“Who Would've Thought Getting Knocked Down Would End So Well?”, chapter 25

The nurse looked at us and we looked back at her, impatient and reluctant all at once. From the nurse's demeanor, we were unable to determine whether the news about Tre would be positive or negative. We held our breaths; our entire focus was on this tiny nurse. She cleared her throat but did not speak.

The room was still and the silence uncomfortable. The six of us sat rigidly in our seats, the tension mounting. Trying my hardest to send Tre positive vibes, I realized that I was failing miserably. The worst of scenarios flashed through my mind: would Tre be paralyzed for life? would he die? I still could not believe the unlikely turn of events that brought the six of us into this hospital room. I was shaken from my thoughts when Billie Joe broke the silence.

"Well?" Billie Joe was situated on one of the ugly plastic hospital chairs scattered about the room, his fingers drumming relentlessly on his thighs. He looked up at the nurse, desperate for good news.

"Well," the nurse began, "the doctors have been able to stop the bleeding and his vital signs are stabilizing." Ok, this doesn't sound too bad, he's improving. "He is no longer in the ICU so you can go see him one at a time in room 1192." Even better, he is stable enough that we are able to visit with him "However,..." Uh-oh. She paused, avoiding eye contact with anyone in the room. There was a piece of information she obviously did not want to share with us.

Claudia lifted herself from her chair. I watched her walk timidly towards the nurse, standing in front of her. "Please. Tell us, we need to know." The nurse looked into Claudia's sad eyes and sighed.

"Mr. Wright has slipped into a coma. It is not clear when he will wake up, if at all. I'm so sorry." The nurse quickly left the room, pulling the door closed behind her. The silence in the room was deafening.

The next few moments passed in slow motion. Claudia was still facing the door when I saw her stance falter and Drew's quick reflexes come into play. Before I could even react, Drew had gotten up and rushed towards Claudia before she could hit the ground. The shock must have been too great for her and she had fainted. What would she tell Ramona and Frankito?

Estelle buried her face in her father's chest and Mike held her tight in an attempt to reassure her. I looked on in silence.

Drew scooped Claudia into his arms. As he walked towards Mike's bed to lay her down, she began to stir. Her eyes flitted across the hospital room as she suddenly remembered everything. She motioned for Drew to put her down. As she stood in the middle of the room, her tears began to flow. Claudia began to cry as though her heart would break.

I stood up and walked towards her. I pulled her into a tight hug and we cried together; the brave facade that I had been trying my hardest to maintain now crumbled before me.

This morning had been such a breath of fresh air, spending the first half of the day blissful and carefree. Now, Mike lay in a hospital bed and Tre was dead to the world, lost in the confines of his mind, frozen in a state that he may never recover from. I suddenly felt a surge of anger towards the cowards that perpetrated this destructive, selfish act.

Estelle left her father's side to join our sad embrace. Dismissing my anger for the moment, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Billie Joe continued to stare at the cold, gritty floor, his silent tears raining upon its dull surface.

A few moments had passed when Mike broke the silence. "Let's go see Tre."

Billie Joe stood up and helped Mike into the wheelchair next to his bed. Once Mike had settled in, Billie Joe began to push him towards the door. Estelle reached the door first and held it open for the rest of us as we walked solemnly into the corridor and towards the elevator.

Pressing the up button on the elevator, the six of us waited in silence. My mind was reeling from the new information we had just received concerning Tre's condition. I closed my eyes and silently prayed that he would be ok. When the elevator doors opened, Billie Joe pushed Mike in first; the rest of us piled in and stared at the numbers. Pressing number eleven, we waited nervously while the elevator crept upward towards our destination. With an ominous ding , the doors opened for us. Reluctantly, and with a deep sigh, Drew stepped out first, encouraging the rest of us to drag ourselves out of the cold metal chamber.

My heart raced as we neared room 1192. I could hear Billie Joe taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He had been silent since we had received the news, more than likely milling over the entire situation in his mind. I slowed down and took his left hand in mine while he continued to push the wheelchair with his right. Estelle walked with Claudia, her small arm wrapped timidly around Claudia's waist as they moved slowly towards Tre's room. Drew walked ahead of the rest of us.

