Authors: S. A. Harazin
Painless (18 page)
Chapter 42
It’s very early morning, and I can barely get out of bed. My temperature’s a little over a hundred and three, but it’s been a lot higher. I only know I have to get up. Luna’s calling me this morning.
I sit at my desk and stare at my laptop. Then I look out my window, and the sun’s getting ready to rise. It’s still nighttime in Houston.
I hear a
bing
and answer. Luna’s wearing a hat and a hospital gown. She has oxygen tubing in her nose, and she’s holding a little stuffed elephant I sent her.
“Today’s my big day,” she says. “I’m scared. It’s like my last chance, you know?”
“It’s another chance,” I say.
“A priest is going to bless the bone marrow when it’s time.”
“I’ll be thinking of you every single minute,” I say, choking on the words. “I’m sorry I can’t be there.”
“How are you?” she asks.
“Fine,” I force myself to say. I don’t want her to worry about me.
“I’ll always remember our road trip. It was spectacular.”
“I’m happy for the times I spent with you.” I smile, and then I sing. “Happy transplant to you. Happy transplant to you. Happy transplant, dear Luna. Happy transplant to you.”
“Thank you,” she says with a giggle.
“You’ll do great.”
I wave my hand, and she waves back. We look at each other for a few seconds, and then the screen goes blank.
I close my eyes and rest my head on my desk. I need a few more minutes before I ask Joe to take me to the hospital for a checkup. I’m not sure I’ll be coming back, but this isn’t the first time I’ve felt that way.
Surviving is what I do best.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Catherine Adkins, Debra Garfinkle, Verla Kay, and Steven Chudney.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by S. A. Harazin
Cover design by Jordan Kost
Cover image © Shutterstock.com
978-1-5040-0221-9
Albert Whitman & Company
250 South Northwest Highway, Suite 320
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Distributed by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
Since 1919, independent publisher Albert Whitman & Company has created some of the world’s most loved children’s books. Best known for the classic Boxcar Children® Mysteries series, its highly praised picture books, novels, and nonfiction titles succeed in delighting and reaching out to children and teens of all backgrounds and experiences. Albert Whitman’s special-interest titles address subjects such as disease, bullying, and disabilities. All Albert Whitman books treat their readers in a caring and respectful manner, helping them to grow intellectually and emotionally.
FIND OUT MORE AT
FOLLOW US:
@AlbertWhitman
and
Facebook.com/AlbertWhitmanCompany
Albert Whitman & Company is one of a select group of
publishing partners of Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
Open Road Integrated Media
is a digital publisher and multimedia content company. Open Road creates connections between authors and their audiences by marketing its ebooks through a new proprietary online platform, which uses premium video content and social media.
Videos, Archival Documents,
and
New Releases
Sign up for the Open Road Media newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign up now at
FIND OUT MORE AT
FOLLOW US: