"They approved it?" Kenneth watched the bot with a half-bated breath, his hand pressed against his chest to ensure he remembered to inhale at the proper times. His mother stared off into space and said nothing as she sat back in her chair, her fingers drumming on the arm.

"Affirmative."

Eyes widening some, Kenneth sat up a bit more. He then shied back when he saw his mother's eyes flicker up and his head dipped back down. "That's good..." he whispered under his breath and smiled to himself. 

The bot turned and looked at the monitors. "We will begin surgery prep soon. You are scheduled to undergo operations at 4 pm tomorrow afternoon. This was the earliest time allowable."

Kenneth nodded. He peeked up at his mother's stare which was currently fixed on the back of the bot's head. She shook her head some. "The earliest time would've been two weeks ago, you already have all his scans," she murmured.

Biting his lip, Kenneth swallowed back a reply to her and just folded his hands in his lap. He reached under the blanket with one hand, though, touching the headset. It seemed to burn hot under his fingers even though it wasn't on. He swallowed and pulled it out.

"Uh, before you go..." 

The bot paused and turned back to him. 

Kenneth held out the headset. "I...took this...thought you'd want it back." His eyes lifted through the shield of his curly hair and he heard the air go silent, pulled taught as his mother's brows lifted and her lips compressed. She murmured something he couldn't hear. He looked away.

The bot took the headset. "This device is off-limits until a later determination," it droned and simply replaced it back in the safe. Kenneth dropped his hands in his lap. He closed his eyes and exhaled. I know I wanted to talk to her, but...she'd probably not be happy if she knew I was talking to her over something stolen. He swallowed, but the guilt that had wormed its way into his chest released slightly. Kenneth inhaled easier and exhaled again. The cold air didn't sting as much anymore and he relaxed.

"Sorry, mom," he whispered. 

"You bet you are," she snapped. 

Kenneth nodded. The bots whirring tracks turned. "A doctor shall arrive soon for final consulting and to review surgery prep. Have a good day."

It trundled from the room. The sound of machines clicking and beeping filled the silent space. Kenneth leaned back onto his pillow and peered up at the ceiling. His stomach churned slightly and he closed his eyes against the white lights. I hate waiting, he thought to himself. The air came in and out of his lungs slowly, each breath mildly forced. Don't think about waiting. Only a few more hours. After all, it's 6 pm today. Dinner will be soon...then I can sleep, then it's just waiting until 4 pm. He cracked his eyes slightly and stared at the safe. It would be easier if I had a distraction, though.

Eyes falling to where his mother sat, Kenneth quickly moved his gaze away. She's human...I know that...I guess. His lips thinned and compressed. He shook his head. I don't know, I just...not yet. He swallowed. The thought of opening his mouth and saying something, anything, he could feel his heart racing inside his chest already. His fingers felt cold. He tightened them around the blanket and just closed his eyes again and tried to relax. 

In the back of his head, Kenneth felt the hours tick by. He fell asleep after a few and his dreams flipped through his mind. Montages of his adventures, the world he and Byrd had spent so much time in. Adventures they'd never gone on played out in his half-sleeping mind and he smiled slightly. 

Eventually, the bots came in to wake him for dinner and the counseling, though. He sat and listened without truly taking in information. He let his mother handle the talking and just tuned out her harsh questions to the doctor--who was human surprisingly. Kenneth's eyes simply fixed on the floor, his mind off in another world. 

I wonder if she'd ever want to meet up in real life...he thought, his fingers twining in and out of one another as he kicked his legs. In the background, he thought he picked up something about anesthesia and slight agreements and disagreement. He peeked up and just nodded when it seemed appropriate, his eyes unfocused.

I doubt it. I wonder if she's worried, I didn't exactly tell her I couldn't talk to her. I dunno, she waited for me before...and I waited for her. His shoulders sank and he inhaled through his nose. I just gotta go through with it. Can't do anything till this is taken care of first. His lips set themselves into a line and he realized his mother was waving at him with a tight frown.