Although the six of us had managed to reach Tre's room, this was as far as our courage had brought us. No one wanted to be the first one to go into Tre's room, the look in our eyes gave us away. The six of us exchanged glances outside the door to room 1192.

Claudia dropped into a chair outside of the room. Her head in her hands, she shook her head. "I need a few minutes. I can't go in yet." She sighed, tears rushing from her eyes. "This can't be happening." Mike placed his hand on her thigh in a platonic manner. She gazed at him gratefully and grabbed a tissue from her purse.

"So . . ." I began slowly, "Who wants to go in first?" Everyone avoided my gaze. Sighing, I reached for the door knob.

"Fine, I'll go."

Turning the knob slowly, I pushed the door forward, not knowing what to expect. I stepped into the room quietly and allowed the door to shut behind me. The room was dimly lit, it was far darker than Mike's. Looking towards the center of the chamber, I spotted Tre. He lay lifelessly on the bed, various IVs and machines were attached to his body and sought to keep him alive. He looked so vulnerable. This was the first time I had ever seen Tre when he was not joking or talking or even moving. I swallowed back a lump that had lodged itself in my throat.

My eyes began to overflow with tears as I moved cautiously towards my friend. Pulling a chair next to his bed, I lowered myself into the seat. Reaching for one of Tre's hands, I wrapped my fingers around his and squeezed gently. There was no response whatsoever. Tre's hand was cool and lifeless. Brushing more tears away with the back of my other hand, I cleared my throat.

"Hey Tre," I started. "I-I . . . umm, . . . I need you to do me a favor. I need you to wake up. We need you Tre, all of us. Billie Joe's outside, plus Mike, Claudia, Drew and Estelle."

I broke down. I shook my head, trying to stop myself from crying in front of him. I'd heard that coma patients could sometimes hear what was happening around them, and I did not want to upset Tre. I watched as my tears rained upon the crisp, clean sheets surrounding one of my dearest friends like a cocoon. The monitors continued their steady beeping as I stared at them for any sign of improvement.

I began to speak once more, becoming more upset by the second. "Why you and Mike? Huh? Why did this have to happen to you? This is all my fault." I slammed my fist against my thigh and fought back tears. I thought back to the last time I'd seen Tre awake and the tragic events that followed.

"See you guys at the house. Don't take ten years to get there, when we get bored, we get into trouble." Tre smirked and wiggled those perfectly trimmed eyebrows of his. He and Mike hopped into the truck and drove off, leaving Drew, Billie Joe and I still standing in the driveway.

I shook my head solemnly, remembering what was to follow.

Billie Joe, Drew and I pulled into Billie Joe's driveway and stepped out of the car. The moving truck was not parked in the driveway.

"I don't get it, they should have gotten here a while ago." Billie Joe scratched his head in confusion. From the way Billie Joe paced around his kitchen, I could tell he was concerned about Tre and Mike.

Billie Joe called Tre's cell phone, but the person on the line was not Tre - that much Drew and I could tell. We looked at Billie just in time to see his face fall. The colour drained from his cheeks and his green eyes opened wide, losing their usual sparkle and becoming dull. I was beginning to get nervous.


We had no idea what was to come.

The tears flowed again but I did not stop them this time. "If you hadn't been helping me move, none of this would have happened. I'm so sorry Tre." I buried my face in his chest and cried.

"I need you to wake up and I will be here every day until you do."

After pleading with Tre to wake up and getting no response, I said goodbye to him and walked back towards the door to his room. Opening it, Billie Joe, Mike, Drew, Claudia, and Estelle immediately raised their eyes to take in my appearance and reaction to Tre's condition. Noting my red, puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks, it was no encouragement for the rest of the group. Billie Joe stood, wrapping me in a tight hug for both of our benefit. Releasing him from my grip I sighed and sat down. I did not speak. One by one, the others went into the room to visit Tre, and, one by one, they left with the same expression that I continued to bear; it was a look of sorrow, and disbelief.

Claudia was the last to go in. She spent the longest amount of time with Tre in that hospital room. She may have been his ex-wife, but they were still very close; they even continued to raise Frankito together. When Claudia walked out of the room and into the hall, the six of us exchanged glances once more. We knew that life would not be the same until Tre woke up.