The Other Brother
Chapter 19
WARNING: this story contains sexual content, and contact between young boys. If the subject matter offends you, is not to your tastes, or if you are under legal age for your area, then find something else to read. In the following story all names and events are completely fictional. Although I may mention specific locations, places, or persons any resemblance to said people, locations, or places is completely unintentional.
Feel free to email me at ([email protected]). I respond to all of my readers.
This work is copyrighted © by Hunter Woods. No part of this story may be transmitted or reproduced in whole or in part in any form including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, and recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the express written consent of the author. For those of you who just blow this off and decide to steal anyway keep these thoughts below in mind:
“Intentionally using the quotes of others without author attribution is plagiarism and contributes to illiteracy.”
- Rain Bojangles
“Most plagiarists, like the drone, have neither taste to select, industry to acquire, nor skill to improve, but impudently pilfer the honey ready prepared, from the hive.”
- Walter Colton
“Borrowed thoughts, like borrowed money, only show the poverty of the borrower.”
- Lady Marguerite Blessington, Countess of Blessington
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EXCERPT OPENING
We started to turn towards the hallway which would take us to our much needed bath when dad called out to me. “Robby, later on when you are done and we have a bit of time I need to talk to you…it’s important.” He added making me scrunch up my face wondering what else we needed to talk about since in my opinion we pretty much had covered all the important sexual aspects with the relationship between me and Dane.
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My dad wanting to talk about things wasn’t unusual, but taking into account the situation it did make me a bit leery as I paused a moment before shrugging away the prickly sensation making my hair stand up. He had a hectic schedule, but always found the time to discuss important matters and I suppose considering the recent developments he probably wanted to talk about it some more with me in private. Hell, we’ve pretty much covered everything important in my opinion, but I nodded my head anyway letting him know it was cool. After all the most embarrassing stuff was already out of the way, but if he still wanted to talk to me about Dane then I was cool with it since he didn’t seem to mind so much about me being gay and in love with the thirteen year old boy.
Now as Dane and I relaxed on the bed watching TV with me leaning back against the wall and him nestled in my arms between my legs there was a sense of relaxed easiness between the two of us. We were pretty much naked other than me having put on a clean pair of underwear after our shower while Dane had slipped back into his pajamas bottoms. Our shower was more than just simply getting cleaned up as we helped one another out with our typical teenaged needs first thing in the morning. I had soaped the younger boy up making sure to spend plenty of time on his thick spout sending the boy into orbit. His back had been pressed up against my chest and stomach with my arm wrapped around the front of his sleek body. While my left fingers leisurely kneaded his large fleshy testicles, my right fist had slowly stroked his thick stalk my gaze fixedly focused and in awe of how his foreskin kept gliding over his flared mushroom shaped glans. There was something so sensual about watching it as Dane moaned softly in my arms while he looked down scrutinizing my every move. Within moments his body had tensed up as his erection vibrated in my fingers and his orgasm ran its course.
He had been a bit disappointed about having only a little droplet of cum appearing at the crown of his pee slit, but I reminded him I had done a pretty good job of milking him bone dry last night, which sent both of us into a giggling fit. Dane turned in my arms and gave me a quick kiss before dropping to his knees giving me a proper blow job. Last night he had ventured into this arena briefly making me squirm in delight, but had stopped short of bringing me over the top so he could milk me dry of my cream smoothie in a different special kind of way. In the shower though his tongue and lips worked me expertly and it didn’t take long for me to reward him for his wondrous efforts as I saw his eyes bulging out at the amount I was shoveling inside his mouth. In all honesty it wasn’t all so much with him having worked me very nicely last night, but it was still a nice surprise for him as he at first paused hesitantly while my goopy batter began filling up his mouth before realizing he needed to do something about it. Coming to a quick decision he began swallowing down my creamy soup and enjoying it in the process once he got used to the unique flavor which in turn pleased me as well.
We were enjoying each other’s closeness now on the bed as we lazed around in no hurry about anything. Our cuddling wasn’t in a sexual manner, but merely the personal contact between two people who were in love with one another. My fingers twirled unwittingly through Dane’s brown wavy locks with my chin nestled in the crook of his neck and our cheeks pressed comfortably against one another.
When I heard my dad’s phone ringing a few minutes ago I had sighed shaking my head knowing it was probably the hospital. Now as I heard a light knocking on my door I told my dad it was alright to come in figuring he was probably getting ready to let me know he had to leave.
When my dad stuck his head into my room stepping inside I glance over noticing the stricken look on his features, which immediately had me on alert. “Robby…Dane…get dressed and make it fast. Dane I’ll drop you off at home…but Robby we need to go to the hospital and now, so make it quick.” He simply dictated before stepping back out.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up like it had done earlier as I unceremoniously shoved Dane off of me and immediately bolted out of bed in a panic with Dane doing the same sensing my alarm. Fear gripped the insides of my stomach because I’ve only seen this look on my father’s features twice in my lifetime. Once when my mother had been killed, and the second time when he had to tell me Mike was dying. I knew something had been off with my dad when I saw him earlier while we ate breakfast and then again after our talk, but I hadn’t paid attention to my instincts as a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach had me about ready to puke.
While I slipped into a pair of jeans and sweater, Dane searched around in my closet finding a pair of khaki colored slacks slipping them over his pajama bottoms. He squirmed around a bit adjusting his bottoms along with his large bulge before zipping up and finding a shirt to put on. At any other time the sight of him pressing his fingers up and around his obvious large tube and satchel would have had me all hot and bothered, but my mind really wasn’t on this as I tried to figure out what had my dad all worked up.
“What’s going on Robby?” I heard Dane asking with me shaking my head unsure.
He must have seen my stricken face because the look in his eyes revealed he was now frightened as well. “I…I’m not sure Dane…it can’t be good though.” I muttered making my way towards my bedroom door with him following closely on my heels.
The two of us tumbled into the living room where my dad was waiting with his cell phone in his hand staring out the window. He must have heard us because he slowly turned to face us. The look on his face spoke volumes and a sinking feeling inside my stomach was making me weak in the knees as I began to shake my head even before he spoke.
“Robby…,” he began as the blood drained from my face while I tried to brace myself for what I knew could only be bad news. “It’s Anatoli.” He whispered with my legs finally giving out on me and I collapsed.
It was Dane who saved me because he instinctively reached out and grabbed on to me slowly easing me to the floor. I could feel his loving arms embracing me and then another set of strong arms as my dad joined us on the floor. He was trying to speak to me but everything around me had gone a bit hazy.
“Robby…,” His voice started to force its way through my jumbled thoughts. “Robby,” I heard him insist again as my eyes once more began to focus.
“Huh?” I responded automatically because it was my father’s voice before my mind began to coalesce with things becoming clear once more. It’s strange how a kid automatically responds to a parent’s voice as I uncoiled myself from both Dane and dad’s embrace. “Is…is he…,” I left it hanging not wanting to actually say it out loud as I glanced up into my dad’s eyes. Somehow I felt if I didn’t say it then it simply couldn’t be true.
My dad shook his head. “No Robby.” He sighed or was it me as I felt my chest rattling when I gulped down some air because I had been holding my breath. “But he’s really sick.” He added my heart once again sinking while I tried to pull myself together and wipe away the tears with him trying to explain what was going on.
Evidently Anatoli went with his mom to the airport to pick up his dad. While there he got really sick so after picking up his dad they went straight to the hospital so he could get checked out. I had been right and he really did pick up that nasty flu which was going around. He was a healthy and active kid so the hospital gave him the usual meds and sent them back home so they could celebrate and be together since they haven’t seen his dad in such a long time. Everything seemed fine, but overnight Anatoli had become very feverish so the following day they went back to the hospital. Once there everything quickly got worse as the flu wreaked havoc now on his respiratory system and some of his vital organs. There were several complications which had the doctors puzzled so they performed some tests. To their amazement they discovered Anatoli had only one functioning kidney and it was beginning to fail due to the complications of the flu.
“How could they not know he had only one kidney after all these years?” I asked my dad completely baffled by the idea as he held out his hands and shrugged his shoulders.
“Who would think to look and find out Robby? I mean, he’s never really been sick a day in his life and so long as his one kidney was functioning properly no one would have known or thought to look. People live a full life with only one kidney Robby.”
“But why didn’t you say anything earlier and why didn’t Mrs. M call me to let me know?” I asked feeling really guilty now at how Anatoli and I had left things.
Of course looking back I knew our whole sexual encounter together had been a big mistake. Sure he had wanted it, and if I were honest I did too, but it had been the wrong thing to do. What was worse is I had known and didn’t try hard enough to prevent it because I was too much of a coward. I finally managed to get some spine only after the fact, but then it was too late because I had stolen the last remnants of his innocence. It should have been something he shared with someone who was his own age or at least held off on for a bit longer until he was truly ready for it. Confronting him right after I had stolen something so precious from him was my second mistake because it showed just how selfish I was, simply needing to blow my nut as usual. It wasn’t until Dane when I truly could appreciate and understand the difference with what I’ve been doing in regards to messing around sexually versus doing it out of love. This is what made matters even worse in regards to this whole situation because I hurt someone who I really did love and care about.
My dad’s eyes looked at me sadly as he shook his head. “I was going to tell you, but Anatoli asked me not to.” He began with the pit of my stomach lurching because I had really screwed up.
The crestfallen look on my features must have been noticeable because my dad lifted up my chin so I was looking into his eyes. “Don’t feel bad Robby, it’s just Anatoli didn’t want to worry you. He told me right now you were having your own problems to worry about, and he knew you had a big wrestling match coming up. He said when he got back home you could visit with him and the two of you could chat.” My dad assured me.
I wasn’t sure if this made me feel any better as I wiped my cheeks because they had become damp again. I felt so ashamed by what I had done to Anatoli. I had snatched away something very precious and then thought simply letting him know it was all a mistake would make things right. In a way it is such a shallow thing to do and no better than those guys in school who take a girl out on a single date so they could get into their pants. Once they’ve gotten what they wanted out of the girl they would simply toss them aside like so much trash. It now left me feeling dirty inside because this is exactly the way it now came off with what I had done to Anatoli, a boy who I had special and deep feelings for, but not in the special kind of way like I felt with Dane. Why are teenagers such fucking assholes when it comes to sex, I wondered to myself. I had really fucked things up royally in my opinion.
My dad’s voice once more became adamant. “Really Robby, Anatoli insisted we don’t make you worry and even though he was feeling really sick at the time everything wasn’t so bad, but now…,” he sighed shaking his head. “It’s really bad son and I think you need to see him. His kidney failing is leading to many other bigger complications. His best bet is a kidney transplant, but…,” he left things unsaid as I nodded my head.
When it came to transplants I knew there were a ton of hurdles not to mention they probably wouldn’t even consider doing something like this with him having the flu. There was a long waiting list for a kidney transplant and some had to wait longer than others depending on the situation like the urgency of it, blood types, and getting a proper match. I’m sure the hospital’s done all the appropriate testing already and he was on the list, but still there was a process in place. Of course a live donor, from maybe like one of his parents, might speed things up, but with him having the flu he probably wasn’t a priority because of the high probably of rejection even if he could find a live donor.
They of course could put him on dialysis if his kidney did fail completely, but with him being so sick right now with the flu there were complications. I could tell by my father’s concerned look that he felt once this happened the likelihood of Anatoli living through it was slim to none.
There were other possibilities and hope though, which I was trying to work out through my mind as memories of Mike came flooding into my thoughts. He too had issues and I had donated some of my bone marrow to him, so I knew a little about how transplants works and the whole process tied to the procedures. I had been young at the time, but since I was a donor for Mike a lot of time and effort went into explaining things to me. I even had to go to court to determine if I was fit to be a donor because of my age. Those were weary and haggard times for me, but also ones filled with promise and hope.
My gaze shifted back towards my father and he could see the look of determination in my features as his own eyes began to well up because of the gravity of the entire situation and probably because he could tell what I was thinking. “Anatoli’s asking for you…so we should get ready to go.” He motioned for Dane to help him get me on my feet while I nodded my head.
“Give me a minute or two dad…I…I need to do something real quick.” I added as I headed back to my room before returning a few minutes later with the laptop clutched under my arm.
My dad glanced towards the laptop, but didn’t say anything as we gathered up our jackets and piled into his SUV. I sat in the back with Dane and I felt him wrap his arm around my shoulder pulling me into him. The boy hadn’t said a single word the entire time knowing how close I was with Anatoli. I could tell he was very worried though as well, but he was so sweet as he held me affectionately in his embrace. I needed his comfort now so I leaned in allowing him to console my broken heart for a few moments before I sighed sitting back up.
“Thanks Dane,” I smiled meekly at him while I fished out my cell phone and sent out a text message to Gabe.
It was a simple text which read, “Taking Dane home. Going to hospital. Anatoli sick. It’s bad. Pray.” I hit send and then turned off my phone because I knew he would either call or text back, and right now I was too upset to talk as I once more leaned into Dane allowing the waterworks to trickle down my face freely without embarrassment.
Evidently Dane had also done his own texting because when we pulled up to Crystal’s house so we could drop him off, the boy’s mom and dad were outside waiting for us. Even Crystal and her parents had come out to chat with us.
Dane’s dad was doing much better, but he moved around slowly and his injuries were very visible. Rolling down the window my dad greeted the small group with Dane not moving a muscle refusing to get out. Evidently he had texted them about Anatoli and had insisted on going with us. My dad spoke to Dane’s and Crystal’s parents for a few minutes giving them the quick run down before agreeing to let their son come with us. There was a look of grief and sadness in their eyes as we slowly pulled out of the driveway.
Craning my neck I saw Crystal waving to me with a sad look on her face as my dad started to drive down the road. He was just pulling out when I heard the familiar roaring two stroke engine of Gabe’s motorcycle. He was tearing down the street at breakneck speed putting me in a panic.
“Dad…stop!” I shouted out as I unbuckled my seat belt and stumbled out of the car just as Gabe literally came to a screeching halt creating a huge rut in Crystal’s lawn.
He didn’t seem to take notice as he jumped off the motorcycle letting it dump on the ground unceremoniously as he ran right into my arms. The boy nearly knocked the wind out of me as he began crushing me in such a tight grip while I automatically wrapped my arm around him. He hadn’t even bothered to put on any of his protective gear making me frown.