"Kenneth, the doctor has a question for you," she said and leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest.

Sitting up, Kenneth looked at the young man in the white coat sitting there. "Sorry, yessir?" 

The doctor just smiled. "Are you allergic to anything not already listed?" He held out the tablet with Kenneth's medical history scrawled onto it. Kenneth's eyes skimmed the list. He shook his head.

"No, sir."

"Thank you. Any concerns you have going into this?" the doctor cocked his head slightly.

"No, sir," Kenneth repeated. His stomach knotted, though. What if I don't come out of it...his eyes rose mildly to the safe and then a few inches above it. I never got to really...talk to her about it.

"That should be all then. You're both aware of the dangers and you're all set. The nurses will come in here tomorrow afternoon for the final prep, and I'll see you after that." The doctor stood and smiled. He clapped his hand on Kenneth's shoulder. Kenneth winced and looked down.

"Yes, sir," he whispered and exhaled slowly as the man's hand left his shoulder finally. He touched the spot and shivered a bit. His fingers curled into the familiar fabric of the hospital gown and he looked up, watching the doctor disappear out of the door. It swung shut behind him, leaving the room empty except for Kenneth and his mother.

"Kenneth."

His eyes flickered to his mother. She was watching the door as well, her fingers curled slightly tighter around the arm of the chair. 

"Yeah..." he murmured hoarsely. 

She looked at him and started to get up. "Get some rest," she said and turned, heading for the door as well. He watched her leave. Her hands looked tighter at her sides, swinging less, her steps hurried and not nearly as lax as they normally were. He peeked at the back of her head. 

Thanks...I suppose.

"There is a visitor for you," the bot droned as it entered the room. Kenneth's head popped up and he looked away from the half-empty tray of food. Pushing it away from him, he sat up slightly, inhaling raggedly.

"W-Who?" he whispered.

"Name, Daniel Paulson. States he is a friend."

Kenneth frowned. Do they have the wrong room? He pressed a hand to his chest but nodded. "O-Okay...they can come in." He looked at the empty seat where his mother was. Maybe she'd sent someone to check on him? Who knew. He looked up at the door as it opened quietly and a man stepped into the room. He didn't look like anyone Kenneth knew. Kenneth frowned some and sat up as best he could, dragging the blanket over his knees.

"Hi," the man smiled and crossed the room, stopping at the foot of the bed. "My name is Daniel, I don't think we've met before, but you are Kenneth, right?"

Who is this person? Kenneth swallowed. His fingers twisted in the blanket. "Y-Yeah," he whispered. "H-H--"

"I'm the youth minister from Byrd's church," the man said quickly. "She called me about you. She's out of town for a few days and wanted to see if I'd check on you. Apologies for any intrusion."

The knot in Kenneth's stomach uncoiled slightly. His shoulders relaxed back down as he wheezed in and out quietly. "Oh..." he dipped his head down and smiled. She thinks of everything. "Thank you..." he whispered aloud.

Daniel nodded. "Do you mind...talking a bit?" He gestured to the chairs. 

Kenneth shook his head. He knows Byrd, he's a good person probably. Plus...he came to check on me. He watched the man sit down and pull the chair a bit closer, but not too close. 

Daniel set down his bag and leaned forward, folding his hands as he leaned his elbows on his knees. "I know we haven't ever formally met, but Byrd has spoken very highly of you and offered up a lot of prayer requests for you over the past month," Daniel said. "I think she considers you a very close friend, and I'm glad we finally get to meet."

She...prays for me? She cares that much? Kenneth felt his chest tighten with the guilt of remembering how he'd ghosted her for all those days. He gripped the blanket tighter and looked down. "She's very kind," he said and coughed. "I'm grateful to be considered her friend."

Daniel nodded and smiled. His smile remained somber, though. "This might be too much, but she did confide in me your situation after the other night. I simply wanted to let you know that our church is here to help should you need it. No one should need to go through this alone." He looked up.

