The last box…prior to this moment, achieving this accomplishment felt unobtainable. A borderline hoarder, Tyson Ayers constantly collected small trinkets and souvenirs from the time he was a child. It went beyond that. The young man found value in movie ticket stubs, concert ticket stubs, and even receipts from meals eaten with special friends on special days. His form of scrapbooking included tucking these small treasures all about his room in random places.
Looking at the bare walls, Alex’s vision blurred. She’d envisioned this day, this time in her life, but never felt it would actually be upon her. The memories the small room housed were now locked tight in cardboard and tape—it was over. Life’s next phase was now aching for her participation.
“You about ready, Freddy? I’m starving.” Patting his belly, Tyson appeared in the doorway.
“Yeah…Ty, let’s go. We can come grab these later.”
“You okay, Alex?”
Attempting to shield her eyes from Tyson’s view was pointless.
“Are you crying?” The concern in his voice was genuine, much to her relief. They’d decided months prior that the time for tears was over—smiles from here on out.
“Sorry, Ty. You grew up here.”
“Hey…it’s not like she’s selling the place…she can stash her empty liquor bottles and pill containers in here. It’ll be full in no time.” Grinning as he said it, Tyson offered his sister a hug. “Thank you for doing this for me, sis. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me…I know how much you’ve sacrificed. I love you so much.”
“You’re my world, Baby-Ty. I’d do anything for you.”
“Think we’ll be roomies in our thirties, too?”
“That’s the plan, Ty. Possibly our forties if you’re not married with children by then.”
“Well…for that to happen I need proper nourishment…I’m literally starving. Like, I can hear harps and angelic singing just beyond the light.”
“You’re such a dork! You literally just had cereal like an hour ago. Let’s load up.”
The drive to the diner was inclusive of Tyson’s rendition of Paperboy’s “The Ditty.” Misplacing the words and rhymes, he restarted the lyrically acrobatic hip-hop song over twice in an effort for perfection—leaving his sister laughing hysterically while he bobbed his head and sang loudly.
Impressive was his ability to match the artist’s pace—more impressive was the fact that he could forcefully belt the lines while bouncing belligerently from the passenger seat without becoming winded and without the use of oxygen. His reprieve had offered so much more than Alex could have ever imagined. Fragments of her brother’s personality had diminished along with his health. The “highly successful” bilateral lung transplant had reinstated so much more than hopes and dreams—it fortified their bond. Alex was reunited with the brother that had long since been bent—not broken—but bent and molded into a nearly breathless boy. Breathless no longer, Tyson took no shame in his inability to hold a note.
Within the diner, Alex enjoyed a lifeless salad from their tattered seating. The eatery was nearly as worn as the wilted vegetation on her plate—but this was their go-to place.
Watching Tyson eat his bacon double cheeseburger at a ravenous pace, Alex couldn’t contain the smile creeping across her face. His eyes were bright in the natural light shining through the large window near the booth. Both muscle tone and a glowing complexion had returned.
Cheeks full of food, he looked from his plate with curious eyes. “Ice cream?”
“Ice cream? How the hell are you going to fit ice cream in there? You’ve had a chili dog, fries, a burger…what flavor? I’ll go order it while you eat.” Smiling, Alex was actually thrilled by her brother’s appetite. When Tyson was ill there were several nights she’d all but beg him to eat, now she felt certain she’d lose a finger if she stuck it near his plate. He was healthy. For the first time in a long time, Tyson Ayers resembled an active, athletic, and most of all, healthy teenage boy.
“Chocolate. You should probably know this by now. We’ve only been siblings for eighteen years, fool.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be right back.”
Nourishment attained, the duo left the diner—Tyson bloated and claiming to need a nap, they pulled into their new residence. Alex had worked hard to secure this two-bedroom apartment near the college campus and even closer to the hospital she worked at. Leaving their mother’s home and all of her toxicity was the only option. Alex was certain her brother would follow her wherever, but finding an apartment with a lavish gym basically sealed the deal.
“If you yawn one more time, Ty.”
“I’m so sleepy…” His whining and sleepy smile was met with a head ruffle.
“Go upstairs and take a nap. I’m off the entire weekend. We can go back to Mom’s tomorrow.”
“Are you going with me to talk to the registrar on Monday?”
“Yep. I looked over everything. We’re good to go, College Man.”
The ambitious smile and obvious excitement in his eyes had Alex overflowing with joy. Seven months prior, any university was as fictional as Hogwarts to Tyson Ayers—even the idea of graduating high school was ambitious at best. Now, he’d strategically selected his classes, picked out the perfect book bag, and basically mapped out the next four years of his academic career.
Gainfully employed doing what she loved as a respiratory therapist, Alex had made a pact with herself that Tyson’s experience at college would be as stress-free as possible. She would do whatever she had to do to ensure his primary focus was on his studies and long-term goals.
Exiting the vehicle and looking to the finely maintained grounds of their new apartment, Alex beamed with pride and excitement. This was the future that nearly escaped them—this was the future she would never take for granted. Closing her car door, she grinned once more at the sight of her brother—racing up the stairs to their apartment door—completely unfazed by the effort.