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cussed.  It is time to consider what you want to do. We can look for a marrow donor or look into
stem cell treatment. But I strongly advise we stop the chemotherapy. I think we look at quality of life
now. I m available any time. Think about how you want to proceed.
 Yes sir. Thank you for calling. I will be in touch. Ryan ended the call and looked at the blank
screen. It wasn t working. It wasn t working. The words echoed through his head.
 Ryan? Everything ok? Layla stepped behind him and hugged him.
 Yes baby. That was Dr. Lahti. He just wanted to tell me about some options. It will all be ok.
****
Mark shuffled through the dark house to answer the soft knock on the door.  Layla? What s the
matter? Is Ryan OK?
She hugged him and cried into his shoulder.  I forgot my key.
Caleb yawned and walked up behind them. Seeing Layla s tears, he grabbed her hand and pulled her
gently into the house.  Come on Lay. Tell us what s happening.
She followed Caleb into the living room. One small light illuminated the hospital bed where Mark
was still sleeping. His injuries were slow to heal but he was making progress each day. Dr. Turner
sat in the chair next to the bed making notes in Mark s chart. Noticing Layla, she gave her a small
smile and put away the paperwork.
 He s had three chemotherapy treatments. His body is destroyed. Layla sobbed as she fell into the
couch.  He has lost his hair and his body is swollen from the steroids. He does nothing but sleep.
And today, Dr. Lahti called and said it isn t working. Nothing is helping. What are we going to do?
Mark settled into the couch next to her and took her hands.  Lay, I am so sorry but we aren t just
giving up. We have to have options. What did the doctor say?
 He wouldn t let me talk to him. He is so defeated. And by her body language and her voice,
everyone knew Layla was defeated too.
 What about Aria? Can t we use her for marrow? Caleb rubbed his tired eyes.
 You haven t heard? Ryan sent her packing. After the first chemo treatment, he was totally out of it,
exhausted with fever. Aria climbed into bed with him and started.. Layla took a breath to steady her
voice.  She was under the covers. I can t talk about it.
 What? Caleb and Mark said in unison.
 Ryan trains so many people, some of which are celebrities. We could get some good publicity and
organize a bone marrow drive. We can talk to the hospital and do it there in the auditorium. We ve
done it before. Dr. Turner grabbed her cell phone from the table and started to dial her boss.
 I can use our advertising department to get some interest. We will do everything we can, Layla. I
promise you we will not lose him. Caleb pulled her into his lap and she instantly relaxed.  Ryan is
the strongest person I know. He won t give up without a fight. Defeated or not, he will not leave you
if there is any other option at all.
 I have some favors I can call in with some of my clients. I ll head into the office tomorrow for a few
hours. And don t even give me a look J Dog. I will take the morning shift nurse so don t panic.
Mark smiled at Jena.  You are seriously cramping my style. Just so we are clear.
 I am looking out for your best interests. And Mark, don t call me J Dog. Ever. Jena laughed.
Layla looked at her best friends. She would be lost without them. She knew her sister, Sophie, was
only weeks from delivering their first child and she thanked God for Mark every day. He had not only
changed Sophie s life, but changed hers as well.
 We have the auditorium next weekend. Jena closed her phone and smiled.  If there is a match to
be found, we will find it. Ryan is a fighter. I may not know him that well. But I know that to be fact.
What he needs from you is strength. It is what he needs from all of us. No panicking. Just be there
for him. Treat him the same way you did before. Don t let this illness define him.
****
Ryan awoke and reached to pull Layla toward him. All he felt were cold sheets. He focused on the
alarm clock. 4 AM. He checked the bathroom, the kitchen and finally the driveway. Her car was
gone. Panic shot through his body. It had been far too long since he had made love to her. He had
been destroyed by the chemotherapy. He had resigned from the gym, turning his manager title over to
Kevin. He hoped to one day be able to return but his gut told him differently.
He stepped into the kitchen and poured a glass of juice. Everything tasted of metal but he knew he
had to keep his strength up. His muscles screamed at him to use them.
The lights in the pool were inviting and he tested the water with his toes. Stripping his boxers, he
jumped into the water. His strokes were slow and his breathing heavy. His cough made it impossible
to put his head underwater for long. But the warm liquid surrounded him, making him weightless.
Floating on his back, he watched the stars above him. The rest of the world was asleep without a
care in the world.
His heart told him to fight. He had done it before. He had won the first battle. But his head told him
he was losing. In the end, it was his head that won. Tears fell down his face as he thought about what
would happen to Layla, to the whole Moretti gang, even to Aria. He felt like he didn t have much
time left. His phone call from Dr. Lahti had told him everything he needed to know. The chemo
wasn t working and the odds of finding a donor were slim. Selfishly, he wished he hadn t sent Aria
away. But his love for Layla transcended death. She was everything to him and if these were truly
his last days, he didn t want to spend them worrying about Aria. Or knowing Layla was upset. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]