"Thank you..." Kenneth looked away. His skin crawled, his mother's gaze slipping into his mind. If she knew, what would she do? Would she track me down again? Demand I come home? His hands shook and Kenneth felt the cold air rush into his lungs harder than before as he inhaled sharply. He hunched forward. 

"Kenneth, would you be okay if I just prayed for you?" Daniel reached out but didn't touch him or the bed. He just rested his hand there. 

Kenneth stared at Daniel's hand. He kept his own hands to himself but nodded. "S-sure," he whispered. Daniel smiled and folded his hands again. He bowed his head. Kenneth bowed his head slightly. He pressed his hands together, the way he remembered having learned in Sunday school as a kid. 

His eyes remained on the thin hospital blanket, though, and the wires trailing from his arms and face as Daniel began to speak.

"Dear heavenly Father, gracious Lord. Thank you for Kenneth and his friendship with Byrd. Thank you for Byrd and her strength of faith and love for others. Thank you for bringing me here to speak with this young man. I ask that you would please, watch over him. Protect him in the coming days. Please keep him safe. Heal him, and guide him. Thank you for Your Son who died for our sins, who saved us from sin. Lord, may your almighty name be praised and glorified forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen." 

Kenneth peeked up after the word "amen" and exhaled slowly. His chest stung, but he felt a bit of weight disappearing as he leaned back and straightened up again. 

"Thank you," he murmured. 

Daniel nodded. "Of course. If you don't mind my asking, Byrd said you were here receiving treatment, may I ask for what? Just so we can keep you in our prayers as a congregation."

Kenneth stared down. He put a hand to his chest. "I...I have surgery for my lungs," he said. "They're going to try fixing my COPD." His chest tightened and he coughed, leaning forward some. Pain sparked through his body as he hunched up and hugged his knees. Exhaustion dragged down at his eyes. "I'm scared," he whispered. The cold of the room pressed in around him and he hid his face slightly. She cares so much. What if this doesn't work? If I never wake up. If I die...I never got to really say goodbye to her. 

He peeked up at Daniel. "I don't want to die," he murmured.

Daniel pulled the chair closer and sat back down. He nodded. "That's normal," he said. "It's okay to be scared."

Kenneth nodded. He stared at the floor between them and focused on the click of the oxygen in and out of his mask. "I wanted to tell her goodbye or talk to her first. I know...I don't know. She just told me things that made me want to live again. I want to have a purpose like she does. How do I get that?" he asked, looking up. "How do I find purpose in Jesus?"

Lips slowly curling into a soft smile, Daniel reached into his bag. He pulled out a thick book and set it on the bed. "Take this. Read it if you want. Kenneth, I can't tell you anything that can stop you from being afraid of dying or take away the pain of the surgery, but I can tell you that there's a God who loves you, who wants you, and who has a purpose for you, and everything you need to know is in that Bible."

Kenneth looked down and touched the Bible. He picked it up and set it against his knees. "Thank you," he murmured. 

"Anytime," Daniel said. "When is your operation?"

Kenneth gripped the Bible tight between both hands. "Tomorrow," he said. His hands itched to open the Bible but he left it be. "Will you...tell her, I said hi, or goodbye or I don't know. Tell her, thank you, for me?" He looked back up at Daniel. 

Daniel nodded. "I will. I'll tell her you said thank you." He stood up and picked up his bag. "I know it's late, so I won't take up the rest of your night. You get some good rest, and know that we'll be praying for you, okay?"

With a small nod, Kenneth managed a small smile. He pulled the Bible closer to him. "Thank you, Daniel."

"You're welcome." 

The door slid closed again. Kenneth looked down at the large black Bible in his hands. Fear gripped him with cold hands, holding his lungs captive inside his chest. He wheezed in and out and looked at the time. Less than twenty-four hours. His fingers dug into the leather outside of the Bible and he closed his eyes. Forcing in a tight breath, he opened the Bible. 

Then he opened his eyes and leaned back, pushing all thoughts of the next day out of his mind. Instead, he turned the first few pages and lowered his eyes to the writing. His lips moved quietly, repeating the words aloud.

"In the beginning, God--"