Vigil

The room was silent except for the quiet beeping of medical machines. The clock on the wall read past midnight. Joseph leaned back in the chair beside the bed, rubbing his eyes. They felt gritty from lack of sleep; he was sure they didn't look any better than they felt. Yawning, Joe shifted in the narrow hospital chair, his clothes felt stiff from several days of wear. He was sure that they could get up and walk away on their own.

Joe shook his head briskly and stood up. If he didn't get moving he would fall asleep. That was something he would not risk. Joe looked at the hospital bed. Tubes and hoses wound around the body like a cocoon; a constant, rhythmic hissing assuring Joe that his brother was still breathing.

Joe approached the side of the bed and gently squeezed the hand lying on the sheets.

"Come on Alec, wake up..."

Joe turned at a rustling behind him. A nurse coming to check on Alec's vitals. She smiled, "haven't you had any sleep?"

"No. He might wake up," Joe said, moving out of her way.

A smile ghosted over her face, but it was just to hide the truth. She knew that Alec would not make it, but it was not her place to quash hope. Any hope. His vitals were low, his brain activity nearly nonexistent. It wold not be long. Only the machines were keeping him alive now.

"Have you been talking to him? Sometimes it helps," Jen offered. She finished checking his tubes and fluids.

"Yes," Joe said sadly. He looked up at the nurse, "Jen, is there any hope? Please tell me." Tears stood in his eyes, "is he even still here? Please, tell me the truth."

Jen bit her lip, her breath catching in her throat at the emotion she could see and hear. She hesitated to say anything. Seeing the pleading in Joe's eyes, she opened her mouth; but nothing came out. The carefully rehearsed cheerfulness, the constant stream of hope that she was always required and willing to give was stopped up in her throat.

Jen swallowed, "No. He's not here anymore.

Joe squeezed his eyes shut, nodding once.

Jen was not sure what to do to comfort the young man. She took half a step towards him and hesitated.

Joe turned and wrapped his long arms around Jen, tears falling from his eyes, his body shaking with silent sobs.

Jen patted him on the back, muttering nonsense words, trying comfort the grieving boy. She brushed his hair back from his face, his breathing slowly normalizing.

"Thank you, Jen, Thank you for telling me the truth. I would like to say goodbye to Alec," Joe finally said.

Jen nodded and backed out the door, her last view of the young man was him leaning over his brother, kissing him goodbye.

"Goodbye, Alec, my brother," Joe whispered, a single tear falling.