"Hey, Xander, man, you look like you've been through the wringer," Jasper said, trying to keep the mood light as he settled into the chair next to Xander's hospital bed.
Xander managed a weak smile. "Yeah, well, I've had better days. Can't say the same about that serpent, though."
Jasper chuckled. "True that. You know, for a minute there, I thought we were goners. But you… man, you really pulled through."
Shifting uncomfortably, Xander's gaze softened. "Listen, Jasper, I need a favor…"
Jasper leaned in, intrigued. "Sure thing, man. What's up?"
Xander whispered something into Jasper's ear, his voice so low it was barely audible.
Jasper's eyes widened in shock as he shot up from his chair. "Are you serious?!" he blurted out, his voice echoing slightly in the sterile room.
Xander nodded solemnly. "Yeah. I'll text you the details, Jasper. Please, this might sound crazy, but consider it a last request from a friend. I don't think I'll… you know, make it for much longer."
Jasper, taken aback by the gravity of Xander's request, took a moment before responding. "Alright, if you're putting it like that… I mean, everyone deserves to choose their own path, right? Still, I can't say I fully get it, but I trust you."
Xander offered Jasper a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, man. That means a lot to me."
Jasper scribbled his number on a piece of hospital notepad and handed it to Xander before standing up. "I'll wait for your message. Take care, alright? And don't do anything rash before then."
As Jasper left the room, Xander lay back, closing his eyes, a myriad of thoughts swirling through his mind.
The following day, bathed in the sterile light of the hospital, Xander underwent a series of check-ups. Each test was a reminder of the grueling treatment that awaited him, a treatment that was scheduled to commence the next morning. Weak from the procedures, Xander found himself seated in a wheelchair, his strength insufficient to support him standing or walking. Yet, amidst the physical exhaustion, a singular desire flickered within him—a longing for the outside world, for one last embrace of the sunset.
He maneuvered his wheelchair to where Nurse Caroline, a familiar face who had once tended to his sister, was stationed. "Hey, Ms.Caroline," he began, his voice tinged with a melancholy plea. "Before I go into treatment, could you… would you take me outside for a bit? Just to the front recreational area?"
Nurse Caroline turned towards him, her expression softening at the sight of his pleading eyes. "I want to see the sunset one last time… because I might not get another chance," Xander added, his voice barely above a whisper.
Nurse Caroline nodded, understanding the depth of Xander's request. "I can only take you outside for 15 minutes. It'll be dark after that," she warned, though her voice carried a gentle assurance.
Xander's face brightened considerably at her agreement. "Oh, could you? Thank you! You've made my day!" he exclaimed, his spirits seemingly lifted by the prospect of witnessing the sunset.
With gentle care, Nurse Caroline began to push Xander's wheelchair, guiding him through the hospital's corridors towards the elevator that would take them to the ground floor. As they traveled in silence, Xander, lost in his thoughts, pulled out his phone. With deliberate intent, he composed a message consisting of a single letter: "J." He then sent the cryptic text, its significance known only to him.
Nurse Caroline, catching a glimpse of Xander's action, found it peculiar but chose not to comment. Her focus remained on fulfilling Xander's simple yet profound request.
Emerging from the hospital building, they entered the recreational area just as the sun began its descent. The evening sky, painted in vibrant hues of red and orange, offered a breathtaking canvas, the clouds artistically layering the expanse above them. Xander, feeling the cool evening breeze caress his face, took a deep breath, allowing the serene beauty of the moment to envelop him. For those few minutes, the weight of his circumstances seemed to lift, leaving him in a peaceful contemplation of the world's quiet beauty.
As they reached the middle of the recreational area, Xander's gaze fixed upon a sleek black car parked along the roadside, its presence seemingly incongruous with the tranquil setting. A murmur escaped his lips, "As if I'd relinquish all this without a fight…" His voice was a mere whisper.
Nurse Caroline, noticing Xander's murmur, inquired with concern, "Did you say something, Xander?"
With an apologetic tone laced with determination, Xander replied, "I'm sorry, Ms.Caroline." Summoning every shred of strength, he pushed himself to stand from the wheelchair, his face contorted with the effort and pain.
"W-what are you doing, Xande—" Nurse Caroline's words were cut short by Xander's unexpected action.
Clutching the IV pole that accompanied him, Xander commenced a desperate sprint towards the car. Initially, his steps were unsteady, his body nearly grazing the ground as he struggled to gain momentum.
