Chapter 2
“Remember when we took that exotic trip to the eastern islands for that exclusive job offer and we both had the worst time imaginable? “ Tadashi said with a chortle. “You got chased around the beach by crabs and people kept asking me to take photos with their pets.”
“Yea, that was a pretty shitty trip wasn't it. When we arrived we found out that the agent didn't even make reservations because he thought rooms would just be available.”
“We got stuck in the worst hotel imaginable. When you turned on the AC unit dust came out instead of air!”
The two shared a laugh over some of the things they had endured during their trips together while eating the poor excuse of food the hospital always tried to supply.
“Don’t even get me started on all the bug bites we endured. You looked like you were back in highschool, covered in so many bumps it was as if you were having an outrageous breakout before prom.” This remark caused Tadashi to spew cracker dust all over the place due to a sudden burst of laughter.
They were both so at peace after their talk. After all that was said, everything seemed as if things might turn out to be alright. There was no regret, there was no sadness. Just the laughter and banter shared between two close friends before the nurses called for lights out.
“Thanks for everything Miguel. You really were a great friend, and I hope someone else will be just as lucky to call you their friend.”
This night went different than normal, it was eerily quiet. Miguel didn't like that. Normally people would be pleased at the sound of silence, but this was a silence he had been dreading for months. The moment the ear piercing sound of the monitors flatlining rang, miguel lost sense of time. Everything became a blur, the doctors rushing in, the nurses hurrying him out. The car ride back to his house following up to the day of the Funeral, nothing felt real. It was like he’s still in that room, watching his friend say goodbye without ever speaking a word.
Although left completely devastated with his friend's departure, he's glad Tadashi is out of pain. That he is no longer suffering. No longer waking up in the dead of night coughing to the point of hurling. No more tests, no more pills, but most importantly, no more dread. The hardest part has yet to come to pass.
Finding a replacement.