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Chapter 4
The rest of the holiday plans to go shopping and moshing around Hong Kong was cancelled. During the day Scott stayed in his hotel bored out of his mind, surf the net chatting to his friends, or listen to mum cry over the phone when he phoned her. At night when the sun was gone, everyone decided it would be good for Scott to let him out instead of keeping him indoors. It has been a few days since he found out about the mass in his brain, still apprehensive about walking around and sleeping Scott was still laughing with the guys to keep his spirits up. It was easy for him remain positive because he had been doing that his whole life but staying happy at the same time was much harder. He didn’t know long it was going to last. Nevertheless he kept himself to himself as he didn’t want to appear weak to his best friend. He knew this was mentally unhealthy and wrote in a journal as a way of releasing his emotions rather than to keep it inside. That night Scott was taken out to a chilled out buffet in a posh hotel. It was an oriental buffet at the harbour plaza. As Scott walked in he could smell the herbs and spices. The limes the coconuts and the curries all delicately blended which wafted up his nostrils fill his insides with hunger. The lads were shown to their seats along with Scott. Scott was first up to get a plate full of food. There was spicy fish, thai bbq chicken, seafood curries, and meat satays and sushi and desserts. Scott was also advised by the doctors not to have any spicey foods as this could make him too hot and therefore affecting the blood flow in or around the mass. Scott was already being restricted from being his normal active self and now he has to stop eating his favourite foods. The song ‘crawling’ started blaring inside his head. Crawling in my skin As the words ran through his head he knew he shouldn’t be scared because if he was then the mass in his head would win. Scott thought of its presence as a sort of test, to test if Scott was able to cope with the situation. There’s something inside me Scott felt his blood boil and his head throb with every heart beat at the thought of the mass inside his head. It felt like it was taking over his life. Being his usual stubborn self, Scott was determined to get through this unscathed, he was going to pass this test but he still had to be careful. Snapping out of his anger Scott went on to fetch another 3 helpings of food from the buffet counter during the rest of the evening to help keep his mind of things. After a filling dinner the gang went for a walk outside onto the pier where the breeze was warm and humid. The view of Hong Kong island and this city lights were beautiful as they twinkled on the sea surface in the moonlight sky. I could sit here for hours. I just wish I could enjoy it more. Scott said to Chester as they were leaning on the pier barrier. Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon. Said Chester as he put his arms around him. Time to go dreamer. Said Mike as he gently pulled Scott away from the barrier. That night Scott slept more easily believing that things will get better. The next day Joe started packing his and helped with Scott’s bags so he could leave Hong Kong and head back home in England. Linkin Park would have to go back to America to finish their tour. The holiday was over. Scott was relieved. Although he loved Hong Kong with all his heart he knew he could not stay. Most of his friends were in England and they meant more to him other than his family. He knew that as soon as he was home he’d feel a lot better. Scott went to see the local doctor for the last time before flying off. "If you really are flying back to England, let me tell you this. Do not what ever you do tell anyone that you have this mass in your head ok?" He said firmly. "Why is that?" Scott replied. "With your condition the captain of the plane would never let you fly until you are well. There is a small chance that you could worsen your condition due to the change in cabin pressure, and it’s a risk that the captain will not take." "Well it’s a risk I’m willing to take." Said Scott firmly. "Good luck to you young man. Said the doctor as he shook Scott by the hand. "And thank you for your help doctor." Said Scott as he shook his hand back. Scott and the band were taken to the sir port via taxi they didn’t want to attract media attention for Scott’s sake, as the excitement would be lethal for Scott. They all got on the plane as the band could fly to England as a stop over before changing planes to fly back to America. Chapter 6
Getting off the plane was another weight off Scott’s shoulders. He felt he could relax more easily after a tense flight, worried that the cabin pressure would make him bleed inside again. Dad was waiting at the ‘arrival’ gates. Mum got JJ to push the trolley as she ran to Scott. As she collided into him, Mum burst into tears, evidently relieved to see her son again after this weeks situation. And for the first time ever Scott saw his dad cry. For a week mum had felt helpless knowing that while she was in England her son was on holiday with his friends. But at last she was reunited. And she knew that Scott was in good hands while abroad. Scott holding back the tears went over to dad and gave him a huge father/son hug. "You ok son?" Dad asked Scott. "Yeah getting there. I’m scared dad." Said Scott still hugging. "We all are but just hang in there, I will do everything it takes to make you better." dad said reassuringly, but Scott could only think of one thing that would make him feel better, his friends the band. Scott hugged everyone and waved before the boys went off to the departure lounge. As dad drove home Scott thought about going home to his CDs and the music that had kept him going through the years, he did not take any with him to Hong Kong as he thought he’d be too busy to listen to Linkin Park, plus he didn’t want his cds to be damaged and anyway spending a holiday with the lads was better than listening to the cds any day.