"Wait! You're in no condition to be running! Where are you heading?" Nurse Caroline, recovering from her initial shock, gave chase.
As Xander glanced back, he saw Nurse Caroline closing the distance, concern etched on her face. Turning his gaze forward, he noticed Jasper exiting the vehicle and flinging open the back door.
"Xander, watch out!" Jasper's urgent cry filled the air, just as Nurse Caroline's hands clasped around Xander.
"D-damnit, let me go!" Xander's frustration boiled over. With a swift motion, he swung the IV pole, catching Nurse Caroline off-guard with the blow and loosening her grip.
"I'm really sorry!" he called out, his voice tinged with regret, before he dove into the backseat of Jasper's car.
"Go, go! Drive!!"
Nurse Caroline stood dumbfounded, watching the car speed away into the evening light, leaving behind a swirl of unanswered questions and concerns.
Xander's heart pounded fiercely in his chest as the car sped away,
As the car sped away from the confines of the hospital, Xander struggled to find a comfortable position for the IV stand in the cramped space of the back seat. The stand, though cumbersome, was still connected to his arm by a slender tube, steadily administering the vital medications that kept his precarious health in balance.
Jasper glanced nervously in the rearview mirror, his concern for Xander evident. "Are you really sure about this, Xander? What if they report us to the authorities… or worse, send explorers after us?" he queried, the possibility clearly weighing heavily on his mind.
Xander, with a weary yet resolute expression, attempted to assuage Jasper's fears. "Chill out, Jasper. I'm hardly a priority for them to dispatch explorers. And as for the cops, I doubt they'll be on our trail anytime soon," he reasoned, trying to inject a note of reassurance into his voice.
Jasper, still driving, shook his head in bewilderment. "I can't wrap my head around what you're planning to do, Xander. But refusing your last request isn't an option for me, not after everything you've done for us," he admitted.
Xander offered a tired smile in response. "Thanks, Jasper. We have about 20 more minutes to go, right? Do you mind if I catch some sleep? I'm really… tired…" His voice trailed off, exhaustion overtaking him as he finally gave in to the overwhelming need for rest.
"Sleep, friend. We'll be there soon," Jasper assured him softly, focusing back on the road ahead.
As Xander drifted into a fitful slumber, Jasper's eyes remained fixed on the path before them, determined to fulfill his friend's enigmatic but deeply personal request.
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up beneath a towering structure that loomed large in the quiet night—the familiar sight of Xander's dormitory complex.
"Yo, Xander, we're here," Jasper announced, attempting to rouse Xander from his slumber with a gentle nudge.
But Xander remained motionless, prompting a spike of panic in Jasper. "Xander! You can't be—"
"Ah, I'm awake, I'm awake. Are we there?" Xander's groggy voice interrupted, dispelling Jasper's fears as he blinked away the remnants of sleep, though his expression remained clouded.
"Yeah, we've arrived. You sure you're holding up okay?" Jasper asked, eyeing Xander with concern.
Xander attempted a reassuring smile. "I'm alright, just wish I could've caught some more sleep. But there's no time for that."
"No time? So what's next now that we're here?" Jasper's confusion was evident.
"Can you help me get to my room, Jasper?" Xander requested, his tone carrying a sense of urgency.
"Of course, man. Let me help you out of the car," Jasper offered, supporting Xander by the shoulder as they exited the vehicle.
They made their way through the entrance and into the elevator, a silence enveloping them as they ascended.
"Jasper, thanks for bringing me here. Once I'm in my room, I need you to head back," Xander said, his voice weak but determined.
Jasper's eyes misted over with emotion. "Are you sure about this? I… I don't want to leave you alone. What if you don't make it…"
Xander felt his condition bearing down on him. "I hope it doesn't come to that. But if it does, tell Mika he was always like a brother to me. Tell him to do great things and not to end up like me. And… tell him I'm with my family now. That I'm happy," he said, his words imbued with a finality that left Jasper at a loss.
As they reached Xander's room, he keyed in the security code and stepped inside on his own. "Goodbye, Jasper. And thanks again. Please, go back home," Xander implored, closing the door before Jasper could utter another word.
Jasper stood there for a moment, lost in thought and struggling with a mix of emotions. With a heavy heart, he turned away and walked back to his car, leaving Xander to face what lay ahead alone.