Nick:
The week went by fairly quickly. Thursday came all too quickly. Felicia was becoming more nervous about the surgery. It wouldn’t take long, on her, but for Jacob it’d take longer.
I knew she didn’t sleep much the night before. I could hear her walking around. I didn’t sleep much either. I looked at my alarm clock and it was 3:30am. I got up and walked out of my room. I walked down the hall to Felicia’s room and looked inside and saw her sitting on the bed, writing in a notebook.
"Hey, you ok?" I startled her a little, because she jumped.
"Yeah, I’ll be ok. Just nervous, that I couldn’t sleep."
"Ok, just checking. So, whatcha writing?"
"Oh, just some thoughts. It helps with the nervousness."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I think you should try to get a little sleep. You don’t want to be exhausted when you go into surgery."
"I’ve tried so many times. But I got so many butterflies in my stomach. I hate all this nervousness."
"I know you do, but it’s ok to be nervous. Do you want me to stay with you ‘til you fall asleep?"
"Yeah, I guess. Might help calm my nerves." She closed the notebook and threw it onto the floor. I set her alarm clock so it’d go off at 6:30, since she had to be at the hospital at 7:30. I laid next to her and put my arms around her.
"That helping any yet?"
"A little." I felt her yawn. I started running my fingers through her hair, trying to calm her. I think it helped a little because she stopped fidgeting with the bottom of her shirt. Shortly later I dozed off, her still in my arms. If being her best friend was the only way to get close to her, then I’d be her best friend forever.
Time just went by so quickly. I was jerked awake by the beeping of the alarm clock. I felt Felicia jump a little at the sound of it. I reached over and turned it off.
"Damned thing. I was having a really nice dream and it had to go and ruin it." Felicia mumbled, laughing a little. I laughed with her.
"That’s what they’re made for, to ruin dreams. Really good ones too." I replied, smiling. She sat up and stretched.
"How’d you sleep?" I asked her, getting up.
"Surprisingly for that short amount of time, really good. You really calmed my nerves." I smiled at that.
"Glad I could help."
"Tank you. Well, guess I better go get ready." She got up and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
I left her room and went to mine to get ready. I went into the bathroom and jumped into the shower. 10 minutes later, I got out and got dressed in black cargo shorts and a dark blue t-shirt. I put my shoes on and brushed my hair. I heard a light knock on my door.
"Come in." I called. It opened and Felicia walked in.
She was wearing old blue jean and an old Gator t-shirt. She looked ready, appearance wise anyway.
"Are you ready?" I asked.
"Not really, but we have to." Her voice was shaky.
"It’s going to be ok. It’s nothing major and it’s not going to take that long."
"I know, I just can’t seem to calm down."
"I’ll be there when you go in and when you wake up."
She smiled lightly and we went downstairs. I got my car keys and we left. I opened the door for her and then got in on the driver’s side. I drove out of the driveway and headed to the hospital. 15 minutes later we got there and parked. We got out and walked to the entrance and to the admittance area. An hour later, she was admitter and taken to a room.
I went with her. She had to be hooked up to an IV, so her immune system would stay strong.
"Nick, can you do my a favor?"
"Sure, anything."
"Can you go and check on Jacob? Just to see how he’s doing?"
"Sure, I’ll be back in a bit."
She nodded and I left the room. I went up to Jacob’s room and went inside. He was sleeping peacefully. I was about to leave, when Melinda walked in.
"Oh Nick, you’re here."
"Yeah, Felicia is downstairs in a room getting ready. She wanted me to come and see how Jacob is doing."
"Oh, ok. He’s doing ok. Resting. Though he’s a little scared about having surgery."
"I bet. Felicia was all nervous last night that she couldn’t sleep. But finally around 3:30I got her to go to sleep."
"She still worries a lot, I see."
"Yep, she does. Always will, I think."
"Probably. Well, you can go and tell her he’s doing fine and that everything is going to be ok."
"Ok, will do."
I left the room and went back down to Felicia’s room. Her eyes were closed, but opened when she heard me sit.
"So, how is her?"
"He’s sleeping. But Melinda told me he’s doing ok and that everything is going to be ok."
"Ok, good. Thank you for finding out for me."
"You’re welcome. Anytime."
She yawned again. She looked exhausted.
"Man, I wish they’d hurry." She mumbled.
"They will. When are they supposed to start?"
"10 I think. They have to prep Jake and me first before anything else."
"Ok, well you gotta while to wait. Why don’t you try to get some rest? You look exhausted."
"Ok." She yawned again and then closed her eyes. She dozed off shortly after that. I sat in the chair next to her bed, just watching her sleep. I could watch her sleep forever. She looked so peaceful and calm when she slept. Like she had no worries. And I was bound and determined to take all her worries away.