“You stupid ass what would have happened if you took a spill.” I admonished him heatedly grabbing both of his upper arms wrapping my fingers around them tightly and shoving him outwards from me so I could look at him sternly.
What he had done really scared me shitless at the huge risk he had taken not to mention his recklessness in order to get here. “That was fucking stupid of you tearing down the streets that way.” I scolded him because my heart was still pounding as the emotions flooded out of me and because I’d simply die if something happened to him too.
I just couldn’t take it anymore as I now lashed out at him shaking him hard with my emotions taking over. “Don’t you ever fucking do something so damn stupid again or I’ll take my bike away from you and never let you ride again.” I yelled at him while he began to cry.
The stricken look in Gabe’s eyes when he began sob uncontrollably crushed me as I too began to cry pulling him into my chest and holding him tightly. “I…I…I’m sorry Robby…,” he gulped. “B…but…Anatoli…,” he managed to get out as huge sobs wracked his body. “I tried to call…but you didn’t answer. It’s bad…it’s got to be…please Robby…how bad is it?” He asked with me sighing and rocking him in my arms.
“I’m not sure Gabe…but it’s got to be bad. I see it in my dad’s eyes. I’m heading there now so I’ll let you know.” I promised with Gabe shaking his head.
“No I’m going with you.” He insisted.
“But your mom.” I tried to point out while he shook his head.
“I told her Anatoli’s sick and I’m going to the hospital. She told me I couldn’t go, but I told her to go fuck herself and said she couldn’t stop me. I either go with you or I will take the motorcycle and ride it to the hospital. I know Donavan would have come too, but he’s working part time at that stupid grocery store now.” Gabe stated with my jaw dropping to the ground because no one spoke to his mom that way, and lived.
The boy knew what I was thinking as he added. “Well after she picked herself up off the floor,” He chuckled nervously shaking his head. “Well, let’s just say she knew I wasn’t kidding so said it was alright, but we’d be having a chat about a few things afterwards.” He added but didn’t seem to care about the impending consequences so long he could come with us. “I also called up Donavan and he said if he could talk mom into it when he gets home from work they’ll come visit too.” He seemed to sense my disappointment about his older brother not being here too, but I did understand since he was at work and simply couldn’t drop everything at the drop of the hat so to speak.
Sighing I shook my head and motioned for him to get into the SUV noticing Crystal’s dad taking care of Gabe’s motorcycle as he waved indicating it was alright. While on the way to the hospital I called up his mom and managed to smooth things over. I was sure he’d still be in trouble, but I could tell by her tone of voice she understood; especially, after I told her the extent of Anatoli’s condition. She knew Anatoli and her son had become the closest of friends so realized the gravity of the situation saying she’d be saying a prayer for him. When she said it I actually heard her sobbing on the other end because she had truly come to love the younger boy treating him more like family and I could tell the bad news was affecting her as well.
When we piled into the car I ended up sitting between Dane and Gabe with both boys holding on to me while we drove down the road. We were in the backcountry on one of the smaller roads with large expanses of range land on either side of us. It was deathly quiet in the car as we all retreated into our own thoughts. My mind kept wandering to the final days before Mike finally passed away. He had been so brave throughout it all despite all the tubes and machines hooked up to his frail body. He had shriveled down to almost nothing, but to me he still looked the same with that inner strength he always had about him. I was still so young back then and tried to be very brave for him as I slowly watched my older brother wither away and die.
Suddenly it became a bit too closed off for me in the car, and I had a hard time breathing. “Dad…I…I…pull over quick.” I managed to get out as my stomach lurched while my head began to spin.
I’ve never enjoyed feeling all crowded and closed off in a small place; especially, in times of stress. I saw my dad glancing in the rear view mirror as he quickly found a spot to pull over. The car barely came to a halt before I had unlatched my seat belt and literally climbed over Gabe to get out as I ran over to a barbed wire fence right along the edge of an open field. My stomach heaved as I bent over and just about fell over when I felt my father’s strong arm wrapping around my waist while his other hand went up to my forehead supporting my head. All the contents came spewing out of my mouth as I heaved, literally crying because my stomach contracted so hard. All of my breakfast from this morning came blasting out of my mouth followed by several dry heaves when I continued to throw up. I was crying hard now and couldn’t breathe as panic began to take hold.
“It’s alright Robby…just calm down. You’ll be just fine. Let it all out and breathe.” My dad encouraged me before I literally collapsed forcing him to hold me up so I wouldn’t fall down as a small sob escaped my lips first followed by larger ones with my body trembling because the emotions were becoming too much.
“I…I can’t do it dad…not again.” I wailed hearing my father crying as well knowing exactly what I was going through. “It’s so unfair.” I continued to blubber with my dad trying to console the ache I felt deep down to the core of my being.
“I know son. It’s not fair, but we need to do this for Anatoli. He’s asking for you.” He whispered as my body once more seized up on me with another bout of dry heaves running rampant inside of me.
Dane and Gabe stood off to the side watching their friend literally break down in front of them. This was starting to frighten Dane because he’s never seen Robby so vulnerable. The older boy had always been so positive and strong with no obstacle too big for him to overcome. He felt really bad for the other teen and wanted to help, but just didn’t know what to do as he watched the older boy hanging on by a thread.
Glancing over towards Gabe he could see the sad expression on the younger boy as well. “Gabe I’m scared. I mean I’ve never seen Robby like…like this.” He motioned over towards the older boy sobbing in his father’s arms. “I’m really worried and confused.” He admitted. “I don’t know what to do because I don’t know what’s happening.”
“It’s Mike…his older brother.” Gabe told Dane who looked towards the younger boy and furling his eyebrows wanting a better explanation.
The younger boy grabbed him by the hand and dragged him back to the car. He didn’t say anything, but motioned for the older boy to climb back inside. Once they were seated the younger boy bit his lower lip nervously while he wiped away the dampness from his eyes and cheeks.
“Dane, this has got to be one of the worst things for Robby. His older brother slowly died of cancer and he was there watching it the whole time by Mike’s bedside holding his hand when his brother died, and now with Anatoli.” He whispered shaking his head sadly and pausing as he tried to wrap his mind around all of this too.
When he glanced back over towards Dane the older boy still seemed a bit confused. “Don’t you get it? I mean Anatoli is for all practical purposes his little brother, and now he is probably going to the hospital to watch another brother die. First it’s his mom, then his older brother and now…now,” Gabe began to tremble because actually saying it made it even more real as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Now he’s probably going to the hospital to watch Anatoli, his ‘Other Brother,’ die in front of him too.”
Dane bit his lower lip tears trickling down his cheeks. “Do you really think Anatoli is going to…to die?” He asked looking at Gabe who was also crying and visibly shaken.
“I hope not Dane…I…I just don’t know.” He began to cry with Dane doing the same as both friends clung to one another to comfort the other.
“Do you think Robby will be alright?” Dane asked looking out the window watching Robby’s dad consoling his youngest son.
“I hope so Dane. I think right now it is all too much for him so even though it hurts us too, because I love Anatoli so much, we have to be there for Robby. I’m really scared too Dane, but the three of us…we have to be there for Anatoli and the two of us,” he intertwined his fingers inside of Dane’s before lifting them up to his lips and kissing the back of the older boy’s hand, “have to be there for Robby. That’s all there is to it.” Gabe sniffled leaning in to his friend taking comfort in the older boy’s tender embrace.
It seemed to take a long time before my stomach finally settled down. My dad still looked concerned, but I finally managed to get my emotions back into check as I indicated we should get going again. When he asked if I was sure I told him I was doing much better now.
Dane scooted over taking the middle seat watching the older boy flashing him an encouraging smile as he finally climbed back inside the car. The gesture was typical of the other Robby he knew, and not the broken down one he had just witnessed making him wonder about the sudden transformation. He glanced towards Gabe arching an eyebrow because it appeared the younger boy seemed to have noticed too because he shrugged indicating he didn’t understand it either. He felt the twelve year old boy give him an encouraging nudge and squeezing his hand in support urging him to speak up.
As I climbed back into the SUV I could see the concern in both of the other two boys’ eyes so I tried to show them it was alright as I took a seat hearing Dane speaking up. “Uh…are you alright?”
Smiling and nodding my head I leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek as I nuzzled up to him affectionately. “Yeah, I’ll be fine thanks for asking.” I replied shifting my head and looking towards Gabe. “That goes for you too.” I added holding out my hand watching as he reached out our fingers intertwining together as I held it to my lips and gave the back of his hand a soft kiss. “I love you guys. I just wanted you to know because the two of you and Anatoli make me a better person. I feel better now because deep down I know Anatoli will be alright even though it doesn’t seem like it.” I assured both of them just knowing this had to be true because I refused it to be any other way, not if I had anything to do with it I sighed to myself coming to a decision as I began to feel better about Anatoli’s prospects and opened up the side panel next to my seat finding the tic-tac container to help with the nasty taste in my mouth from throwing up.
The hospital was large because it was the main hospital facility in the region. Rose was expecting us and met us out back in the parking lot giving me a big hug. “Hey kiddo, how are you holding up?” She smiled at me as I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’ll be better once I visit with Anatoli.” I told her sincerely seeing her features softening up as she nodded and motioned towards the back entryway a lot of the doctors used.
It had one of those electronic security locks so she inserted her card and the door unlocked allowing us to enter. While we waited for the elevator Rose pulled my dad aside talking to him. At one point my dad glanced towards me as if some news struck a nerve pursing his lips and seemingly coming to a decision nodded to his trusted assistant.
He turned his back to me so I cocked my head trying to hear what was being said. “Get everything set in motion Rose.” I managed to hear him tell her.
“Are you sure…I mean, it isn’t as if this is Mike.” Rose replied making me wonder what my older brother had to do with all of this.
“I know Rose, but once he finds out there will be no stopping his decision. I know him too well.” He added with Rose nodding her head as she approached.
“Where are you going?” I asked her because it looked like she was going to head into the main hospital entrance and the elevator over there which would take her to the level where my father’s office was located.
“Hey kiddo, I’ve got to run some errands real quick. I’ll meet you upstairs in a few though.” She offered up cryptically once more starting on her way before I stopped her.
“Oh wait…um…I take it Anatoli is in a sterile room?” I asked figuring if we wanted to visit we’d have to get into one of those special gowns and put on a mask.
“Yeah sweetie.” She smiled softly nodding her head knowing I’ve gone through this before with Mike.
“Can you do me a favor then since you will be coming up in a few minutes to meet us?” I asked seeing her nodding as I handed her my laptop. “Um…I need this sterilized for Anatoli.”
Rose smiled at me and took the laptop with her as she hurried off to take care of the task my father needed to get done. I knew she’d take it to one of those stations which had a machine that sterilized items like cell phones and laptops for patients who had to be careful of getting infected. We had to do the same thing for Mike so it would reduce the risk of him catching a bug of some sort. Of course Anatoli was already sick with the flu, but in his condition they had to be extremely careful he didn’t get contaminated with something else which would make matters even worse.
When we arrived upstairs Mrs. Markowsky smiled bravely as she wrapped her arms around me affectionately before introducing me to Anatoli’s father. Her husband was a strong large imposing man, but with very handsome features. Anatoli most definitely took after his mother with petite features, but I could definitely tell the younger boy had inherited some of his father’s features as well. Mr. Markowsky smiled warmly at me before wrapping me up in his strong arms whispering softly in my ear in a language I didn’t understand forcing me to glance towards his wife as she translated for me.
“He says, ‘I am glad to finally meet my other son. Anatoli speak often of you and since I arrive speak almost of nothing else but you. I am being sad we meet first time this way.” She translated. “I too am being sad Robby.” She tried to smile bravely, but began to cry with her husband holding her for a moment before releasing her once she calmed down.
Smiling it was my turn to embrace Mrs. Markowsky trying to reassure her. “I’ll be alright Mrs. M, I promise. Is…is it alright if I see him now?” I asked with her stroking my face affectionately and nodding.
“Yes, but wants speak to you first, alone.” She smiled wiping away her damp cheeks while I nodded and glanced towards both Dane and Gabe who motioned for me to go ahead.
It took about fifteen minutes for me to change into a sterile gown and mask with the nurse explaining the usual garbely goop I had already been so familiar with before I finally stepped into Anatoli’s room. He looked frail and pale lying there drowsing with all sorts of wires hooked up to his body and IV tubes from his arms. I nearly broke down as I took a seat next to the bed and reached out to gently run my fingers through his hair.
Without opening his eyes a small smile spread across his features as he whispered “You are here.” I heard him slowly exhale before opening up his eyes.
His normally lively deep blue eyes danced around cheerfully, but they looked almost dull today catching me a bit by surprise as I quickly stifled the urge to break down. “How’d you know it was me?” I asked forcing a grin on my features.
“I’d know your touch anywhere Robby. You are my ‘Other Brother’ after all. I know everything about you. Wouldn’t you recognize me too?” He asked with me letting out a small nervous giggle as I tried to hold back the floodgates.
Nodding my head I knew he was only saying the obvious. I’d recognize him in a heartbeat. Anything and everything about him would let me know he was around. It could be something as simple as his smell to the way he walked or even his light touch on my brow. So yes, even with my eyes closed I would know it was him. We were that close to one another, and now what I had done to him was just too much to bear as I suddenly broke down and began to cry. I knew it wasn’t a good thing because even my teardrops dripping on to him could get him infected somehow, but I couldn’t help it as I kissed the back of his hand through my mask, leaned in, and laid my head gently on his shoulder feeling his delicate fingers patting my sterile cap covered head.
“I’m so sorry about what I did to you Anatoli. I stole something precious from you and afterwards simply threw you off to the side like the whore I am. How could I do something like that to you? I love you so much and I simply took what I wanted…what I’ve selfishly been craving for since I’ve met you, and then once I got my rocks off just threw everything else away. I don’t blame you for being mad at me.” I hiccupped feeling his gently touch on my head as his chest rose when he slowly took in a deep breath.
“Robby is this what you think…that I hate you because we had sex together?” He asked with me lifting up my head and shrugging my shoulders.
