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He opened his eyes and leveled them on her.
“You’re better off finding someone else. I can’t tell you why. Believe me. I’m no good. You’ll find someone perfect for you. The most I can do is friendship. I hate it, but that’s how it is.”
Before she could respond, Bex’s ride pulled up.
Aiden stood, escorted her to the car, and tucked her into the backseat. “I’m sorry. Good night, Bex. Be safe.”
“I’m... Never mind... Good night, Aiden.”
Chapter 10
Aiden
“She’s not doing well today, honey,” the woman at the nurse’s station told him, her look filled with sympathy. “It may be best if you come back tomorrow.”
A wave of nausea washed over Aiden. He swallowed hard. “She’s my mom. I’ll be here no matter what.”
He glanced up the hallway toward his mom’s room, then looked back to the brunette nurse.
She nodded. “Okay. But prepare yourself. It’s a rough day. She’s due for another dose of morphine soon.”
Aiden nodded and forced himself to walk up the tiled nursing home hallway.
He knocked and pushed the door open.
His mom, Julie, had the double room to herself. One medical bed stood empty, closest to the door. A privacy curtain stretched down the middle of the room, blocking his view of his mom’s space.
His heart sank when he heard low moaning. The nurse was right; today was a bad day.
“Hey, mom. It’s Aiden. I’m here,” he said, softly. He moved the curtain aside and stepped forward.
She lay on the bed, moaning. Her hands trembled uncontrollably. Her loose-fitting nightgown grew bigger on her every day as her frame grew thinner. Much too thin for her 50 year old body.
The nurses took good care of her here. Her brown hair was brushed and tied in a ponytail over her shoulder with a bow. They told him she probably couldn’t hear him anymore, but it brought him a little comfort that her moans quieted when he stepped into the room.
Despite the good care, Huntington’s Disease took its toll on her more and more every day. After her diagnosis ten years ago, her decline happened rapidly, her body quickly becoming its own prison. To top it off, the disease was always fatal.
Tears filled Aiden’s eyes as he sat in the chair beside her bed. He sniffed and wiped them away with his fingers.
“I’m sorry it’s a bad day. They’ll come with more morphine soon. I promise.”
She could no longer speak but Aiden felt better talking to her. He could feel her with him, trapped in the shell of her body. He hoped his daily conversations brought her some comfort, too.
He cradled one of her shaking hands in his and continued, “Bex’s back in town for a few weeks. I’m trying to reconnect with her. Even though we can only be friends. I’ve missed her.” He paused a moment and rubbed his hands over hers. “We went to the fair. I wish you could have been there. You would have loved it.”
Aiden described the trip to her, the fair lights and the atmosphere. He left out that both of them had visits from flings of the past.
As he spoke, gradually her breathing evened out and she fell asleep.
Aiden sat there in silence, holding her hand, for the longest time.
He turned to look when the door creaked open. The doctor popped his head in and motioned for Aiden to join him. Aiden’s stomach sank.
Aiden nodded and turned back to his mom. He kissed the back of her hand and gently laid it on the bed. “I love you. See you in a few days,” he whispered. He stood and walked silently out of the room, quietly pulling the door shut behind him.
“Dr. Stevens,” he greeted the salt-and-pepper haired man in the hallway.
“Aiden, I’m glad I caught you. Do you have a moment to discuss your mother’s treatment?”
