A Second Chance
Chapter Ten

After scouring the internet looking for the much needed items for the mix, Kevin finally found a local specialty market that made and manufactured them.

Clutching the tiny bag of blue powder and a small bottle of purified water, Kevin walked down the hall towards Nick’s room in the nursing home. He purposely drove to the home at the earliest hours for visitors so that he would be alone with Nick.

Standing in the doorway of the semi-private room, Kevin was relieved to see that Nick was alone.

Kevin stuffed the water bottle and the powder into his jacket pocket. He went up to Nick’s bed and gently brushed the hair that had fallen across his friend’s eyes. He forced himself to look at Nick. It made him sick to see Nick this way. He caused this.

Kevin brushed the tears from his eyes. He decided he wasn’t going to allow himself to cry. Not here, not now.

He took the blue plastic water cup from the bed stand and pulled the water and the mix from his pocket. After he mixed the formula, he again approached the bed and gently touched Nick on the shoulder.

“Nicky, wake up,” Kevin softly commanded.

It was the shaking that woke Nick up, he was unable to hear any sounds now. His eyes fluttered open and darted around the room. Kevin gasped at how cloudy and dark Nick’s eyes looked. When his eyes finally settled on Kevin, he wasn’t rewarded with a look of happiness but rather a true look of confusion and fear.

“It’s me Nick, Kev,” Kevin reassured. Nick’s only response was to draw himself back further into the bed.

“Nick, I need you to drink this for me,” Kevin said as he offered the potion.

Nick clamped his mouth shut, refusing to drink the liquid.

“He doesn’t know what food is,” a female voice called out from behind Kevin.

Kevin turned towards the voice.

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew,” the woman dressed in flowered scrubs continued.

“No,” Kevin replied.

“His condition is worsening with every day that goes by and they are at a medical loss as to what is causing this,” the woman explained.

Kevin drew a deep breath in, looking at Nick’s blank stare and then back at the nurse. “Can he or will he drink this?”

“What is it?”

“Oh, um, this was one of his favorite drinks, I was just hoping that with him drinking it, it would stimulate his memory and hopefully return to us,” Kevin lied.

“I’m sorry, I really don’t think that could happen, but if you want, all you have to do is drink some of it and then hold the cup to his mouth. If Nick’s having a good day, he might copy what you do.”

Kevin slowly nodded. He brought the cup to his mouth, but didn’t allow the contents to touch his lips. He looked at Nick while he did that and then offered the cup to him.

Nick seemed to reject all efforts to drink the blue tinted liquid. Kevin was growing frustrated with each passing minute. All Nick needed to do was drink three or four swallows and the potion would hopefully start to reverse what had been done.

“Come on Nick, I know you can do this, you have to do this for me,” Kevin begged.

“Kevin?”

Kevin froze when Brian’s voice called out.

“Kev, I’m so glad to see you,” Brian started. “I bet Nick is too.”

Brian glanced at the cup Kevin was holding. “What’s in there?”

“It’s a drink I would make for Nick from time to time, I was hoping he’d take it and drink three big gulps for me and I was thinking maybe this would bring him back to us,” Kevin replied.

“I can do it,” Brian stated.

“You can?”

Brian nodded. “I’ve been the only person that Nick seems to respond to.”

He took the cup from Kevin’s hand and turned and put his face directly in front of Nick’s.

“Mornin’ buddy, how are you today?”

Nick’s face seemed to lighten up when he saw Brian’s face.

“I got something for you that you want to drink,” Brian stated, his face still in front of Nick’s. “Here, let me show you,” Brian stated as he put the cup to his own lips.

“NO, BRIAN DON’T DRINK THAT!” Kevin shouted out quickly.

“Ick, what is this stuff?” Brian asked, his face scrunched up.

“You didn’t drink that did you?” Kevin asked.

“Just a sip, chill, there’s plenty of this crappy stuff for Nicky,” Brian assured.

“Don’t drink anymore, just give it to him, please,” Kevin begged.

“Alright, alright, just calm down,” Brian stated as he again held the cup to Nick’s mouth. “Okay Nick, drink this.”

Kevin closed his eyes, too afraid of the outcome.

“There Kev, all gone, do you have anymore? He looks like he’d lik more,” Brian asked.

“No, he can’t have anymore, it would be too much for him,” Kevin stated absently as he stared at Nick’s face.

“So.... how long do you figure before you’ll see a difference in Nick?” Brian questioned.

“I dunno, maybe in a few days, I’m not sure. I’d have to look it up,” Kevin rushed his reply.

“Look it up? Kev, that’s the dumbest excuse I’ve heard from your mouth yet.”

“I gotta go, bye Nicky, see you in a few days,” Kevin said quickly as he stood up and touched Nick’s shoulder.

+Chapter Eleven+