“I know I hurt you Anatoli because afterwards I told you it wasn’t right for us to be doing that sort of thing together. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place, but it did and afterwards I didn’t handle it very well. It’s my fault it happened, but I shouldn’t have simply tried to brush it away either. I wasn’t thinking about your own feelings.” I sighed sadly knowing I could have handled it better.
Anatoli’s eyes became sad as he looked at me shaking his head. “You still don’t understand do you?” He asked with my eyes furrowing questioningly. “I wasn’t mad about us having sex and you saying it wasn’t the right thing to do. I was disappointed because you still do not understand, but I shouldn’t have been mad at you.” He tried to explain with his own eyes welling up while I tried to make sense with what he was trying to tell me.
We both fell silent for a few moments before he spoke up again. “I should have known because it is different here, but sometimes I forget.” He sniffled shaking his head. “Robby you are my ‘Other Brother,’ and I love you. We are close like brothers, but much more in the way we feel about each other, yet also not like boyfriend and girlfriend either. We are somewhere in-between the two, but it is something so special I would do anything for you. Is this not so for you?” He asked as I nodded my head knowing what he was describing, but not really understanding it.
Over the months he’s tried to explain it at times, but I just couldn’t understand the depth to what I was feeling towards him. Yes, I could feel how our relationship was similar to how I felt with my own brother Mike. As brothers I was probably closer to my older brother than most siblings, and in many ways I felt the same closeness with Anatoli. Yet, in many ways it was a lot deeper too, which kind of frightened me because I felt having this kind of relationship with someone as young as Anatoli was wrong.
At first I thought maybe it was the kind of love two married people felt towards one another, which felt wrong to me because of the age difference, but now with the feelings I had towards Dane I knew it wasn’t quite as deep with the younger eleven year old boy. This only managed to confuse matters even more for me because I grew up thinking only certain possibilities existed in the way we felt towards others in regards to relationships. You loved someone in that special kind of soul mate kind of way like I did with Dane, you loved someone in a familial way like I did with my parents and brother, or you loved someone in that friendship kind of way like I did with Donavan, Crystal, and Gabe. What I felt with Anatoli was very different, which puzzled me, even right now as I tried to answer his question.
“Yes of course I feel the same way; this is why I feel awful about what happened between us Anatoli. I stole your innocence.” I sniffled shaking my head unable to forgive myself for doing this to someone who was so precious to me with Anatoli chortling almost sarcastically and shaking his head.
“Why is it so difficult for boys in this country? Don’t you understand Robby you didn’t take away my innocence. You gave it back to me. If it wasn’t for you I would never be able to enjoy being a boy again, or having sex with someone.” He hinted as he chuckled because of how shy he was about his nakedness when in the past he had been the total opposite.
“To be able to give myself over completely to those I really care about would never have been possible without you Robby.” He continued while I tried to make sense of what he was trying to tell me. “Only you, my ‘Other Brother,’ could bring out what was special inside of me.” He added allowing his words to sink in for a moment.
“So what…we had sex. Didn’t you like it? I did. Haven’t you done this sort of thing with other friends? It was special and I will never forget it. We love each other and I care about you so no, you did not steal my innocence. You were kind and gentle showing me what sex is really supposed to be…something unique and done out of love. If you didn’t love me you wouldn’t have tried to protect me afterwards.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. It was as if this were the most natural of things which could happen between two boys. It didn’t even seem to occur to him of how doing something like this could even be considered gay. I suppose maybe this is also what had frightened me. The idea of how I had actually enjoyed having sex with him because it was different in how it had felt from when I was younger experimenting around with other boys my age. There was love connected with it, granted I now knew it was different from real love in the way I experienced it with Dane, but at the time the idea of me being gay was probably another contributing factor in how I had handled the whole situation. It took Dane to come along before I finally came to terms with my sexuality.
“But you must understand, you are my ‘Other Brother,’ and it is only natural to share this kind of love with each other in the most intimate of ways when we are ready. I was finally ready and so were you. Some day you will find real love and this is as it should be, but I’m afraid for me it will be something I will never know, but at least I was able to share a deep love with the one closest to me of all. It makes what the two of us have done together even more special; knowing I shared it with my ‘Other Brother.’ This makes me happy.” He sighed with me starting to truly appreciate the breadth and scope of the special connection the two of us had together.
His comment finally hit home as I once more began to break down. “No…no…no…no, you can’t die. I won’t allow it; especially not now.” I began to cry softly while he held me his brave gentle touch making me ashamed by how I was acting.
Lifting up my head I stared into his eyes. “Don’t give up Anatoli…you have to fight with everything you have. I promise you everything will be alright.” I assured him with the boy giving me a feeble smile his brow beaded up with perspiration reminding me of how sick he was at the moment and how our emotional conversation expended his energy. “Promise me Anatoli, no matter what, do not give up. If you promise me this then I will promise you will be fine.” I told him emphatically with him shaking his head taking in a deep slow breath that rattled in his chest.
“I’m so tired Robby, and the doctors told me how my body inside is shutting down. I’m dying.” He added as he looked into my eyes sadly seeing my resolve as I reached out and held his hand in mine.
“Promise.” I urged him with the boy chuckling and shaking his head.
“You are so stubborn sometimes.” He whispered to me letting go of my hand so his fingers could stroke the side of my face. “Alright…I promise.” He finally let out giving me a sense of hope now because I knew once he committed he would give it his all.
“Good then.” I sighed in relief as I scrunched up my eyebrows. “Um…Anatoli?” I began with him looking into my eyes urging me to continue. “Uh…yeah…anyway there is some good news…well actually there are a few things…that is…good news, but right now I want to share something I haven’t with anyone else yet. Well of course my dad knows, but no one else, well just one other person, but that is only because that person has to know since they are part of the good news.” I was rambling seeing the younger boy’s eyes lighting up a bit mirthfully because I was beating around the bush as I paused.
“Well?” He urged.
Looking around to make sure no one was listening I leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Um…I have a boyfriend now.” I admitted to him seeing his face lighting up.
“That’s awesome.” He giggled making me blush.
“You did hear what I said…I mean…you know having a boyfriend means I’m gay you know.” I emphasized with him shrugging his shoulders.
“Who cares…I don’t, besides love is love.” He chuckled. “So…,” he let it hang with me looking at him a bit confused. “You dolt…so who is it?” He chuckled, the breath catching in his throat as he began coughing.
Holding up a cup of ice water for him to take a sip from he nodded his head thanking me and waved his hand indicating he wanted me to answer his question. “Oh yeah…well its Dane.” I told him nervously seeing his face light up.
“I knew it.” He whispered shaking his head. “Well it is about time he opened up to someone too. I’m glad the two of you found each other.” He smiled happily for me.
“You knew…but how. I mean, even I didn’t know until…um…anyway.” I blushed almost having let slip how we’ve had sex together because it was only then I really knew how I felt about Dane and him with me.
Anatoli shrugged his shoulders. “It’s obvious with the way you two were mooning over each other.” He chuckled making me roll my eyes and blush because of the way he made it sound; especially, with his cute accent.
He may be speaking perfect English these days, but he still had that adorable accent. It now got quiet in the room with me knowing what Anatoli was going to be asking about next. It wasn’t something I really wanted to talk to him about since the sexual aspect of my relationship with Dane was private, but knowing Anatoli the way I did he wouldn’t be so shy about it with me. Thankfully though, we were distracted with a knocking on the door before Rose stuck her head inside handing over my laptop.
“Perfect, thanks Rose.” I expressed to her as she nodded acknowledgement.
“No problem sweetie. Is it alright if Dane and Gabe join you guys now?” She asked with me indicating it wasn’t a problem since Anatoli and I had come to terms with what happened between the two of us.
I for one no longer regretted the sex between the two of us and now truly appreciated the intimacy for what it had been; a beautiful act of love between me and someone uniquely special who held a precious place in my heart and soul. No one would ever come close to understanding me like Anatoli, other than my soul mate, so the intimacy between the two of us hadn’t simply been about sex, but something more on a deeper kind of level. It wasn’t quiet true love, but near enough making this something I cherished having occurred between the two of us as it now became something uniquely special.
Rose motioned for the two boys who were clad in their sterile outfits to join us as I watched them making their way to an overjoyed Anatoli. They settled down next to their frail friend chatting away as if he wasn’t even sick, and I could see a burst of energy and glow taking hold of the younger boy making me smile fondly at how precious he truly was to those all around him.
“Robby try not to visit too long wearing him out.” I heard Rose cautioning me, but I could tell if anything this was actually making him stronger, not weaker. “And…,” she added as I turned my focus back to her noticing her very stern and set face which I was very familiar with indicating something serious was going on.
It made me wonder now about the errands my dad had sent her on earlier. “When you get a few minutes you may want to join us outside. Anatoli’s doctor is now filling in the Markowsky’s about his condition and some test results.” She emphasized with me nodding knowing it’ll be at least another ten or fifteen minutes before the doctor finished his private meeting with the Markowsky’s.
While the three boys chatted amongst themselves I set up the laptop on the tray used to put patient’s food on and powered it up. Glancing over to the boys I saw Gabe suddenly lean over giving the younger boy a very affectionate hug and had to smile because Anatoli suddenly popped a stiffie which was very obvious as a small little tent formed right at the appropriate spot. It also didn’t go unnoticed by either Gabe or Dane who began to tease him about it.
“What, I can’t help it.” The smaller boy smiled back placing his hands over his unruly little member.
“Yeah right, you can’t be all that sick.” Gabe teased back as he ignored Anatoli’s feeble attempt at covering himself up and literally slipped his hand beneath the boy’s blanket.
At first I thought the eleven year old boy would protest, but to my surprise he didn’t as his deep blue orbs glinted when he gazed into Gabe’s eyes allowing his friend to get his first real feel of what the younger boy had down there. Even Gabe seemed surprised, but emboldened he stood up leaning in closer as I watched the blanket wriggling around knowing that the twelve year old boy had found its target.
Gabe confirmed my suspicions. “Oh God, that’s so sexy hot, even with these stupid gloves on.” He whispered in a panting voice and only complaining a little about those protective gloves he had to wear.
I knew even with the gloves on it would do very little to hinder Gabe getting a good feel of what his friend had swinging between his legs. “Oh shit Anatoli you are so damn sexy hot.” He breathed before suddenly chirruping in surprise because the younger boy had also reached out and was stroking Gabe’s obvious large bulge.
Poor Dane was caught between being mesmerized and totally embarrassed as he watched his two friends groping one another in a sexual kind of way. He seemed to enjoy what he was seeing though as I watched him reaching down and trying to adjust his own monster which had sprung to life creating this huge bulge in his Khaki’s. I had to admit it was kind of sexy watching the two younger boys being this intimate with one another for the very first time despite the seriousness of what was going on.
Both boys seemed to realize at the same time they weren’t alone and blushed glancing first towards Dane who looked away before glancing my way. I chuckled shaking my head happy for the two boys to finally have crossed a new threshold in their relationship. Of course it might be crappy timing, but I for one was happy the two of them finally took things to the next level. I was also proud of Anatoli allowing this to happen. I could tell the younger boy had always viewed Gabe in a deeper way, but had always held back afraid of where it might lead. He’s often allowed me to grope him so long as I hadn’t actually looked, so knowing he was now allowing Gabe to actually touch him intimately was a big step for Anatoli. It was going to be interesting to see if he now allowed things to move on to the next level and actually not be so shy about his body around his friend.
Only time would tell, that is if he actually had more time, I sighed to myself shaking my head as I focused on the laptop. It had finished going through its startup process as I glanced back over towards the boys noticing Gabe had removed his hand from beneath the blanket tears welling up in his eyes. He picked up the blond curly haired boy’s hand and affectionately held it to his chest.
“I…I love you so much Anatoli. Please tell me you will get better. I can’t bear the thought of…,” he shook his head sitting down and crying like I had just done a short while earlier as Dane reached over to comfort his twelve year old friend.
Anatoli’s eyes began to well up as he wearily looked away my heart breaking for both of them as I now began signing on to Anatoli’s email account. When the younger boy had first set up his email and several other types of accounts he asked me to help out with some of the settings on them because he still couldn’t read English so well. At that time he gave me the password he uses so I could get access to his accounts and get things set up properly for him.
Today, when my dad told me about Anatoli I had made sure to get into his account sending off a quick message to a few of his friends back home explaining what was going on hoping at least one of them spoke English. To my relief there was a quick reply as I read it over with a smile spreading over my features. I hastily sent off another message before opening up another program on my computer.
“Hey Anatoli, I’ve got another surprise for you.” I smiled bringing the tray over and setting it in front of him noticing how Gabe had managed to pull himself together in the meantime and had once more been chatting quietly with his younger friend as they both stared at the screen together.
“Skype?” the young curly haired boy asked curiously just as I clicked on the video call button.
Within a couple of rings the video came on and Anatoli squealed in delight before he suddenly fell in a fit of coughs. “Whoa settle down.” I soothed offering him up some cold water and hearing concerned voices on the other end.
When I looked over towards the screen I was shocked to see a whole group of kids around Anatoli’s age on the other end all looking very concerned. The email message had simply said to please call on skype once I got to the hospital no matter what the time. It wasn’t even noon yet over here, but I knew it had to be very late over there by them, but since the email said to call I opened up Anatoli’s skype account. I hadn’t been sure who I would need to call since the message didn’t say which contact to use, but when I opened up Anatoli’s account there were only a few listed on there with only one of them someone I didn’t know so figured it had to be the one. I was correct because now Anatoli began chatting away with the kids on the other end in a language I didn’t know.
After several moments of excited chatter he paused for a moment and introduced Gabe and Dane to his group of friends. After they said hello he turned the laptop slightly in my direction and introduce me to his friends back home. Suddenly there was a hushed silence with a lot of murmuring from several of the kids of what sounded like the same phrase by all of them making me frown.
“What are they saying?” I asked with Anatoli’s eyes welling up.