I heard a light knock at the door and saw Dani and AJ standing there.
"Hey guys, come in." I whispered. They walked in quietly.
"How is she?" Dani asked.
"Nervous as hell. She didn’t get much sleep last night, because of it."
"Oh, has she had the surgery yet?" AJ asked.
"Nope, they don’t start prepping her and Jacob ‘til 10. So, she’s resting ‘til then."
"That’s good. She needs as much rest as she can get."
"Yep. So, are the others here?"
"They’re coming. Brian and Amanda should be here soon. Kevin had to pick Kristin up at work and Howie and Laura are on their way too." AJ explained.
"Cool. She needs all the support she can get."
"Yep and hey she has you. That’s a lot." Dani said.
"Maybe, I dunno."
"It is, don’t worry."
I just shook my head at them. They were getting ideas in my head and I didn’t need that. Not right now at least.
We talked a while longer. Then Brian, Amanda, Howie, and Laura came. And then Kevin and Kristin.
We all talked quietly as we waited for the time to go by. It finally reached 10 and I started to wake Felicia.
"Felicia, it’s time to get up." I said softly, rubbing her arm.
She stirred a little and then opened her eyes.
"Hmm?"
"You gotta get ready for the surgery."
"Already?"
"Yeah, I know. But you’ll be out in no time. Look who’s here."
I moved, so she could see the whole gang.
"Hey guys, thank you so much for being here."
"You’re welcome, Felicia. Anytime." Dani said.
They all said their good lucks and a nurse came in to take her to the OR. I gave her a hug and then watched as the nurse took her down to OR.
"Man, this is going to be hell." I said, sitting in a chair in the waiting room we all flocked to.
"Yeah, but it’s gonna be ok. She is going to be ok, so is her little brother." Amanda assured me.
"So Nick, after all this. Do you think you’ll tell Felicia you have a thing for her?" AJ said so bluntly.
"Excuse me?! I do not have a thing for her. I’m just being a good friend." I denied.
"Don’t deny it man. It’s so obvious you have a thing for her." Brian said.
"What? Can everyone tell like her?"
"Duh! It’s totally obvious. You just have to admit it."
"Fine, I do. Happy now?"
"Yep, very." AJ smiled proudly.
"So, do you plan on letting her know?" Dani asked.
"Yeah, eventually. I have to have the right timing and so far it hasn’t happened."
"Well, it will. I can feel it." Laura said.
"Good to know."
We all got quiet. Then I suddenly thought of an idea to tell Felicia that I love her. I wonder if she ever listened to that CD I made her a while back. I’ll think of all the great love songs there are and put them all together and some how dedicate them to her. Or something like that. Oh, I know. I’ll write her a poem and frame it and give it to her as a present.
I found a piece of paper that was on the little table in the room and started writing words that came to mind.
"Hey Nick, whatcha writing?" Brian asked.
"A poem. It’s for Felicia."
"Aw, that’s so sweet." Amanda gushed.
"Good, then maybe it’ll work." I jotted down more words that came to mind. I think it was turning out pretty well. Hopefully anyway. I wasn’t fond of my work, but I’d have Brian proof read it and see what could be added or taken out. And hopefully Felicia would love it. All I could do was hope. All I could count on in that moment.
It had been about 2 hours since they took Felicia into the operating room. I had finished the poem, folded it and put it safely in my shirt pocket.
Around 1, a nurse came into the waiting room.
"I take it you’re with Felicia Roberts?" She asked.
"Yep, we are. Is she ok?" I asked.
"Yep, she’s fine. She’s in her room. You can go see her, but only two at a time. She’s sleeping right now though."
"Ok, thank you."
She smiled and left the room.
"Well Nick; since you look like you’re gonna jump out of your skin. Why don’t you go see her first?" Brian said.
I smiled a thank you at him and left the room and walked down to Felicia’s room. I went in and quietly walked over to her bed. She was sleeping soundly. I sat in the chair next to her be and gentle held her hand, lightly stroking it. The quietness was about to put me to sleep. It was so calming and soothing. I was about to fall asleep when I felt her move. I looked at her and her eyes were open.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" I whispered.
"Ok, though very tired." She whispered back.
"I bet. They probably have you on a ton of painkillers."
"Yeah, probably. What time is it?"
"It’s about 1:15."
"Really? I thought it was later than that."
"Nope, just seems like it. Well, I will let you get some rest."
I started to get up, but she tightened her grip on my hand.
"Stay, please?"
"Of course." I got comfortable and stayed in there with her for hours.
She woke up around 5, wanting to know how Jacob was doing. Though he was sleeping. It took a lot of out him, but the doctor said he was going to be fine. Hearing that made Felicia smile and I think made her feel a whole lot better about a lot of things she felt guilty about.
I stayed with her the whole 3 days she was there....
