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He must be in incredible pain.
“Squeeze my hand as hard as you need.” I reach up and press the button for the nurse. “The nurse will bring you more pain medication.”
Langston wakes up from the noise. When he sees me, he stills, “What are you doing? What did you do to him?”
“He’s waking up. I called the nurse. I’m just trying to keep him calm until he gets more pain medication.”
Zeke moans, and Langston forgets about me. He grabs his friend’s hand. “It’s okay. I’m here. You’re going to be fine.”
The nurse rushes in.
“He woke up, and he’s in a lot of pain,” I say.
“I’ll get him more pain medication,” she says, racing toward the cart with the meds.
“No,” Zeke says.
We all turn to him as he says his first words. Both happy and confused at his choice of words. “I don’t want any medication. I don’t want to be knocked out again.”
“You’re safe. No one can hurt you. Enzo went to get your revenge. Take the drugs, man,” Langston says.
Zeke shakes his head, and the nurse stops.
Zeke moans again, biting his lip to keep the curses in as another wave of torment hits him.
“Give him the fucking drugs!” Langston screams at the nurse.
“I can’t go against the patient’s wishes.”
“Dammit, Zeke, if you don’t let the nurse give you the drugs I’ll do it myself,” Langston says.
This is getting us nowhere, so I speak up. “We won’t leave you, Zeke. Not for a second. One of us will hold your hand even if the drugs knock you out again. But you need the drugs to heal. Your body is in too much pain; you could go into shock and die from the pain—that’s not fair to Enzo or Langston. They both love you, and you need to survive for them. Let the nurse do her job. We promise as soon as it’s safe, we will reduce the medication so you can stay awake.”
Zeke watches my mouth studying it closely like my mouth holds the key to his decision.
Finally, Zeke nods at the nurse.
“Give him the drugs,” Langston says as Zeke’s grip on both of our hands tighten as his face scrunches in agony.
The nurse gives him drugs through his IV, and within moments Zeke is calm and quiet again. His eyes slowly flutter closed until he’s out again.
Langston looks to me and gives me a nod instead of a thank you. But I didn’t do it for him. I did it because Zeke needed it.
Langston’
s phone buzzes and he looks at it and curses.
“I have to go,” he says as he stares at his buddy.
“Go, I’ll stay. I promise I won’t stop holding his hand or sleep until you return.”
“Fuck,” Langston says pacing back and forth.
“Go,” I say again, holding Zeke’s hand tighter. Langston studies my grip on his hand. He knows it causes me pain, but this is my penance. I’ll hold his hand all night to comfort him no matter how painful it is for me.
Langston disappears without another word. I don’t know what drew him away, but I know it must be serious. Langston wouldn’t leave otherwise.
Enzo?