“They are whispering ‘Other Brother,’ Robby.” He replied in a soft voice not wanting to break the mood with me frowning questioningly wondering why they seemed so awed by it, which he picked up on. “I told you Robby someone finding their ‘Other Brother’ is very rare and a precious gift. I’ve told them all about you, but still to actually meet you…well is very…um…exceptional.” He tried to explain with me nodding and waving at everyone as one of the boys finally spoke up in the same kind of broken English I had become familiar with when I first met Anatoli.
“Nice to be greeting. I am Grigory…best friend Anatoli. How sick Anatoli…you no say…he no say…please to say? We now all to being…um…frightened…more now we see wearing the mask and gown” He asked nervously in the same halting and thickly laced accent I had become accustomed to a while back with me wincing and shifting my gaze towards the frail looking curly haired boy lying in the hospital bed and sighing shaking my head because they had noticed our protective gear indicating things were bad.
“He’s very sick Grigory, but we are trying to get him better.” I tried to put my most positive foot forward seeing him nod his head whispering to the others with many of the kids hanging their heads sadly their fears having finally been confirmed.
The other boy who was just as every bit as adorable as Anatoli turned back towards me and gazed deeply into my eyes through the computer screen. “You are ‘Other Brother,’ you protect Anatoli, yes.” He asked me, which I thought was adorably sweet as if this is all it took, being an “Other Brother” to make everything right.
Anatoli’s shown me pictures from many of his friends back home and they were all adorably cute with the same kind of striking features like him. It was odd how traits run strong in certain parts of the world, and most of the kids had the same kind of smooth pale features like Anatoli. Many had the same kind of white blond hair, but not curly like Anatoli’s. Of course a few had different hair color and eye colors, but for the most part they all pretty much had the same smooth pale features.
“Yes, I will do my best, but he is very sick Grigory. I have to go and talk with my father and his parents now so maybe I should let Anatoli tell you more, now that you know it is very bad. He is stubborn, but it is important you all know. He will want to protect you, so you have to push him. He’s pretty bullheaded sometimes.” I winked trying to lighten the mood a little seeing Grigory grin at me and nod his head in understanding despite my use of a slang term like ‘bullheaded.’
“Yes, he is having…um…how you say…thick head, like the bull.” He smiled making horns with his fingers while everyone around giggled at the joke.
Nodding I got up and squeezed Anatoli’s hand. “I’ll be right back, but you need to tell them Anatoli so they are prepared.” I whispered leaning over and kissing his cheek through my mask with him nodding he understood.
After removing the mask, cap, and gown I made my way over to the small conference room and noticing the open door slipped inside. Mrs. Markowsky was sobbing her eyes out with her husband holding on to her so I rushed over giving her a hug as she tried to smile down comfortingly to me. My dad and Rose were there as well.
After Mrs. Markowsky calmed down she motioned for us to take a seat and filled us in. Evidently the tests came back and both her and her husband weren’t a viable living kidney donor transplant candidates because they both had “A” positive blood and Anatoli had “O” negative. Even though the doctors had told them they probably wouldn’t have done the transplant even if they were a match because it would likely fail anyway due to Anatoli’s flu, the couple had insisted they would take the chance and donate their kidneys. Now they were crushed because of the devastating news. To make matters worse since their son had “O” negative blood he could only receive a transplant from someone else who had “O” negative blood decreasing their chances of finding a kidney even if he somehow managed to survive. The chances were made even slimmer due to the fact it was the rarest blood type.
The bottom line at this moment is his single kidney had now almost completely shut down and would probably fail by the following day, which meant if he survived the infections from the flu he would have to be on dialysis until a kidney could be found. Having “O” negative blood was both a blessing and a curse because it was what they call a universal blood type. In other words people of all blood types would be able to accept a blood type from an “O” negative person, but when it came to a person with “O” negative blood he could only receive a blood transfusion and transplant from another person with blood type “O” negative. In their son’s case this had now become a nightmare with all hopes fading quickly as his health rapidly deteriorated. He was getting weaker every day. Even now he may seem in good spirits, but the visit was most definitely sapping his strength and energy. I knew we would have to call our visit quits here before too long.
My dad was watching me closely while Mrs. Markowsky’s bad news kept getting worse. Even Rose had her lips pursed tightly knowing me so well over the years, concern written all over her features. The news was even worse than I thought as I glanced towards my dad seeing him sit back with a look of resignation.
“Are you sure Robby?” He asked me with tears welling up in my eyes.
“Of course I’m sure. I’d have done it for Mike so what makes you think I wouldn’t for Anatoli.” I replied softly with tears flowing down my cheeks. “I love him dad. He may not be my biological brother, but he’s still my brother in every other way. Please don’t be upset.” I whispered softly the entire room having fallen silent and the Markowsky’s sitting there with a blank look on their face while my dad simply shook his head getting up and quickly making his way towards me.
“No never Robby…if anything I’m proud of you, but still, a bit frightened since I’m now speaking as a father and not a doctor.” He whispered softly taking a seat next to mine and holding me to his chest tightly while kissing my cheek.
It got real quiet for several moments until Anatoli’s perplexed mom finally spoke up. “Dr. Stanton…Robby, I not to be understanding.”
Glancing up at my dad he nodded his head with me sighing. “Anatoli can have my kidney.” I stated with her giving me a stunned look while her husband asked his wife what’s going on since he was having more difficulty because of the language barrier and wasn’t exactly sure what I meant.
She said something quickly to her husband before turning towards me with a puzzled expression on her features. “But…,” she began as she opened her mouth and then shut it again because she didn’t even know where to begin before trying again with a soft expression over her features. “This is being kind Robby, but this is not being possible. Doctors say only “O” negative blood and they no want perform because Anatoli sick.
“No your doctors are wrong and this is going to happen…right dad?” I asked just to be sure with my dad pursing his lips before nodding his head.
“Right.” He spoke firmly turning his attention to Rose. “Is everything in place and ready to go?” He asked her.
Rose tightened her lips and shifted her gaze towards me our eyes locking intently as if she were trying to read me before finally relenting and nodding her head. “Yes Dr. Stanton. I’ve got the legal documents here for you to sign. I’ve set up the appointment with the judge who approved everything when…,” She paused, a pained expression on her features at the memory of Mike before pressing forward. “Anyway, I made sure to get the judge who oversaw and approved Robby’s ability to donate for Mike. I explained the urgency of the matter and he’s willing to see the two of you first thing in the morning, and I called up Dr. Steinitz and he’s catching the first flight over and should arrive sometime tonight.” She stated handing over a manila envelope to my father who opened it up and signed the documents handing them back to Rose.
My father most definitely wasn’t taking any chances calling in a friend of his who was one of the top transplant surgeons in the country to do the procedure. When Mike was sick Dr. Steinitz had promised to do any transplants and even did the procedure on removing bone marrow from me. It had hurt like hell, but he had done such a good job I didn’t even have any noticeable scars from the procedure.
“All hell is about to break loose around here Rose. The legal department isn’t going to like this and will fight it, but knowing the judge will have to relent in the end anyway. Robby had to go through the intensive psych evaluation the last time, but since he approved Robby to be on the donor list it’s pretty much all set and ready to go.” He sighed shaking his head.
“You’ve pulled all of Robby’s tests from a few years back?” He asked with Rose nodding. “Good, we will probably have to get some additional tests done for update purposes, but those shouldn’t take as long and we’ve got the ones already which take the longest. What did the overall match look like?” He asked getting into his official doctor mode while the Markowsky’s simply sat there not understanding what was going on.
Rose smiled and shook her head. “You won’t believe it Dr. Stanton, but it is a near perfect match, even closer than he was for Mike. Not only that, but since Robby’s had the same flu as Anatoli they won’t be able to use this as an excuse. If anything it will go against them if they bring it up to the judge. After all having beaten the flu it will only help Anatoli fight it off. I’ll get Robby checked into a room after his visit and get any additional tests performed right away. If we get the judge’s approval first thing in the morning Dr. Steinitz says we can do the transplant right afterwards in the afternoon.” She smiled at me nodding her head encouragingly with Mrs. Markowsky finally interjecting.
“Please Dr. Stanton, I…we are not to be understanding. Please to be explaining.” She insisted once more breaking down into tears with us consoling her and taking a deep breath until we all calmed down.
My father reached over taking her hand in his and began to explain everything to her. He explained how it all started a few years back when Mike got sick with cancer. We knew eventually his illness could lead to the need of blood, bone marrow, and even maybe transplants; especially, his kidneys if he got an infection and they shut down. So, both of us underwent extensive testing to find out if we were compatible matches and just in case Mike needed it. I ended up being an almost perfect match for Mike, but of course I was underage. It was one thing for simple things like blood transfusion or even the painful bone marrow procedure, but the hospital department drew the line at me being a potential live donor for more complicated procedures such as giving up one of my kidneys even if my dad gave permission.
Most people are under the impression a person who is underage cannot be a donor of this type, but it can be done. The hospital legal department was against it so forced us to go fight in court. I had to go through a ton of psychological evaluations and in the end the judge felt I understood all of the ramifications for such a procedure so approved it; especially, since Mike like Anatoli had the unique “O” negative blood type making it near impossible to find a match in time if it became necessary. In the end though, Mike had passed away without any need other than bone marrow transplant from me.
While my dad explained this to the Markowsky, preparing them for what will be happening here in relative short order since time was of the essence, I made my way back to my friends. I quickly got into my sterile outfit and entered the young curly haired boy’s room. Anatoli saw me and quickly waved me over. I could see the weariness on his gaunt pale features beginning to take hold of him so knew we would have to be letting him get some much needed rest here shortly.
“Robby,” Anatoli voice sounded a bit weak. “Come, meet my grandfather. When you emailed Grigory he contacted my Grandfather and he drove over right away from his town over an hour away even in the snow.” He grinned excitedly as I took a seat next to him and smiled into the small built in laptop camera even though they couldn’t see it because I was wearing a mask.
His grandfather looked surprisingly young and a lot like Anatoli’s father as he greeted me with Anatoli translating for his grandfather. “He’s happy to finally meet my ‘Other Brother,’ and promises to visit this summer so he can do a painting of you and me together…all natural of course.” Anatoli translated trying to laugh at the small joke, but actually ending up holding back a choking sob because he knew it may never happen with me nodding my head and holding on to his hand.
It started with him choking off the sob, but then the dam simply broke and he began to cry as I crawled on to the bed next to him and held him tightly to me. I could see Gabe and Dane also crying as I tried to console their friend holding him tightly and rocking him back and forth.
The emotions was now really starting to affect him as his body shook and he began having a coughing fit so I immediately held up some water to ease his aching throat. “You have to stop Anatoli or you will make yourself really sick.” I whispered gently to him feeling the boy slowly calming down.
“Robby, I don’t want to die, not yet, I’m not ready.” He sniffled. “I’m scared…,” he paused admitting to being frightened about what was going on. “Is that awful to say?” He asked me as I focused on him blocking everything out all around us.
I could care less who heard what at this point as I shook my head. “No because I’m scared too and I don’t want you to die either. I couldn’t do anything for Mike and I was crushed when he left me. I can’t stand the thought of you leaving me too Anatoli, but I’m not going to let it happen.” I sighed.
“I’m so tired Robby.” He exhaled softly while I leaned down kissing his forehead. “I feel awful and I hurt all over. I want it all to go away.” He admitted.
“Yeah, it was the same with Mike, but he held on to the very end.” I rocked him in my arms.
“I’m not brave like him Robby.” He sniffled, his eyes drooping closed as he fought away the drowsiness of sleep.
“Yes you are and I promise you will be feeling much better here real soon.” I insisted with him shaking his head. “Listen Anatoli, tonight you need to rest and get your strength up because tomorrow you will be getting a new kidney.”
“Really?” He yawned as his blue swirling eyes gazed up into mine. “But I thought it was impossible. Did someone die…I hope not? I bet he or she was really brave, not like me. If they only knew…who’d want to give a kidney to someone like me? I’m not brave and I don’t deserve it.” He insisted with me shaking my head.
“No Anatoli…no one died. You are the kindest and gentlest person I’ve ever known. You help complete me and have made me a better person my ‘Other Brother.’ You want to know who’d give you their kidney…I would. I’d give you my kidney, my heart, anything you need.” I whispered softly seeing a gentle smile cross his features as I held his hand up to my mouth and kissed it through my mask.
“You are so sweet Robby. You always know what to say. I couldn’t have ever asked for a better ‘Other Brother.’ But it isn’t as simple as you offering me your kidney.” He smiled finally succumbing to his weariness and falling asleep without ever hearing my words as I softly replied.
“But that’s just it Anatoli, it is just that simple. Sleep and get your strength because tomorrow you will receive my kidney. It’s strong and healthy. I would be honored for you to have it so you will always carry a part of me with you.” I cried softly as I leaned over his body and held him in my arms.
It was several moments before I realized other voices around. I had forgotten about skype video chat still being on or Gabe or Dane who were leaned over and holding me.
Everyone had a stunned look on their face, but was afraid of saying or asking anything wondering if they had heard me right. Sighing, I sat up wiping away my damp cheeks before climbing off the bed and tucking in Anatoli as I kissed his forehead, both eyes, nose, and even lips through my mask not even caring who saw me doing this for the sweetest boy ever.
“Sleep Anatoli, tomorrow things will be getting better.” I promised before taking a seat and slumping over suddenly very tired as well.
No one bothered me and it remained quiet until I sat up knowing I needed to explain to everyone what was going on. I spoke slowly allowing Grigory the time to translate to Anatoli’s grandfather and friends on the other end of the video chat. They had plenty of questions, and I took the time to answer as best I could. I could see Anatoli’s grandfather visibly crying and not ashamed at allowing others to see him. He was grateful his little sunrise and sunset would have a chance at living a full life. It seemed odd his grandfather would refer to Anatoli as his sunrise and sunset, but he explained that over by them Anatoli means sunset and by us his name meant sunrise. I thought it kind of strange, but then again everything about our little guy was always unique as I shook my head and chuckled.
“Robby?” Grigory spoke up getting my attention. “Grandfather say he is to being proud calling you ‘Other Grandson.’ It is being clear to all you are ‘Other Brother,’ and his true grandson is blessed. He is to being in debt for you always.” Grigory translated with all the other kids around agreeing whispering ‘Other Brother,’ in their own language.
