Walking Miracle

Dying just means you're living for the first time

It's hard to sleep in hospitals. There are constantly night nurses checking up on you and people walking up and down the halls. The bright lights always stay on and there is never a moment of silence.
"Knock knock," a dark figure whispered from the doorway.
"Come in," I said back clear as day, "you know you don't have to whisper. Us talking isn't gonna make it any louder."
He made his way into the room and flicked the light on.
"Where's your mom?" He said pointing towards the couch.
"She stepped out for a bit. You know how stressful this stuff can be on parents," I sighed.
Daniel just laughed in agreement.
I chuckled along until it faded to a sigh.
"Gosh, I hate hospitals," I moaned, "they're so depressing."
Once again Daniel did nothing but laugh at my comment.
"Do I amuse you?" I said carefully crossing my arms in front of me.
"Yes," he replied slowing his breathing with his hand firmly on his chest, "but that's not why I'm laughing."
Part of me felt like slapping him after that remark. Another part seemed somewhat concerned by his sudden actions. The rest of me was curious as it what was so funny.
"I bet you look at this place and see nothing but sad people who are real sick," he gestured to me, "or dying," he gestured to himself.
"Well, I mean... yeah," I shrugged.
"See," he threw his arms up then shook his head, "there may be people dying here but... dying isn't as depressing as it sounds."
Now every part of me was confused.
"But how can the end of living be remotely happy?" I questioned.
"That's just it!" Daniel suddenly got the biggest grin. He grabbed my arm and shook me softly. Then the words that came out of his mouth became some of the few I will never forget. It was one of those things that sounded like it was scripted in a movie and written by a famous poet. But this was something I'd never heard before and I was so glad I did.
"Dying," he said, "just means you're living for the first time."
I sat there for a moment letting that sink in. He was right and seemed to be quite good at blowing my mind.
"Wow," was I all could say to that.
"Deep, hu?" He laughed.
"Yeah but," I thought for a moment. How could I top that?
"It kinda contradicts it's self don't you think?" I questioned.
"Maybe," Daniel shrugged in reply.
"And," I continued, "if you really think about it, everyone is dying."
"What?" That was it. He was stumped and my work was complete. But I still went on.
"Yeah, from the very moment you enter the world your dying. Each breath you take, every second that passes is a second closer to your end. To the end of it all."
Daniel stared at me as if his mind was blown. I watched as he struggled to find a reply.
"Then what makes us any different?" He took a soft seat on my bed and let his hands freely fall in defeat. I sat up straighter and pulled my knees to my chest to give him more room, "what separates the people in here from the people out there."
Daniel did his usual gesturing then stared at me searching for an answer.
I sighed and looked back at him.
"I guess," I slowly breathed, "Our seconds are just a little more limited them theirs."
Daniel and I just stared at each other feeling the intense sorrow of this whole thing.
"Then people with limited seconds live life more fully," Daniel said as almost a question.
"I guess."
We both say there awkwardly for a few more seconds then Daniel spoke up.
"I think mine has a better ring to it," he said with a grin.
I laughed at his true statement in return which only made him do the same.
Laughter took over the room but not for long.
A nauseating feeling came in my head and traveled down to my stomach. I continued laughing through the terrible feeling but that only resulted in me having a full out coughing fit.
I tried to push through it but the feeling grew stronger and stronger in me.
Daniel slowed his laughing and put his hand on my shoulder.
"You ok?" He asked still with the hint of a giggle in his voice.
I nodded my head yes but my body said otherwise. Immediately I began gagging and puking my guts up. I could barely see Daniel's eyes widen from the corner of mine.
"Nurse!" I heard him yelling as he ran from the room into the open hallway.
I moaned looking down at my lap. You think throwing up sucks? Try doing it on an empty stomach.
I tried to keep my eyes open but dizziness soon over took me. The last thing I saw was the night nurse running in the room and Daniel skidding to a stop at the door way before my head hit my knees.