like to keep you here for observation. Your liver can no longer synthesize proteins properly, thus your blood can’t clot. That’s incredibly dangerous. That’s why you’ve been experiencing nose bleeds. Your liver is shutting down. When that happens the rest of your organs will begin to shut down as well. Your best option is to stay in the hospital—”
“Why? Is there anything you can do for me here that I can’t do for myself?” he asked.
“We need to have you ready when a liver becomes available,” Dr. Howell reasoned.
“Can’t you call if one shows up? Why do I have to wait around here for it?” Yoss wasn’t letting Dr. Howell sway him in the slightest. The beleaguered doctor looked to me for assistance.
I took Yoss’s hand, not caring that we weren’t alone. Dr. Howell knew about us now, hiding was over. “Dr. Howell is only after your best interests. You should listen to him. What will happen if you cut yourself? You could bleed out? Or what if you lose consciousness again?” I argued.
Yoss kissed the back of my hand. “Then you’ll call nine-one-one again and I’ll come here. It’s not like we’re a million miles away from the hospital,” he reasoned.
“I’d feel much better if you’d stay here. It’s better for you should something happen to be on site. Minutes could cost you your life, Yoss,” Dr. Howell reminded him.
Yoss was silent, seeming to think about what Dr. Howell had just said. He looked up at me, his eyes pleading. “Please, Imi. I just want to go home with you.”
I glanced at Dr. Howell who didn’t look very pleased, but I also know the decision was ultimately Yoss’s. I’d watch him. I’d make sure he was okay. I could do that for him.
For however long he had.
“Then let’s go home.”
“If I’m going to die, then I want to die like this. With you,” Yoss said with a smile.
“Don’t say stuff like that!” I retorted angrily. “Don’t even mention dying! That’s not how this is going to end. Not after everything we’ve been through!”
I was getting hysterical. I pressed a fist to my heart, having trouble breathing. Tears burned my eyes and I couldn’t see clearly.
“I was trying to lighten the mood. I’m sorry,” he said, aghast. I felt his hands on my shoulders, leading me to the couch. He wrapped his arm around me and I felt us both trembling.
“Your jokes suck,” I muttered, wiping my face.
“It’s a good thing I never considered stand-up comedian as a career choice,” he laughed, though it was strained.
“You look tired. Maybe you should rest,” I suggested, running my fingers along the curve of his jaw.
“No. I want to be here. Right now. With you. I can rest later,” Yoss replied, brooking no argument. “Just let me hold you for a while. That’s the only thing I need.”
We sank into the couch, holding onto each other as if we were scared there wouldn’t be another moment like this. And maybe there wouldn’t be. Tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed. Not for two people like us.