“Tell grandfather I am the one who is proud to call Anatoli my ‘Other Brother.’ He has made me a better person, brought joy back into my life, and I love him with all my heart. He must promise though to visit this summer because Anatoli really missed having his grandfather around this past summer.” I made Grigory tell the elderly man who nodded his agreement saying he will keep his promise so long as he can have some subjects to paint as he winked at me and smiled toothily pointing not only at me, but also Gabe and Dane making me blush because it sounded like he wanted to paint all of us in the nude.
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End of Chapter Nineteen
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- Rain Bojangles
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- Walter Colton
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- Lady Marguerite Blessington, Countess of Blessington
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EXCERPT OPENING
We started to turn towards the hallway which would take us to our much needed bath when dad called out to me. “Robby, later on when you are done and we have a bit of time I need to talk to you…it’s important.” He added making me scrunch up my face wondering what else we needed to talk about since in my opinion we pretty much had covered all the important sexual aspects with the relationship between me and Dane.
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My dad wanting to talk about things wasn’t unusual, but taking into account the situation it did make me a bit leery as I paused a moment before shrugging away the prickly sensation making my hair stand up. He had a hectic schedule, but always found the time to discuss important matters and I suppose considering the recent developments he probably wanted to talk about it some more with me in private. Hell, we’ve pretty much covered everything important in my opinion, but I nodded my head anyway letting him know it was cool. After all the most embarrassing stuff was already out of the way, but if he still wanted to talk to me about Dane then I was cool with it since he didn’t seem to mind so much about me being gay and in love with the thirteen year old boy.
Now as Dane and I relaxed on the bed watching TV with me leaning back against the wall and him nestled in my arms between my legs there was a sense of relaxed easiness between the two of us. We were pretty much naked other than me having put on a clean pair of underwear after our shower while Dane had slipped back into his pajamas bottoms. Our shower was more than just simply getting cleaned up as we helped one another out with our typical teenaged needs first thing in the morning. I had soaped the younger boy up making sure to spend plenty of time on his thick spout sending the boy into orbit. His back had been pressed up against my chest and stomach with my arm wrapped around the front of his sleek body. While my left fingers leisurely kneaded his large fleshy testicles, my right fist had slowly stroked his thick stalk my gaze fixedly focused and in awe of how his foreskin kept gliding over his flared mushroom shaped glans. There was something so sensual about watching it as Dane moaned softly in my arms while he looked down scrutinizing my every move. Within moments his body had tensed up as his erection vibrated in my fingers and his orgasm ran its course.
He had been a bit disappointed about having only a little droplet of cum appearing at the crown of his pee slit, but I reminded him I had done a pretty good job of milking him bone dry last night, which sent both of us into a giggling fit. Dane turned in my arms and gave me a quick kiss before dropping to his knees giving me a proper blow job. Last night he had ventured into this arena briefly making me squirm in delight, but had stopped short of bringing me over the top so he could milk me dry of my cream smoothie in a different special kind of way. In the shower though his tongue and lips worked me expertly and it didn’t take long for me to reward him for his wondrous efforts as I saw his eyes bulging out at the amount I was shoveling inside his mouth. In all honesty it wasn’t all so much with him having worked me very nicely last night, but it was still a nice surprise for him as he at first paused hesitantly while my goopy batter began filling up his mouth before realizing he needed to do something about it. Coming to a quick decision he began swallowing down my creamy soup and enjoying it in the process once he got used to the unique flavor which in turn pleased me as well.
We were enjoying each other’s closeness now on the bed as we lazed around in no hurry about anything. Our cuddling wasn’t in a sexual manner, but merely the personal contact between two people who were in love with one another. My fingers twirled unwittingly through Dane’s brown wavy locks with my chin nestled in the crook of his neck and our cheeks pressed comfortably against one another.
When I heard my dad’s phone ringing a few minutes ago I had sighed shaking my head knowing it was probably the hospital. Now as I heard a light knocking on my door I told my dad it was alright to come in figuring he was probably getting ready to let me know he had to leave.
When my dad stuck his head into my room stepping inside I glance over noticing the stricken look on his features, which immediately had me on alert. “Robby…Dane…get dressed and make it fast. Dane I’ll drop you off at home…but Robby we need to go to the hospital and now, so make it quick.” He simply dictated before stepping back out.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up like it had done earlier as I unceremoniously shoved Dane off of me and immediately bolted out of bed in a panic with Dane doing the same sensing my alarm. Fear gripped the insides of my stomach because I’ve only seen this look on my father’s features twice in my lifetime. Once when my mother had been killed, and the second time when he had to tell me Mike was dying. I knew something had been off with my dad when I saw him earlier while we ate breakfast and then again after our talk, but I hadn’t paid attention to my instincts as a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach had me about ready to puke.
While I slipped into a pair of jeans and sweater, Dane searched around in my closet finding a pair of khaki colored slacks slipping them over his pajama bottoms. He squirmed around a bit adjusting his bottoms along with his large bulge before zipping up and finding a shirt to put on. At any other time the sight of him pressing his fingers up and around his obvious large tube and satchel would have had me all hot and bothered, but my mind really wasn’t on this as I tried to figure out what had my dad all worked up.
“What’s going on Robby?” I heard Dane asking with me shaking my head unsure.
He must have seen my stricken face because the look in his eyes revealed he was now frightened as well. “I…I’m not sure Dane…it can’t be good though.” I muttered making my way towards my bedroom door with him following closely on my heels.
The two of us tumbled into the living room where my dad was waiting with his cell phone in his hand staring out the window. He must have heard us because he slowly turned to face us. The look on his face spoke volumes and a sinking feeling inside my stomach was making me weak in the knees as I began to shake my head even before he spoke.
“Robby…,” he began as the blood drained from my face while I tried to brace myself for what I knew could only be bad news. “It’s Anatoli.” He whispered with my legs finally giving out on me and I collapsed.
It was Dane who saved me because he instinctively reached out and grabbed on to me slowly easing me to the floor. I could feel his loving arms embracing me and then another set of strong arms as my dad joined us on the floor. He was trying to speak to me but everything around me had gone a bit hazy.
“Robby…,” His voice started to force its way through my jumbled thoughts. “Robby,” I heard him insist again as my eyes once more began to focus.
“Huh?” I responded automatically because it was my father’s voice before my mind began to coalesce with things becoming clear once more. It’s strange how a kid automatically responds to a parent’s voice as I uncoiled myself from both Dane and dad’s embrace. “Is…is he…,” I left it hanging not wanting to actually say it out loud as I glanced up into my dad’s eyes. Somehow I felt if I didn’t say it then it simply couldn’t be true.
My dad shook his head. “No Robby.” He sighed or was it me as I felt my chest rattling when I gulped down some air because I had been holding my breath. “But he’s really sick.” He added my heart once again sinking while I tried to pull myself together and wipe away the tears with him trying to explain what was going on.
Evidently Anatoli went with his mom to the airport to pick up his dad. While there he got really sick so after picking up his dad they went straight to the hospital so he could get checked out. I had been right and he really did pick up that nasty flu which was going around. He was a healthy and active kid so the hospital gave him the usual meds and sent them back home so they could celebrate and be together since they haven’t seen his dad in such a long time. Everything seemed fine, but overnight Anatoli had become very feverish so the following day they went back to the hospital. Once there everything quickly got worse as the flu wreaked havoc now on his respiratory system and some of his vital organs. There were several complications which had the doctors puzzled so they performed some tests. To their amazement they discovered Anatoli had only one functioning kidney and it was beginning to fail due to the complications of the flu.
“How could they not know he had only one kidney after all these years?” I asked my dad completely baffled by the idea as he held out his hands and shrugged his shoulders.
“Who would think to look and find out Robby? I mean, he’s never really been sick a day in his life and so long as his one kidney was functioning properly no one would have known or thought to look. People live a full life with only one kidney Robby.”
“But why didn’t you say anything earlier and why didn’t Mrs. M call me to let me know?” I asked feeling really guilty now at how Anatoli and I had left things.
Of course looking back I knew our whole sexual encounter together had been a big mistake. Sure he had wanted it, and if I were honest I did too, but it had been the wrong thing to do. What was worse is I had known and didn’t try hard enough to prevent it because I was too much of a coward. I finally managed to get some spine only after the fact, but then it was too late because I had stolen the last remnants of his innocence. It should have been something he shared with someone who was his own age or at least held off on for a bit longer until he was truly ready for it. Confronting him right after I had stolen something so precious from him was my second mistake because it showed just how selfish I was, simply needing to blow my nut as usual. It wasn’t until Dane when I truly could appreciate and understand the difference with what I’ve been doing in regards to messing around sexually versus doing it out of love. This is what made matters even worse in regards to this whole situation because I hurt someone who I really did love and care about.
My dad’s eyes looked at me sadly as he shook his head. “I was going to tell you, but Anatoli asked me not to.” He began with the pit of my stomach lurching because I had really screwed up.
The crestfallen look on my features must have been noticeable because my dad lifted up my chin so I was looking into his eyes. “Don’t feel bad Robby, it’s just Anatoli didn’t want to worry you. He told me right now you were having your own problems to worry about, and he knew you had a big wrestling match coming up. He said when he got back home you could visit with him and the two of you could chat.” My dad assured me.
I wasn’t sure if this made me feel any better as I wiped my cheeks because they had become damp again. I felt so ashamed by what I had done to Anatoli. I had snatched away something very precious and then thought simply letting him know it was all a mistake would make things right. In a way it is such a shallow thing to do and no better than those guys in school who take a girl out on a single date so they could get into their pants. Once they’ve gotten what they wanted out of the girl they would simply toss them aside like so much trash. It now left me feeling dirty inside because this is exactly the way it now came off with what I had done to Anatoli, a boy who I had special and deep feelings for, but not in the special kind of way like I felt with Dane. Why are teenagers such fucking assholes when it comes to sex, I wondered to myself. I had really fucked things up royally in my opinion.
My dad’s voice once more became adamant. “Really Robby, Anatoli insisted we don’t make you worry and even though he was feeling really sick at the time everything wasn’t so bad, but now…,” he sighed shaking his head. “It’s really bad son and I think you need to see him. His kidney failing is leading to many other bigger complications. His best bet is a kidney transplant, but…,” he left things unsaid as I nodded my head.
When it came to transplants I knew there were a ton of hurdles not to mention they probably wouldn’t even consider doing something like this with him having the flu. There was a long waiting list for a kidney transplant and some had to wait longer than others depending on the situation like the urgency of it, blood types, and getting a proper match. I’m sure the hospital’s done all the appropriate testing already and he was on the list, but still there was a process in place. Of course a live donor, from maybe like one of his parents, might speed things up, but with him having the flu he probably wasn’t a priority because of the high probably of rejection even if he could find a live donor.
They of course could put him on dialysis if his kidney did fail completely, but with him being so sick right now with the flu there were complications. I could tell by my father’s concerned look that he felt once this happened the likelihood of Anatoli living through it was slim to none.
There were other possibilities and hope though, which I was trying to work out through my mind as memories of Mike came flooding into my thoughts. He too had issues and I had donated some of my bone marrow to him, so I knew a little about how transplants works and the whole process tied to the procedures. I had been young at the time, but since I was a donor for Mike a lot of time and effort went into explaining things to me. I even had to go to court to determine if I was fit to be a donor because of my age. Those were weary and haggard times for me, but also ones filled with promise and hope.
My gaze shifted back towards my father and he could see the look of determination in my features as his own eyes began to well up because of the gravity of the entire situation and probably because he could tell what I was thinking. “Anatoli’s asking for you…so we should get ready to go.” He motioned for Dane to help him get me on my feet while I nodded my head.
“Give me a minute or two dad…I…I need to do something real quick.” I added as I headed back to my room before returning a few minutes later with the laptop clutched under my arm.
My dad glanced towards the laptop, but didn’t say anything as we gathered up our jackets and piled into his SUV. I sat in the back with Dane and I felt him wrap his arm around my shoulder pulling me into him. The boy hadn’t said a single word the entire time knowing how close I was with Anatoli. I could tell he was very worried though as well, but he was so sweet as he held me affectionately in his embrace. I needed his comfort now so I leaned in allowing him to console my broken heart for a few moments before I sighed sitting back up.
“Thanks Dane,” I smiled meekly at him while I fished out my cell phone and sent out a text message to Gabe.
It was a simple text which read, “Taking Dane home. Going to hospital. Anatoli sick. It’s bad. Pray.” I hit send and then turned off my phone because I knew he would either call or text back, and right now I was too upset to talk as I once more leaned into Dane allowing the waterworks to trickle down my face freely without embarrassment.
Evidently Dane had also done his own texting because when we pulled up to Crystal’s house so we could drop him off, the boy’s mom and dad were outside waiting for us. Even Crystal and her parents had come out to chat with us.
Dane’s dad was doing much better, but he moved around slowly and his injuries were very visible. Rolling down the window my dad greeted the small group with Dane not moving a muscle refusing to get out. Evidently he had texted them about Anatoli and had insisted on going with us. My dad spoke to Dane’s and Crystal’s parents for a few minutes giving them the quick run down before agreeing to let their son come with us. There was a look of grief and sadness in their eyes as we slowly pulled out of the driveway.
Craning my neck I saw Crystal waving to me with a sad look on her face as my dad started to drive down the road. He was just pulling out when I heard the familiar roaring two stroke engine of Gabe’s motorcycle. He was tearing down the street at breakneck speed putting me in a panic.
“Dad…stop!” I shouted out as I unbuckled my seat belt and stumbled out of the car just as Gabe literally came to a screeching halt creating a huge rut in Crystal’s lawn.
He didn’t seem to take notice as he jumped off the motorcycle letting it dump on the ground unceremoniously as he ran right into my arms. The boy nearly knocked the wind out of me as he began crushing me in such a tight grip while I automatically wrapped my arm around him. He hadn’t even bothered to put on any of his protective gear making me frown.
“You stupid ass what would have happened if you took a spill.” I admonished him heatedly grabbing both of his upper arms wrapping my fingers around them tightly and shoving him outwards from me so I could look at him sternly.
What he had done really scared me shitless at the huge risk he had taken not to mention his recklessness in order to get here. “That was fucking stupid of you tearing down the streets that way.” I scolded him because my heart was still pounding as the emotions flooded out of me and because I’d simply die if something happened to him too.
