Page 99 of Something Like Summer
* * * * *
“Aneurysm.”
The doctor had said muchmore than that, but this was the word Ben fixated on. He struggledto remember what it meant, something with the brain. A tumor? Orjust a blip of electricity in the wrong place?
“His grandmother died fromone,” Ben remembered. “Oh god, is he going to--”
“That he made it herealive is a promising sign,” the doctor assured him. “He has afive-hour surgery ahead of him. If he can pull through that, he hasa good chance. I must warn you though, there could becomplications. Are you family?”
“Yes.”
Every complication waslisted on a piece of paper Ben was asked to sign. He barely scannedthis list of nightmare possibilities. This was a choice betweenlife and death. If Jace survived, they could deal with what sort oflife he was left with.
Jace’s family arrived whilehe was still in surgery, which was a great relief to Ben. Finallyhe was with people who understood that the world was coming undoneat the seams. That calm, unshakable Jace had fallen wasimpossible.
A nurse informed his familythat Jace had suffered a class four cerebral aneurysm. They wereable to explain to Ben what this meant. An aneurysm was a balloonedportion of blood vessel filled with blood. If left undetected itcould rupture, causing bleeding in the brain. Once that happenedthere was only a fifty percent chance of survival.
Waiting for the results ofthe surgery was pure agony. Ben tried to imagine his life withoutJace and couldn’t. He had been the center of Ben’s world for toomany years now. Going on without him would be impossible. He’drather die himself. How could anyone expect him to dootherwise?
Redemption came in the formof a very tired surgeon. He gave them a weary smile and the newsthat the surgery had been a success. Now it was up to Jace torecover.
The next four days werecrucial, the high chance of fatality still looming over them. Benmaintained a constant vigil as Jace flitted in and out ofconsciousness. At times he didn’t know who Ben was, or he would saystrange things, worrying once that Samson was going to be late towork. Their laughter at such times was frantic and short-lived.What if this is how he would behave from now on? What if Benremained forgotten?
Equally worrying was thelack of movement on Jace’s left side. Among the constant warningsfrom doctors and nurses was the possibility of permanent paralysison that side. When Jace began clapping on the fifth day, forreasons known only to him, the entire family cried withrelief.
By the end of the week Jacehad returned to them. He knew who they were and remembered what hadhappened. He also complained of pain and how loud everything was.Another side effect. They had to whisper when around him, otherwisethey sounded like they were shouting.
“I’m sorry about all ofthis.”
This was the first coherentsentence Jace said to him. Ben wept while covering his face inkisses.
* * * * *
The ducks snapped up thebread greedily, occasionally bickering with each other and tryingto steal more than their share. For Ben and Jace this was a game asthey tried to ensure that every duck received its fair portion.Sitting cross-legged on the dock, they were benevolent judges,casting torn bread to the meeker ducks in the back and refusingthose who behaved too aggressively.
Renting the lakeside cabinhad been a gift from Ben’s parents to celebrate Jace’s graduationfrom six weeks of physical therapy. He was doing great, too.Physically he had made a near full recovery. Occasionally his lefthand gave him trouble but it was manageable, although he stilltended to tire easily.
Mentally things were a bitharder. He often had short-term memory loss, would forget what hewas going to say or what he had been doing. On good days he couldlaugh about it, but his medical crisis had brought out a new sideto Jace. Ben had noticed it during his rehabilitation, howimpatient Jace would become, even losing his temper on a fewoccasions. His usual self-assured calmness was gone.
Noise was still a problem,too. Occasionally he developed a strong sensitivity. Predictingwhen it would happen was difficult, but when it did he would shuthimself in a quiet room and could only be addressed in awhisper.
“I’d like to go back towork again,” Jace said, tossing the last chunk of bread to a duckbrave enough to come onto the dock.
“You willeventually.”
“Not if I can’t remembersafety procedures, or what drink someone ordered.” Jace frowned.“And not before the other surgeries.”
A MRI had revealed twoother aneurysms, not yet ruptured, that would have to be removed.The doctors wanted to give Jace a few months between surgeries tomake sure he recovered from each. The plan was sensible, but Bencould understand how it made Jace feel like a ticking timebomb.
“I’m just glad to finallyhave you home so much,” Ben said, leaning on his arm. “Nearlylosing you was a pretty hefty price, but I’m willing to reap therewards now.”
Jace smiled and pulled himcloser. “Maybe I can get a job at one of the check-in counters.Lifting luggage would be good physical therapy and the computerdoes the rest.”
“Stop talking about work,you jerk! I’m trying to have a romantic moment here.”
Jace laughed. Together theywatched the ducks slowly lose interest and swim away.
* * * * *