Chapter 7
Upon arrival Scott was lead into a bay within a ward where it had 3 other men occupying the other beds and one empty one, which was meant for him. Mum and dad stayed for a couple of hours and waited for Scott to get settled in. the nurse came in to do Scott’s observations: his blood pressure and temperature was taken. Later mum and dad left the hospital and Scott was left alone with the tv by his bed. "What are you here for?" Said the young lad sleeping opposite Scott. "I think I have a brain tumour." Said Scott. "What’s your name?" Asked the lad "It’s Scott. You’re Byron right?" Scott asked "Yeah how the hell did you know that?" Byron asked with an almost scared expression on his face. "It’s written on the end of your bed." Smiled Scott as he pointed. Byron laughed. And just then a wave of familiarity washed over Scott. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. "So what are you here for?" Asked Scott back. "I was in the party in the park in Reading and suddenly I got these weird hallucinations and then I blacked out and apparently started fitting." He replied. Scott felt sorry for him. As Byron was confined to his bed due to his condition. "Really? what caused it?" Asked Scott again. "Dunno yet they’re still trying to find out." Said Byron "Yeah same here, and until they know exactly what it is they can’t do anything." He replied Scott felt comforted with the fact that he had something in common with a complete stranger. Just like when he visits Linkin Park’s message board along with everyone else. "I’ll be dead before they know it." Said Scott jokingly, Byron laughed again. Byron wasn’t bad looking. Late 20’s, Short scruffy dark brown hair brown eyes and a smile like marti pellow. Lightly tanned. Scott chatted and laughed with his new fixation till dinner time at 5. "Oh my god what have I done to deserve this? if what ever I have doesn’t kill me first this definitely would. Hospital food is fucking crap." Giggled Byron. 'He has the same sense of humour as me.' Thought Scott. just then some doctors came in to see Scott. "Hello Scott, I’m mr blau how are you?" Said the doctor looking like he was on his way to a surgery in his green tunic and trousers. I’m fine I guess a little bit dizzy but ok. He replied. "Ok could you take your glasses off for us for a second please?" He asked. Scott did as he was asked. Mr blau shone a bright light from a little torch into his eye and he appeared to be testing Scott’s pupil dilation reactions. Then he did the same for the other eye. Scott could see the reflection of his own electric red blood veins. "They’re ok. Could you squeeze my fingers as tightly as possibly please." He asked as he held out his fingers like he was in a western gun dual. Scott squeezed his fingers. "Woah ok they’re fine." Said Mr Blau as he rubbed his fingers. "That’s from play fighting with me mates in America." Said Scott. Mr Blau went on to test Scott for any weaknesses in his limbs. "Could you push my hands apart? Now push them together. Could you lift your leg up while I push down? Now force it back down while I pull on it. Ok it seems like everything’s fine. Oh by the way you have a ct scan tomorrow morning and then you have an angiogram in the afternoon but we’ll give you the details tomorrow ok? Enjoy your meal Scott." 'He was very thorough.' Thought Scott as he left. Scott cringed at the plate of sloppy mash potatoes and crunchy peas and soggy carrots. But he was hungry so he ate it anyway. Byron saw the look on his face and laughed again. They both seemed to click as if they had known each other for ages. Byron winked at Scott. "What was that for?" Giggled Scott as he warily spooned his first mouthful of his runny mash. No reason I just kinda like you I guess. He said rather not shy like. The other two men in the ward stared at Scott like a disease. Scott stuck his tongue out as if he didn’t care. Byron giggled again and Scott blushed. Byron flicked his tongue at Scott and pulled his cheesy grin before putting his face down again to eat. Scott shook his head in amazement, he so wanted to know more about this lad. He knew so little about him as he hardly spoke, all he knew was that they had the same sense of humour and that he liked him.
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| TOP | Last updated 15 February 2002 19:42 (AUS EST / +1000 GMT). | ||