I just couldn’t take it anymore as I now lashed out at him shaking him hard with my emotions taking over. “Don’t you ever fucking do something so damn stupid again or I’ll take my bike away from you and never let you ride again.” I yelled at him while he began to cry.
The stricken look in Gabe’s eyes when he began sob uncontrollably crushed me as I too began to cry pulling him into my chest and holding him tightly. “I…I…I’m sorry Robby…,” he gulped. “B…but…Anatoli…,” he managed to get out as huge sobs wracked his body. “I tried to call…but you didn’t answer. It’s bad…it’s got to be…please Robby…how bad is it?” He asked with me sighing and rocking him in my arms.
“I’m not sure Gabe…but it’s got to be bad. I see it in my dad’s eyes. I’m heading there now so I’ll let you know.” I promised with Gabe shaking his head.
“No I’m going with you.” He insisted.
“But your mom.” I tried to point out while he shook his head.
“I told her Anatoli’s sick and I’m going to the hospital. She told me I couldn’t go, but I told her to go fuck herself and said she couldn’t stop me. I either go with you or I will take the motorcycle and ride it to the hospital. I know Donavan would have come too, but he’s working part time at that stupid grocery store now.” Gabe stated with my jaw dropping to the ground because no one spoke to his mom that way, and lived.
The boy knew what I was thinking as he added. “Well after she picked herself up off the floor,” He chuckled nervously shaking his head. “Well, let’s just say she knew I wasn’t kidding so said it was alright, but we’d be having a chat about a few things afterwards.” He added but didn’t seem to care about the impending consequences so long he could come with us. “I also called up Donavan and he said if he could talk mom into it when he gets home from work they’ll come visit too.” He seemed to sense my disappointment about his older brother not being here too, but I did understand since he was at work and simply couldn’t drop everything at the drop of the hat so to speak.
Sighing I shook my head and motioned for him to get into the SUV noticing Crystal’s dad taking care of Gabe’s motorcycle as he waved indicating it was alright. While on the way to the hospital I called up his mom and managed to smooth things over. I was sure he’d still be in trouble, but I could tell by her tone of voice she understood; especially, after I told her the extent of Anatoli’s condition. She knew Anatoli and her son had become the closest of friends so realized the gravity of the situation saying she’d be saying a prayer for him. When she said it I actually heard her sobbing on the other end because she had truly come to love the younger boy treating him more like family and I could tell the bad news was affecting her as well.
When we piled into the car I ended up sitting between Dane and Gabe with both boys holding on to me while we drove down the road. We were in the backcountry on one of the smaller roads with large expanses of range land on either side of us. It was deathly quiet in the car as we all retreated into our own thoughts. My mind kept wandering to the final days before Mike finally passed away. He had been so brave throughout it all despite all the tubes and machines hooked up to his frail body. He had shriveled down to almost nothing, but to me he still looked the same with that inner strength he always had about him. I was still so young back then and tried to be very brave for him as I slowly watched my older brother wither away and die.
Suddenly it became a bit too closed off for me in the car, and I had a hard time breathing. “Dad…I…I…pull over quick.” I managed to get out as my stomach lurched while my head began to spin.
I’ve never enjoyed feeling all crowded and closed off in a small place; especially, in times of stress. I saw my dad glancing in the rear view mirror as he quickly found a spot to pull over. The car barely came to a halt before I had unlatched my seat belt and literally climbed over Gabe to get out as I ran over to a barbed wire fence right along the edge of an open field. My stomach heaved as I bent over and just about fell over when I felt my father’s strong arm wrapping around my waist while his other hand went up to my forehead supporting my head. All the contents came spewing out of my mouth as I heaved, literally crying because my stomach contracted so hard. All of my breakfast from this morning came blasting out of my mouth followed by several dry heaves when I continued to throw up. I was crying hard now and couldn’t breathe as panic began to take hold.
“It’s alright Robby…just calm down. You’ll be just fine. Let it all out and breathe.” My dad encouraged me before I literally collapsed forcing him to hold me up so I wouldn’t fall down as a small sob escaped my lips first followed by larger ones with my body trembling because the emotions were becoming too much.
“I…I can’t do it dad…not again.” I wailed hearing my father crying as well knowing exactly what I was going through. “It’s so unfair.” I continued to blubber with my dad trying to console the ache I felt deep down to the core of my being.
“I know son. It’s not fair, but we need to do this for Anatoli. He’s asking for you.” He whispered as my body once more seized up on me with another bout of dry heaves running rampant inside of me.
Dane and Gabe stood off to the side watching their friend literally break down in front of them. This was starting to frighten Dane because he’s never seen Robby so vulnerable. The older boy had always been so positive and strong with no obstacle too big for him to overcome. He felt really bad for the other teen and wanted to help, but just didn’t know what to do as he watched the older boy hanging on by a thread.
Glancing over towards Gabe he could see the sad expression on the younger boy as well. “Gabe I’m scared. I mean I’ve never seen Robby like…like this.” He motioned over towards the older boy sobbing in his father’s arms. “I’m really worried and confused.” He admitted. “I don’t know what to do because I don’t know what’s happening.”
“It’s Mike…his older brother.” Gabe told Dane who looked towards the younger boy and furling his eyebrows wanting a better explanation.
The younger boy grabbed him by the hand and dragged him back to the car. He didn’t say anything, but motioned for the older boy to climb back inside. Once they were seated the younger boy bit his lower lip nervously while he wiped away the dampness from his eyes and cheeks.
“Dane, this has got to be one of the worst things for Robby. His older brother slowly died of cancer and he was there watching it the whole time by Mike’s bedside holding his hand when his brother died, and now with Anatoli.” He whispered shaking his head sadly and pausing as he tried to wrap his mind around all of this too.
When he glanced back over towards Dane the older boy still seemed a bit confused. “Don’t you get it? I mean Anatoli is for all practical purposes his little brother, and now he is probably going to the hospital to watch another brother die. First it’s his mom, then his older brother and now…now,” Gabe began to tremble because actually saying it made it even more real as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Now he’s probably going to the hospital to watch Anatoli, his ‘Other Brother,’ die in front of him too.”
Dane bit his lower lip tears trickling down his cheeks. “Do you really think Anatoli is going to…to die?” He asked looking at Gabe who was also crying and visibly shaken.
“I hope not Dane…I…I just don’t know.” He began to cry with Dane doing the same as both friends clung to one another to comfort the other.
“Do you think Robby will be alright?” Dane asked looking out the window watching Robby’s dad consoling his youngest son.
“I hope so Dane. I think right now it is all too much for him so even though it hurts us too, because I love Anatoli so much, we have to be there for Robby. I’m really scared too Dane, but the three of us…we have to be there for Anatoli and the two of us,” he intertwined his fingers inside of Dane’s before lifting them up to his lips and kissing the back of the older boy’s hand, “have to be there for Robby. That’s all there is to it.” Gabe sniffled leaning in to his friend taking comfort in the older boy’s tender embrace.
It seemed to take a long time before my stomach finally settled down. My dad still looked concerned, but I finally managed to get my emotions back into check as I indicated we should get going again. When he asked if I was sure I told him I was doing much better now.
Dane scooted over taking the middle seat watching the older boy flashing him an encouraging smile as he finally climbed back inside the car. The gesture was typical of the other Robby he knew, and not the broken down one he had just witnessed making him wonder about the sudden transformation. He glanced towards Gabe arching an eyebrow because it appeared the younger boy seemed to have noticed too because he shrugged indicating he didn’t understand it either. He felt the twelve year old boy give him an encouraging nudge and squeezing his hand in support urging him to speak up.
As I climbed back into the SUV I could see the concern in both of the other two boys’ eyes so I tried to show them it was alright as I took a seat hearing Dane speaking up. “Uh…are you alright?”
Smiling and nodding my head I leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek as I nuzzled up to him affectionately. “Yeah, I’ll be fine thanks for asking.” I replied shifting my head and looking towards Gabe. “That goes for you too.” I added holding out my hand watching as he reached out our fingers intertwining together as I held it to my lips and gave the back of his hand a soft kiss. “I love you guys. I just wanted you to know because the two of you and Anatoli make me a better person. I feel better now because deep down I know Anatoli will be alright even though it doesn’t seem like it.” I assured both of them just knowing this had to be true because I refused it to be any other way, not if I had anything to do with it I sighed to myself coming to a decision as I began to feel better about Anatoli’s prospects and opened up the side panel next to my seat finding the tic-tac container to help with the nasty taste in my mouth from throwing up.
The hospital was large because it was the main hospital facility in the region. Rose was expecting us and met us out back in the parking lot giving me a big hug. “Hey kiddo, how are you holding up?” She smiled at me as I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’ll be better once I visit with Anatoli.” I told her sincerely seeing her features softening up as she nodded and motioned towards the back entryway a lot of the doctors used.
It had one of those electronic security locks so she inserted her card and the door unlocked allowing us to enter. While we waited for the elevator Rose pulled my dad aside talking to him. At one point my dad glanced towards me as if some news struck a nerve pursing his lips and seemingly coming to a decision nodded to his trusted assistant.
He turned his back to me so I cocked my head trying to hear what was being said. “Get everything set in motion Rose.” I managed to hear him tell her.
“Are you sure…I mean, it isn’t as if this is Mike.” Rose replied making me wonder what my older brother had to do with all of this.
“I know Rose, but once he finds out there will be no stopping his decision. I know him too well.” He added with Rose nodding her head as she approached.
“Where are you going?” I asked her because it looked like she was going to head into the main hospital entrance and the elevator over there which would take her to the level where my father’s office was located.
“Hey kiddo, I’ve got to run some errands real quick. I’ll meet you upstairs in a few though.” She offered up cryptically once more starting on her way before I stopped her.
“Oh wait…um…I take it Anatoli is in a sterile room?” I asked figuring if we wanted to visit we’d have to get into one of those special gowns and put on a mask.
“Yeah sweetie.” She smiled softly nodding her head knowing I’ve gone through this before with Mike.
“Can you do me a favor then since you will be coming up in a few minutes to meet us?” I asked seeing her nodding as I handed her my laptop. “Um…I need this sterilized for Anatoli.”
Rose smiled at me and took the laptop with her as she hurried off to take care of the task my father needed to get done. I knew she’d take it to one of those stations which had a machine that sterilized items like cell phones and laptops for patients who had to be careful of getting infected. We had to do the same thing for Mike so it would reduce the risk of him catching a bug of some sort. Of course Anatoli was already sick with the flu, but in his condition they had to be extremely careful he didn’t get contaminated with something else which would make matters even worse.
When we arrived upstairs Mrs. Markowsky smiled bravely as she wrapped her arms around me affectionately before introducing me to Anatoli’s father. Her husband was a strong large imposing man, but with very handsome features. Anatoli most definitely took after his mother with petite features, but I could definitely tell the younger boy had inherited some of his father’s features as well. Mr. Markowsky smiled warmly at me before wrapping me up in his strong arms whispering softly in my ear in a language I didn’t understand forcing me to glance towards his wife as she translated for me.
“He says, ‘I am glad to finally meet my other son. Anatoli speak often of you and since I arrive speak almost of nothing else but you. I am being sad we meet first time this way.” She translated. “I too am being sad Robby.” She tried to smile bravely, but began to cry with her husband holding her for a moment before releasing her once she calmed down.
Smiling it was my turn to embrace Mrs. Markowsky trying to reassure her. “I’ll be alright Mrs. M, I promise. Is…is it alright if I see him now?” I asked with her stroking my face affectionately and nodding.
“Yes, but wants speak to you first, alone.” She smiled wiping away her damp cheeks while I nodded and glanced towards both Dane and Gabe who motioned for me to go ahead.
It took about fifteen minutes for me to change into a sterile gown and mask with the nurse explaining the usual garbely goop I had already been so familiar with before I finally stepped into Anatoli’s room. He looked frail and pale lying there drowsing with all sorts of wires hooked up to his body and IV tubes from his arms. I nearly broke down as I took a seat next to the bed and reached out to gently run my fingers through his hair.
Without opening his eyes a small smile spread across his features as he whispered “You are here.” I heard him slowly exhale before opening up his eyes.
His normally lively deep blue eyes danced around cheerfully, but they looked almost dull today catching me a bit by surprise as I quickly stifled the urge to break down. “How’d you know it was me?” I asked forcing a grin on my features.
“I’d know your touch anywhere Robby. You are my ‘Other Brother’ after all. I know everything about you. Wouldn’t you recognize me too?” He asked with me letting out a small nervous giggle as I tried to hold back the floodgates.
Nodding my head I knew he was only saying the obvious. I’d recognize him in a heartbeat. Anything and everything about him would let me know he was around. It could be something as simple as his smell to the way he walked or even his light touch on my brow. So yes, even with my eyes closed I would know it was him. We were that close to one another, and now what I had done to him was just too much to bear as I suddenly broke down and began to cry. I knew it wasn’t a good thing because even my teardrops dripping on to him could get him infected somehow, but I couldn’t help it as I kissed the back of his hand through my mask, leaned in, and laid my head gently on his shoulder feeling his delicate fingers patting my sterile cap covered head.
“I’m so sorry about what I did to you Anatoli. I stole something precious from you and afterwards simply threw you off to the side like the whore I am. How could I do something like that to you? I love you so much and I simply took what I wanted…what I’ve selfishly been craving for since I’ve met you, and then once I got my rocks off just threw everything else away. I don’t blame you for being mad at me.” I hiccupped feeling his gently touch on my head as his chest rose when he slowly took in a deep breath.
“Robby is this what you think…that I hate you because we had sex together?” He asked with me lifting up my head and shrugging my shoulders.
“I know I hurt you Anatoli because afterwards I told you it wasn’t right for us to be doing that sort of thing together. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place, but it did and afterwards I didn’t handle it very well. It’s my fault it happened, but I shouldn’t have simply tried to brush it away either. I wasn’t thinking about your own feelings.” I sighed sadly knowing I could have handled it better.
