But how? How could Simon know these things?
Another word flashed in his head that he didnât want to see: Leukemia . The child had leukemia. Simon knew it.
Simon shuddered and opened his eyes. Blaine . That was the childâs nameâit just came to him.
Blaine continued with his uninterrupted eye contact.
Will you help me?
âExcuse me?â Simon said. He wiped a pool of sweat from his glistening forehead and turned to the elderly black man who sat to his right.
âWhat?â the man replied with confusion.
âOh, Iâm sorry. I thought you said something to me.â The man shook his head and continued working on his Sudoku puzzle.
Will you help me?
Simon looked at the child again. Then, the terrifying realization hit him. The voice he heard wasnât the old manâsâit belonged to Blaine, and it was in his head! He felt a powerful tingling at the base of his spine that shot through his entire back, and rested in the back of his skull. The feeling was different; unlike the tingling he had felt previously. Now, it was concentrated, un-diluted; it circulated at the place where his neck connected with his head.
Help you? How can I help you? Simon thought this before he could fully understand what was transpiring.
I donât feel good and my mommy is very scared. Will you save me?
I donât understand .
You will. Will you take my hand? Please .
Before Simon could speak again, the little boy had raised his head from his motherâs lap. He slid out of the chair and landed on his feet. He stood there, looking at Simon, waiting for Simon to make a move.
His mother smiled. âI think he likes you,â she said to Simon, forcing a smile. Blaine walked over to Simon, putting one tiny foot in front of the other.
âNo, itâs okay,â Simon said to the woman when she tried to prevent the child from moving. âHeâs okay. I got him.â Thewoman paused, not sure whether to trust Simon, but she backed off. When Blaine made it to Simon, she looked relieved.
Blaine didnât speak. He looked tired, as if conquering the space that had separated the two of them moments ago had taken a lot out of him. He simply looked at Simon as if he was trying to figure him out. The laden expression on Blaineâs face chilled Simon a bit. It was as if Blaine was privy to a secret that involved Simon, but wasnât at liberty to discuss. Simon didnât know what to do. Or say. Blaine stood there. Watching.
You hafta take my hand. Iâm not âpose to take yours .
Then, the door to the back opened and a nurse stepped out. âSimon Cassel.â She looked around and called out again when Simon didnât respond. âSimon Cassel.â
âThatâs me.â Simon stood up. He looked down at the child whose eyes were pleading with him. Then, Simon did it. He didnât know why, but he took the childâs hand. As soon as he touched Blaine, he felt heat surge in his body. Blaine seemed to feel it too. It didnât last long, but for the few seconds that they connected, Simonâs body felt electrified. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and his knees buckled.
When Simon released his grip, he felt compelled to pick up Blaine. This child was now a part of him and he didnât want Blaine struggling to walk back to his mother. Simon walked over to the lady and gently placed him down in her lap.
âAll betta now,â Blaine said as he smiled warmly.
âI hope he wasnât a bother,â she said.
âNot at all. Heâs adorable.â Simon smiled and then walked away toward the nurse, who appeared slightly irritable. When he approached, she pursed her lips together and exhaled.
âAs you can see, weâre very busy. The doctor is waiting.â Simon paused at the door and looked back at Blaine. He didnât knowhow he knew, but he had no doubt that Blaine would now be fine. His leukemia was
Another word flashed in his head that he didnât want to see: Leukemia . The child had leukemia. Simon knew it.
Simon shuddered and opened his eyes. Blaine . That was the childâs nameâit just came to him.
Blaine continued with his uninterrupted eye contact.
Will you help me?
âExcuse me?â Simon said. He wiped a pool of sweat from his glistening forehead and turned to the elderly black man who sat to his right.
âWhat?â the man replied with confusion.
âOh, Iâm sorry. I thought you said something to me.â The man shook his head and continued working on his Sudoku puzzle.
Will you help me?
Simon looked at the child again. Then, the terrifying realization hit him. The voice he heard wasnât the old manâsâit belonged to Blaine, and it was in his head! He felt a powerful tingling at the base of his spine that shot through his entire back, and rested in the back of his skull. The feeling was different; unlike the tingling he had felt previously. Now, it was concentrated, un-diluted; it circulated at the place where his neck connected with his head.
Help you? How can I help you? Simon thought this before he could fully understand what was transpiring.
I donât feel good and my mommy is very scared. Will you save me?
I donât understand .
You will. Will you take my hand? Please .
Before Simon could speak again, the little boy had raised his head from his motherâs lap. He slid out of the chair and landed on his feet. He stood there, looking at Simon, waiting for Simon to make a move.
His mother smiled. âI think he likes you,â she said to Simon, forcing a smile. Blaine walked over to Simon, putting one tiny foot in front of the other.
âNo, itâs okay,â Simon said to the woman when she tried to prevent the child from moving. âHeâs okay. I got him.â Thewoman paused, not sure whether to trust Simon, but she backed off. When Blaine made it to Simon, she looked relieved.
Blaine didnât speak. He looked tired, as if conquering the space that had separated the two of them moments ago had taken a lot out of him. He simply looked at Simon as if he was trying to figure him out. The laden expression on Blaineâs face chilled Simon a bit. It was as if Blaine was privy to a secret that involved Simon, but wasnât at liberty to discuss. Simon didnât know what to do. Or say. Blaine stood there. Watching.
You hafta take my hand. Iâm not âpose to take yours .
Then, the door to the back opened and a nurse stepped out. âSimon Cassel.â She looked around and called out again when Simon didnât respond. âSimon Cassel.â
âThatâs me.â Simon stood up. He looked down at the child whose eyes were pleading with him. Then, Simon did it. He didnât know why, but he took the childâs hand. As soon as he touched Blaine, he felt heat surge in his body. Blaine seemed to feel it too. It didnât last long, but for the few seconds that they connected, Simonâs body felt electrified. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and his knees buckled.
When Simon released his grip, he felt compelled to pick up Blaine. This child was now a part of him and he didnât want Blaine struggling to walk back to his mother. Simon walked over to the lady and gently placed him down in her lap.
âAll betta now,â Blaine said as he smiled warmly.
âI hope he wasnât a bother,â she said.
âNot at all. Heâs adorable.â Simon smiled and then walked away toward the nurse, who appeared slightly irritable. When he approached, she pursed her lips together and exhaled.
âAs you can see, weâre very busy. The doctor is waiting.â Simon paused at the door and looked back at Blaine. He didnât knowhow he knew, but he had no doubt that Blaine would now be fine. His leukemia was
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