164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPqSzKEihw
copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqbdoXZxjD
The next morning Noah woke up exhausted. Every part of his body that could hurt did hurt. A groan escaped his mouth as he attempted to sit up. Noah couldn't understand how he could feel so tired still. He had gone to sleep not even an hour after he had gotten home and according to his clock, he had slept over twelve hours.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqcM4v3h6a
"Darn it." He was supposed to meet Glenn in less than forty-five minutes, and the hospital was at least twenty minutes away. Forcing himself out of bed, Noah quickly, well as fast as he could manage, got ready to leave.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZSX4XjNAd
"Mom!" He yelled shoving his feet into his shoes. "Mom!"copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ADiN2fNzy
"What?! What's wrong?!" His mother came running into the kitchen. Her eyes were wide with panic. Immediately he felt horrible for scaring her.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqZCc38fle
"Uh...Nothing I was just hoping you could give me a ride to the hospital," he mumbled embarrassed. Her eyes skimmed over him searching for any indication that something was wrong.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAejxjgR6R
"Why? Are you feeling sick?" Worry still evident in her voice.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4drIvfLL2k
"No, not any more than usual. Actually, I am supposed to meet a friend," he said with a shrug.His mother smiled from ear to ear. It wasn't often Noah mentioned friends or wanted to go out.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtLi5YmeeI
"The one you were hanging out with yesterday?" she asked sounding like a giddy school girl. Noah's mom had been really upset yesterday when she couldn't find him at the hospital, but the moment he mentioned that he had been out with a friend, she seemed to forget her anger completely. The entire car ride home she had grilled him for details.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEiGYQ0eH6
"Yeah. You don't mind do you?" He already knew she wouldn't, but felt the need to ask anyway.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MkxvPMgAO
Glenn was already sitting outside in the hospital courtyard when Noah and his mother pulled up. His camera was sitting on the table next to him.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUhmdnlzBz
"Thanks, Mom," Noah said getting out of the car. But instead of driving off, she looked out the open passenger window.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4eALcrLq9
"Glenn is it?"copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwVc3q1PHC
"Yes ma'am," Glenn politely responded. Trying to hide his embarrassment for what he knew was coming next, Noah suddenly became very interested in his shoes.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiwWFJj1jV
"Call me, Carol. Ma'am makes me feel so old." That's because you are old, Noah thought, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, my Noah has a tendency to over exert himself. So if you wouldn't mind keeping the physical activity to a minimum, I would really appreciate it." Even though he knew she meant well, Noah couldn't prevent the blush that crept up on his face.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB0PcL1Dxs
"Of course. I couldn't manage too much even if I wanted to," he said pointing to a nearby oxygen tank resting in a nifty little cart.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpZIC29DSR
"Oh. Okay, well you boys have fun and take care," she said before driving off.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx9MtPwNQQ
"I am so sorry," Noah told Glenn once his mother's car was out of sight.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrrJgEvii2
"For what? Your mom seems cool." Was he serious? His mom was nowhere near cool. She was way too overprotective. Even before he had gotten sick, she had been like that. Now it was just that much worse.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5sKN4NXIG
"Yeah, okay," Noah said, his words dripping with sarcasm. "What's with the tank?"copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYdZLHOhvF
"Oh, that. Well, apparently my useless lungs have decided to become even more useless." Again Glenn's calm demeanor had Noah wondering where this guy came from.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e7zYndtGw
"Is that all? Are you sure you're up for this?" Even as he spoke the words, he felt disappointment well up inside of him. "I mean we could al--"copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsBYcp20mL
"Uh-uh, you are not getting out of this. I'm fine. Now, let's go."copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbJUbvCZN7
"The park really?" Noah asked in disbelief as they both exited the bus. Seriously neither of them were in any shape to play at the park.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVmMukaIOQ
"Yeah, it's one of the best places for people watching."copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡekiPivelwB
"You do realize that sounds like something a stalker might say?" Noah pointed out grinning. Glenn chuckled before sitting on a nearby bench.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dNQ8YlKY8
"Hardy, har, har. Aren't you a barrel of laughs?" For the fourth time today he put the oxygen mask to his nose and inhaled a couple of times deeply before hanging it back on the tank.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD3epyzAhn
"Why don't you just wear it, if it makes it easier for you to breath?" Was he worried what people would think? He didn't seem like the type that would. Not that Noah had known him for very long.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwHJm0fBlL
"Cause it's flavorless." Noah burst out laughing.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsY0i6ZDRY
"Since when does air have flavor?" he managed to ask between fits of laughter.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJCQX2owCG
"Since always. Now, look around and tell me is there anything here that catches your eye?" Noah glanced around the park. Nothing seemed very special or super meaningful. The swing set wasn't very old but had the definite sign of wear and tear, and the playground itself looked pretty much like every other playground he had seen. There were no kids at the park, but it was a school day so no big surprise there.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2cBMyB29X
"The only thing that stands out is those two over there sucking face," he said pointing to a young couple on the other side of the park partaking in some serious PDA.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmpMnHTnlK
"See you getting it. That right there is an amazing part of living life." Glenn picked up his camera and took a picture of the couple, who had finally come up for air.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8tYYr0mYC
copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SFfusN5uX
"I didn't mean it like that, and playing spit-swap with someone is not what I call amazing. More like disgusting," He scoffed. Glenn chuckled and shook his head.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iks4I9Y6v
"It's young love at its finest. Well maybe not its finest, but you get what I mean. Have you ever even kissed a girl?" he questioned the younger boy, who was still making faces. Noah blushed but didn't answer. "You haven't, have you?"copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsDcqBErYC
"Well, not exactly," Noah replied. "Have you?" Glenn leaned back against the bench.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41vJhZc55G
"Once, but it didn't really count. I am pretty sure it was a pity kiss." For the first time, Glenn appeared to be sad. "You know it's getting pretty late, and I have an appointment with my pulmonologist in the morning." Unsure of what else to say, Noah quietly agreed with him.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ZnA35J1c
The bus ride home was depressing, and it didn't seem right to Noah, to see Glenn so unhappy. Nothing seemed to ever get him down. It made Noah realize, no matter how determined Glenn was to live his life the grief of everything he would never experience was still there. He wasn't ready to die any more than Noah was.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKESX5uBwt
"I have been meaning to ask you," he started. "What's with the old Polaroid camera? You know there is this new fangled invention called a cell phone," he said pulling out his phone and showing it to his friend. "It takes pictures, and even lets you edit them." This earned him a smile.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAvJkMJwRO
"Yeah, I have one of those too, but nothing beats the nostalgia of a good old Polaroid picture. Plus, editing is like saving a fake memory, and then what's the point in saving it?" copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUWciwgogi
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vr2HJyY7P
copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv3eo0jTBP