Anatoli’s eyes became sad as he looked at me shaking his head. “You still don’t understand do you?” He asked with my eyes furrowing questioningly. “I wasn’t mad about us having sex and you saying it wasn’t the right thing to do. I was disappointed because you still do not understand, but I shouldn’t have been mad at you.” He tried to explain with his own eyes welling up while I tried to make sense with what he was trying to tell me.
We both fell silent for a few moments before he spoke up again. “I should have known because it is different here, but sometimes I forget.” He sniffled shaking his head. “Robby you are my ‘Other Brother,’ and I love you. We are close like brothers, but much more in the way we feel about each other, yet also not like boyfriend and girlfriend either. We are somewhere in-between the two, but it is something so special I would do anything for you. Is this not so for you?” He asked as I nodded my head knowing what he was describing, but not really understanding it.
Over the months he’s tried to explain it at times, but I just couldn’t understand the depth to what I was feeling towards him. Yes, I could feel how our relationship was similar to how I felt with my own brother Mike. As brothers I was probably closer to my older brother than most siblings, and in many ways I felt the same closeness with Anatoli. Yet, in many ways it was a lot deeper too, which kind of frightened me because I felt having this kind of relationship with someone as young as Anatoli was wrong.
At first I thought maybe it was the kind of love two married people felt towards one another, which felt wrong to me because of the age difference, but now with the feelings I had towards Dane I knew it wasn’t quite as deep with the younger eleven year old boy. This only managed to confuse matters even more for me because I grew up thinking only certain possibilities existed in the way we felt towards others in regards to relationships. You loved someone in that special kind of soul mate kind of way like I did with Dane, you loved someone in a familial way like I did with my parents and brother, or you loved someone in that friendship kind of way like I did with Donavan, Crystal, and Gabe. What I felt with Anatoli was very different, which puzzled me, even right now as I tried to answer his question.
“Yes of course I feel the same way; this is why I feel awful about what happened between us Anatoli. I stole your innocence.” I sniffled shaking my head unable to forgive myself for doing this to someone who was so precious to me with Anatoli chortling almost sarcastically and shaking his head.
“Why is it so difficult for boys in this country? Don’t you understand Robby you didn’t take away my innocence. You gave it back to me. If it wasn’t for you I would never be able to enjoy being a boy again, or having sex with someone.” He hinted as he chuckled because of how shy he was about his nakedness when in the past he had been the total opposite.
“To be able to give myself over completely to those I really care about would never have been possible without you Robby.” He continued while I tried to make sense of what he was trying to tell me. “Only you, my ‘Other Brother,’ could bring out what was special inside of me.” He added allowing his words to sink in for a moment.
“So what…we had sex. Didn’t you like it? I did. Haven’t you done this sort of thing with other friends? It was special and I will never forget it. We love each other and I care about you so no, you did not steal my innocence. You were kind and gentle showing me what sex is really supposed to be…something unique and done out of love. If you didn’t love me you wouldn’t have tried to protect me afterwards.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. It was as if this were the most natural of things which could happen between two boys. It didn’t even seem to occur to him of how doing something like this could even be considered gay. I suppose maybe this is also what had frightened me. The idea of how I had actually enjoyed having sex with him because it was different in how it had felt from when I was younger experimenting around with other boys my age. There was love connected with it, granted I now knew it was different from real love in the way I experienced it with Dane, but at the time the idea of me being gay was probably another contributing factor in how I had handled the whole situation. It took Dane to come along before I finally came to terms with my sexuality.
“But you must understand, you are my ‘Other Brother,’ and it is only natural to share this kind of love with each other in the most intimate of ways when we are ready. I was finally ready and so were you. Some day you will find real love and this is as it should be, but I’m afraid for me it will be something I will never know, but at least I was able to share a deep love with the one closest to me of all. It makes what the two of us have done together even more special; knowing I shared it with my ‘Other Brother.’ This makes me happy.” He sighed with me starting to truly appreciate the breadth and scope of the special connection the two of us had together.
His comment finally hit home as I once more began to break down. “No…no…no…no, you can’t die. I won’t allow it; especially not now.” I began to cry softly while he held me his brave gentle touch making me ashamed by how I was acting.
Lifting up my head I stared into his eyes. “Don’t give up Anatoli…you have to fight with everything you have. I promise you everything will be alright.” I assured him with the boy giving me a feeble smile his brow beaded up with perspiration reminding me of how sick he was at the moment and how our emotional conversation expended his energy. “Promise me Anatoli, no matter what, do not give up. If you promise me this then I will promise you will be fine.” I told him emphatically with him shaking his head taking in a deep slow breath that rattled in his chest.
“I’m so tired Robby, and the doctors told me how my body inside is shutting down. I’m dying.” He added as he looked into my eyes sadly seeing my resolve as I reached out and held his hand in mine.
“Promise.” I urged him with the boy chuckling and shaking his head.
“You are so stubborn sometimes.” He whispered to me letting go of my hand so his fingers could stroke the side of my face. “Alright…I promise.” He finally let out giving me a sense of hope now because I knew once he committed he would give it his all.
“Good then.” I sighed in relief as I scrunched up my eyebrows. “Um…Anatoli?” I began with him looking into my eyes urging me to continue. “Uh…yeah…anyway there is some good news…well actually there are a few things…that is…good news, but right now I want to share something I haven’t with anyone else yet. Well of course my dad knows, but no one else, well just one other person, but that is only because that person has to know since they are part of the good news.” I was rambling seeing the younger boy’s eyes lighting up a bit mirthfully because I was beating around the bush as I paused.
“Well?” He urged.
Looking around to make sure no one was listening I leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Um…I have a boyfriend now.” I admitted to him seeing his face lighting up.
“That’s awesome.” He giggled making me blush.
“You did hear what I said…I mean…you know having a boyfriend means I’m gay you know.” I emphasized with him shrugging his shoulders.
“Who cares…I don’t, besides love is love.” He chuckled. “So…,” he let it hang with me looking at him a bit confused. “You dolt…so who is it?” He chuckled, the breath catching in his throat as he began coughing.
Holding up a cup of ice water for him to take a sip from he nodded his head thanking me and waved his hand indicating he wanted me to answer his question. “Oh yeah…well its Dane.” I told him nervously seeing his face light up.
“I knew it.” He whispered shaking his head. “Well it is about time he opened up to someone too. I’m glad the two of you found each other.” He smiled happily for me.
“You knew…but how. I mean, even I didn’t know until…um…anyway.” I blushed almost having let slip how we’ve had sex together because it was only then I really knew how I felt about Dane and him with me.
Anatoli shrugged his shoulders. “It’s obvious with the way you two were mooning over each other.” He chuckled making me roll my eyes and blush because of the way he made it sound; especially, with his cute accent.
He may be speaking perfect English these days, but he still had that adorable accent. It now got quiet in the room with me knowing what Anatoli was going to be asking about next. It wasn’t something I really wanted to talk to him about since the sexual aspect of my relationship with Dane was private, but knowing Anatoli the way I did he wouldn’t be so shy about it with me. Thankfully though, we were distracted with a knocking on the door before Rose stuck her head inside handing over my laptop.
“Perfect, thanks Rose.” I expressed to her as she nodded acknowledgement.
“No problem sweetie. Is it alright if Dane and Gabe join you guys now?” She asked with me indicating it wasn’t a problem since Anatoli and I had come to terms with what happened between the two of us.
I for one no longer regretted the sex between the two of us and now truly appreciated the intimacy for what it had been; a beautiful act of love between me and someone uniquely special who held a precious place in my heart and soul. No one would ever come close to understanding me like Anatoli, other than my soul mate, so the intimacy between the two of us hadn’t simply been about sex, but something more on a deeper kind of level. It wasn’t quiet true love, but near enough making this something I cherished having occurred between the two of us as it now became something uniquely special.
Rose motioned for the two boys who were clad in their sterile outfits to join us as I watched them making their way to an overjoyed Anatoli. They settled down next to their frail friend chatting away as if he wasn’t even sick, and I could see a burst of energy and glow taking hold of the younger boy making me smile fondly at how precious he truly was to those all around him.
“Robby try not to visit too long wearing him out.” I heard Rose cautioning me, but I could tell if anything this was actually making him stronger, not weaker. “And…,” she added as I turned my focus back to her noticing her very stern and set face which I was very familiar with indicating something serious was going on.
It made me wonder now about the errands my dad had sent her on earlier. “When you get a few minutes you may want to join us outside. Anatoli’s doctor is now filling in the Markowsky’s about his condition and some test results.” She emphasized with me nodding knowing it’ll be at least another ten or fifteen minutes before the doctor finished his private meeting with the Markowsky’s.
While the three boys chatted amongst themselves I set up the laptop on the tray used to put patient’s food on and powered it up. Glancing over to the boys I saw Gabe suddenly lean over giving the younger boy a very affectionate hug and had to smile because Anatoli suddenly popped a stiffie which was very obvious as a small little tent formed right at the appropriate spot. It also didn’t go unnoticed by either Gabe or Dane who began to tease him about it.
“What, I can’t help it.” The smaller boy smiled back placing his hands over his unruly little member.
“Yeah right, you can’t be all that sick.” Gabe teased back as he ignored Anatoli’s feeble attempt at covering himself up and literally slipped his hand beneath the boy’s blanket.
At first I thought the eleven year old boy would protest, but to my surprise he didn’t as his deep blue orbs glinted when he gazed into Gabe’s eyes allowing his friend to get his first real feel of what the younger boy had down there. Even Gabe seemed surprised, but emboldened he stood up leaning in closer as I watched the blanket wriggling around knowing that the twelve year old boy had found its target.
Gabe confirmed my suspicions. “Oh God, that’s so sexy hot, even with these stupid gloves on.” He whispered in a panting voice and only complaining a little about those protective gloves he had to wear.
I knew even with the gloves on it would do very little to hinder Gabe getting a good feel of what his friend had swinging between his legs. “Oh shit Anatoli you are so damn sexy hot.” He breathed before suddenly chirruping in surprise because the younger boy had also reached out and was stroking Gabe’s obvious large bulge.
Poor Dane was caught between being mesmerized and totally embarrassed as he watched his two friends groping one another in a sexual kind of way. He seemed to enjoy what he was seeing though as I watched him reaching down and trying to adjust his own monster which had sprung to life creating this huge bulge in his Khaki’s. I had to admit it was kind of sexy watching the two younger boys being this intimate with one another for the very first time despite the seriousness of what was going on.
Both boys seemed to realize at the same time they weren’t alone and blushed glancing first towards Dane who looked away before glancing my way. I chuckled shaking my head happy for the two boys to finally have crossed a new threshold in their relationship. Of course it might be crappy timing, but I for one was happy the two of them finally took things to the next level. I was also proud of Anatoli allowing this to happen. I could tell the younger boy had always viewed Gabe in a deeper way, but had always held back afraid of where it might lead. He’s often allowed me to grope him so long as I hadn’t actually looked, so knowing he was now allowing Gabe to actually touch him intimately was a big step for Anatoli. It was going to be interesting to see if he now allowed things to move on to the next level and actually not be so shy about his body around his friend.
Only time would tell, that is if he actually had more time, I sighed to myself shaking my head as I focused on the laptop. It had finished going through its startup process as I glanced back over towards the boys noticing Gabe had removed his hand from beneath the blanket tears welling up in his eyes. He picked up the blond curly haired boy’s hand and affectionately held it to his chest.
“I…I love you so much Anatoli. Please tell me you will get better. I can’t bear the thought of…,” he shook his head sitting down and crying like I had just done a short while earlier as Dane reached over to comfort his twelve year old friend.
Anatoli’s eyes began to well up as he wearily looked away my heart breaking for both of them as I now began signing on to Anatoli’s email account. When the younger boy had first set up his email and several other types of accounts he asked me to help out with some of the settings on them because he still couldn’t read English so well. At that time he gave me the password he uses so I could get access to his accounts and get things set up properly for him.
Today, when my dad told me about Anatoli I had made sure to get into his account sending off a quick message to a few of his friends back home explaining what was going on hoping at least one of them spoke English. To my relief there was a quick reply as I read it over with a smile spreading over my features. I hastily sent off another message before opening up another program on my computer.
“Hey Anatoli, I’ve got another surprise for you.” I smiled bringing the tray over and setting it in front of him noticing how Gabe had managed to pull himself together in the meantime and had once more been chatting quietly with his younger friend as they both stared at the screen together.
“Skype?” the young curly haired boy asked curiously just as I clicked on the video call button.
Within a couple of rings the video came on and Anatoli squealed in delight before he suddenly fell in a fit of coughs. “Whoa settle down.” I soothed offering him up some cold water and hearing concerned voices on the other end.
When I looked over towards the screen I was shocked to see a whole group of kids around Anatoli’s age on the other end all looking very concerned. The email message had simply said to please call on skype once I got to the hospital no matter what the time. It wasn’t even noon yet over here, but I knew it had to be very late over there by them, but since the email said to call I opened up Anatoli’s skype account. I hadn’t been sure who I would need to call since the message didn’t say which contact to use, but when I opened up Anatoli’s account there were only a few listed on there with only one of them someone I didn’t know so figured it had to be the one. I was correct because now Anatoli began chatting away with the kids on the other end in a language I didn’t know.
After several moments of excited chatter he paused for a moment and introduced Gabe and Dane to his group of friends. After they said hello he turned the laptop slightly in my direction and introduce me to his friends back home. Suddenly there was a hushed silence with a lot of murmuring from several of the kids of what sounded like the same phrase by all of them making me frown.
“What are they saying?” I asked with Anatoli’s eyes welling up.
“They are whispering ‘Other Brother,’ Robby.” He replied in a soft voice not wanting to break the mood with me frowning questioningly wondering why they seemed so awed by it, which he picked up on. “I told you Robby someone finding their ‘Other Brother’ is very rare and a precious gift. I’ve told them all about you, but still to actually meet you…well is very…um…exceptional.” He tried to explain with me nodding and waving at everyone as one of the boys finally spoke up in the same kind of broken English I had become familiar with when I first met Anatoli.
“Nice to be greeting. I am Grigory…best friend Anatoli. How sick Anatoli…you no say…he no say…please to say? We now all to being…um…frightened…more now we see wearing the mask and gown” He asked nervously in the same halting and thickly laced accent I had become accustomed to a while back with me wincing and shifting my gaze towards the frail looking curly haired boy lying in the hospital bed and sighing shaking my head because they had noticed our protective gear indicating things were bad.
“He’s very sick Grigory, but we are trying to get him better.” I tried to put my most positive foot forward seeing him nod his head whispering to the others with many of the kids hanging their heads sadly their fears having finally been confirmed.
The other boy who was just as every bit as adorable as Anatoli turned back towards me and gazed deeply into my eyes through the computer screen. “You are ‘Other Brother,’ you protect Anatoli, yes.” He asked me, which I thought was adorably sweet as if this is all it took, being an “Other Brother” to make everything right.
Anatoli’s shown me pictures from many of his friends back home and they were all adorably cute with the same kind of striking features like him. It was odd how traits run strong in certain parts of the world, and most of the kids had the same kind of smooth pale features like Anatoli. Many had the same kind of white blond hair, but not curly like Anatoli’s. Of course a few had different hair color and eye colors, but for the most part they all pretty much had the same smooth pale features.
“Yes, I will do my best, but he is very sick Grigory. I have to go and talk with my father and his parents now so maybe I should let Anatoli tell you more, now that you know it is very bad. He is stubborn, but it is important you all know. He will want to protect you, so you have to push him. He’s pretty bullheaded sometimes.” I winked trying to lighten the mood a little seeing Grigory grin at me and nod his head in understanding despite my use of a slang term like ‘bullheaded.’
“Yes, he is having…um…how you say…thick head, like the bull.” He smiled making horns with his fingers while everyone around giggled at the joke.
Nodding I got up and squeezed Anatoli’s hand. “I’ll be right back, but you need to tell them Anatoli so they are prepared.” I whispered leaning over and kissing his cheek through my mask with him nodding he understood.
After removing the mask, cap, and gown I made my way over to the small conference room and noticing the open door slipped inside. Mrs. Markowsky was sobbing her eyes out with her husband holding on to her so I rushed over giving her a hug as she tried to smile down comfortingly to me. My dad and Rose were there as well.
After Mrs. Markowsky calmed down she motioned for us to take a seat and filled us in. Evidently the tests came back and both her and her husband weren’t a viable living kidney donor transplant candidates because they both had “A” positive blood and Anatoli had “O” negative. Even though the doctors had told them they probably wouldn’t have done the transplant even if they were a match because it would likely fail anyway due to Anatoli’s flu, the couple had insisted they would take the chance and donate their kidneys. Now they were crushed because of the devastating news. To make matters worse since their son had “O” negative blood he could only receive a transplant from someone else who had “O” negative blood decreasing their chances of finding a kidney even if he somehow managed to survive. The chances were made even slimmer due to the fact it was the rarest blood type.
The bottom line at this moment is his single kidney had now almost completely shut down and would probably fail by the following day, which meant if he survived the infections from the flu he would have to be on dialysis until a kidney could be found. Having “O” negative blood was both a blessing and a curse because it was what they call a universal blood type. In other words people of all blood types would be able to accept a blood type from an “O” negative person, but when it came to a person with “O” negative blood he could only receive a blood transfusion and transplant from another person with blood type “O” negative. In their son’s case this had now become a nightmare with all hopes fading quickly as his health rapidly deteriorated. He was getting weaker every day. Even now he may seem in good spirits, but the visit was most definitely sapping his strength and energy. I knew we would have to call our visit quits here before too long.
My dad was watching me closely while Mrs. Markowsky’s bad news kept getting worse. Even Rose had her lips pursed tightly knowing me so well over the years, concern written all over her features. The news was even worse than I thought as I glanced towards my dad seeing him sit back with a look of resignation.
“Are you sure Robby?” He asked me with tears welling up in my eyes.
“Of course I’m sure. I’d have done it for Mike so what makes you think I wouldn’t for Anatoli.” I replied softly with tears flowing down my cheeks. “I love him dad. He may not be my biological brother, but he’s still my brother in every other way. Please don’t be upset.” I whispered softly the entire room having fallen silent and the Markowsky’s sitting there with a blank look on their face while my dad simply shook his head getting up and quickly making his way towards me.
“No never Robby…if anything I’m proud of you, but still, a bit frightened since I’m now speaking as a father and not a doctor.” He whispered softly taking a seat next to mine and holding me to his chest tightly while kissing my cheek.
It got real quiet for several moments until Anatoli’s perplexed mom finally spoke up. “Dr. Stanton…Robby, I not to be understanding.”
Glancing up at my dad he nodded his head with me sighing. “Anatoli can have my kidney.” I stated with her giving me a stunned look while her husband asked his wife what’s going on since he was having more difficulty because of the language barrier and wasn’t exactly sure what I meant.
She said something quickly to her husband before turning towards me with a puzzled expression on her features. “But…,” she began as she opened her mouth and then shut it again because she didn’t even know where to begin before trying again with a soft expression over her features. “This is being kind Robby, but this is not being possible. Doctors say only “O” negative blood and they no want perform because Anatoli sick.
“No your doctors are wrong and this is going to happen…right dad?” I asked just to be sure with my dad pursing his lips before nodding his head.
“Right.” He spoke firmly turning his attention to Rose. “Is everything in place and ready to go?” He asked her.
Rose tightened her lips and shifted her gaze towards me our eyes locking intently as if she were trying to read me before finally relenting and nodding her head. “Yes Dr. Stanton. I’ve got the legal documents here for you to sign. I’ve set up the appointment with the judge who approved everything when…,” She paused, a pained expression on her features at the memory of Mike before pressing forward. “Anyway, I made sure to get the judge who oversaw and approved Robby’s ability to donate for Mike. I explained the urgency of the matter and he’s willing to see the two of you first thing in the morning, and I called up Dr. Steinitz and he’s catching the first flight over and should arrive sometime tonight.” She stated handing over a manila envelope to my father who opened it up and signed the documents handing them back to Rose.
My father most definitely wasn’t taking any chances calling in a friend of his who was one of the top transplant surgeons in the country to do the procedure. When Mike was sick Dr. Steinitz had promised to do any transplants and even did the procedure on removing bone marrow from me. It had hurt like hell, but he had done such a good job I didn’t even have any noticeable scars from the procedure.
“All hell is about to break loose around here Rose. The legal department isn’t going to like this and will fight it, but knowing the judge will have to relent in the end anyway. Robby had to go through the intensive psych evaluation the last time, but since he approved Robby to be on the donor list it’s pretty much all set and ready to go.” He sighed shaking his head.
“You’ve pulled all of Robby’s tests from a few years back?” He asked with Rose nodding. “Good, we will probably have to get some additional tests done for update purposes, but those shouldn’t take as long and we’ve got the ones already which take the longest. What did the overall match look like?” He asked getting into his official doctor mode while the Markowsky’s simply sat there not understanding what was going on.
Rose smiled and shook her head. “You won’t believe it Dr. Stanton, but it is a near perfect match, even closer than he was for Mike. Not only that, but since Robby’s had the same flu as Anatoli they won’t be able to use this as an excuse. If anything it will go against them if they bring it up to the judge. After all having beaten the flu it will only help Anatoli fight it off. I’ll get Robby checked into a room after his visit and get any additional tests performed right away. If we get the judge’s approval first thing in the morning Dr. Steinitz says we can do the transplant right afterwards in the afternoon.” She smiled at me nodding her head encouragingly with Mrs. Markowsky finally interjecting.
“Please Dr. Stanton, I…we are not to be understanding. Please to be explaining.” She insisted once more breaking down into tears with us consoling her and taking a deep breath until we all calmed down.
My father reached over taking her hand in his and began to explain everything to her. He explained how it all started a few years back when Mike got sick with cancer. We knew eventually his illness could lead to the need of blood, bone marrow, and even maybe transplants; especially, his kidneys if he got an infection and they shut down. So, both of us underwent extensive testing to find out if we were compatible matches and just in case Mike needed it. I ended up being an almost perfect match for Mike, but of course I was underage. It was one thing for simple things like blood transfusion or even the painful bone marrow procedure, but the hospital department drew the line at me being a potential live donor for more complicated procedures such as giving up one of my kidneys even if my dad gave permission.
Most people are under the impression a person who is underage cannot be a donor of this type, but it can be done. The hospital legal department was against it so forced us to go fight in court. I had to go through a ton of psychological evaluations and in the end the judge felt I understood all of the ramifications for such a procedure so approved it; especially, since Mike like Anatoli had the unique “O” negative blood type making it near impossible to find a match in time if it became necessary. In the end though, Mike had passed away without any need other than bone marrow transplant from me.
While my dad explained this to the Markowsky, preparing them for what will be happening here in relative short order since time was of the essence, I made my way back to my friends. I quickly got into my sterile outfit and entered the young curly haired boy’s room. Anatoli saw me and quickly waved me over. I could see the weariness on his gaunt pale features beginning to take hold of him so knew we would have to be letting him get some much needed rest here shortly.
“Robby,” Anatoli voice sounded a bit weak. “Come, meet my grandfather. When you emailed Grigory he contacted my Grandfather and he drove over right away from his town over an hour away even in the snow.” He grinned excitedly as I took a seat next to him and smiled into the small built in laptop camera even though they couldn’t see it because I was wearing a mask.
His grandfather looked surprisingly young and a lot like Anatoli’s father as he greeted me with Anatoli translating for his grandfather. “He’s happy to finally meet my ‘Other Brother,’ and promises to visit this summer so he can do a painting of you and me together…all natural of course.” Anatoli translated trying to laugh at the small joke, but actually ending up holding back a choking sob because he knew it may never happen with me nodding my head and holding on to his hand.
It started with him choking off the sob, but then the dam simply broke and he began to cry as I crawled on to the bed next to him and held him tightly to me. I could see Gabe and Dane also crying as I tried to console their friend holding him tightly and rocking him back and forth.
The emotions was now really starting to affect him as his body shook and he began having a coughing fit so I immediately held up some water to ease his aching throat. “You have to stop Anatoli or you will make yourself really sick.” I whispered gently to him feeling the boy slowly calming down.
“Robby, I don’t want to die, not yet, I’m not ready.” He sniffled. “I’m scared…,” he paused admitting to being frightened about what was going on. “Is that awful to say?” He asked me as I focused on him blocking everything out all around us.
I could care less who heard what at this point as I shook my head. “No because I’m scared too and I don’t want you to die either. I couldn’t do anything for Mike and I was crushed when he left me. I can’t stand the thought of you leaving me too Anatoli, but I’m not going to let it happen.” I sighed.
“I’m so tired Robby.” He exhaled softly while I leaned down kissing his forehead. “I feel awful and I hurt all over. I want it all to go away.” He admitted.
“Yeah, it was the same with Mike, but he held on to the very end.” I rocked him in my arms.
“I’m not brave like him Robby.” He sniffled, his eyes drooping closed as he fought away the drowsiness of sleep.
“Yes you are and I promise you will be feeling much better here real soon.” I insisted with him shaking his head. “Listen Anatoli, tonight you need to rest and get your strength up because tomorrow you will be getting a new kidney.”
“Really?” He yawned as his blue swirling eyes gazed up into mine. “But I thought it was impossible. Did someone die…I hope not? I bet he or she was really brave, not like me. If they only knew…who’d want to give a kidney to someone like me? I’m not brave and I don’t deserve it.” He insisted with me shaking my head.
“No Anatoli…no one died. You are the kindest and gentlest person I’ve ever known. You help complete me and have made me a better person my ‘Other Brother.’ You want to know who’d give you their kidney…I would. I’d give you my kidney, my heart, anything you need.” I whispered softly seeing a gentle smile cross his features as I held his hand up to my mouth and kissed it through my mask.
“You are so sweet Robby. You always know what to say. I couldn’t have ever asked for a better ‘Other Brother.’ But it isn’t as simple as you offering me your kidney.” He smiled finally succumbing to his weariness and falling asleep without ever hearing my words as I softly replied.
“But that’s just it Anatoli, it is just that simple. Sleep and get your strength because tomorrow you will receive my kidney. It’s strong and healthy. I would be honored for you to have it so you will always carry a part of me with you.” I cried softly as I leaned over his body and held him in my arms.
It was several moments before I realized other voices around. I had forgotten about skype video chat still being on or Gabe or Dane who were leaned over and holding me.
Everyone had a stunned look on their face, but was afraid of saying or asking anything wondering if they had heard me right. Sighing, I sat up wiping away my damp cheeks before climbing off the bed and tucking in Anatoli as I kissed his forehead, both eyes, nose, and even lips through my mask not even caring who saw me doing this for the sweetest boy ever.
“Sleep Anatoli, tomorrow things will be getting better.” I promised before taking a seat and slumping over suddenly very tired as well.
No one bothered me and it remained quiet until I sat up knowing I needed to explain to everyone what was going on. I spoke slowly allowing Grigory the time to translate to Anatoli’s grandfather and friends on the other end of the video chat. They had plenty of questions, and I took the time to answer as best I could. I could see Anatoli’s grandfather visibly crying and not ashamed at allowing others to see him. He was grateful his little sunrise and sunset would have a chance at living a full life. It seemed odd his grandfather would refer to Anatoli as his sunrise and sunset, but he explained that over by them Anatoli means sunset and by us his name meant sunrise. I thought it kind of strange, but then again everything about our little guy was always unique as I shook my head and chuckled.
“Robby?” Grigory spoke up getting my attention. “Grandfather say he is to being proud calling you ‘Other Grandson.’ It is being clear to all you are ‘Other Brother,’ and his true grandson is blessed. He is to being in debt for you always.” Grigory translated with all the other kids around agreeing whispering ‘Other Brother,’ in their own language.
“Tell grandfather I am the one who is proud to call Anatoli my ‘Other Brother.’ He has made me a better person, brought joy back into my life, and I love him with all my heart. He must promise though to visit this summer because Anatoli really missed having his grandfather around this past summer.” I made Grigory tell the elderly man who nodded his agreement saying he will keep his promise so long as he can have some subjects to paint as he winked at me and smiled toothily pointing not only at me, but also Gabe and Dane making me blush because it sounded like he wanted to paint all of us in the nude.
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End of Chapter Nineteen
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