Decrease

Monday - September 20

I close my eyes and remember the white building, but I was younger than five. There was a man waiting for me and my dad. My eyes open as if lightning struck me, and then I remember. "What is this place, Daddy?" I whisper.

"What, John? What did you say?" asks Julie.

"What is this place?" I get up from the chair and walk over to Dr. Parks. I shut my eyes and remember.

"Raymond, did you inject him yet?" asks Gerald.

"Not yet. Are you sure about this, Gerald? I haven't fully recuperated from the injection I gave myself. I don't know if I'll ever recuperate. He's only three, Gerald. Are you sure you want to do this to him?"

Gerald circles around the table saying, "Absolutely. The only reason it failed on you is because you haven't any disease that the inoculation can suppress. Also, the injection at your age causes death to exhilarate quicker. Therefore, this soon-to-be cure will only be for the young. Come on, Raymond, let's get started. I want Jonathan to live a full and abundant life, not some withering cataleptic that can't possibly have a chance at life as we do. He's got to have this, Raymond. It's his only hope to survive."

As Gerald watches intently, Raymond picks up the syringe and injects the first inoculation into the little boy's arm. Both scientists are hoping to restore the immune system and organs, and also, eradicate the genetic disease little Jonathan was afflicted with since birth. Raymond removes the needle and says, "We should see something right about... now."

Jonathan's young, twisted body starts to twitch as a stinging, burning sensation engulfs his entire being. His eyes are blurry. He can't see. His heart's racing as if it's about to eject from his chest. He's frightened. Is he dying? Can he talk? He can't hear himself. He's cold. He lies in the dark. He's afraid of the dark. He sees no one. Where has everyone gone?

"His heartbeat's beginning to increase, Gerald. Breathing is labored, but I think in a few minutes we can remove the oxygen and see how he does on his own. How's his pulse?"

"Steady. His breathing's starting to slow down. I think this will..."

"He's flatlining, Gerald! Get the paddles!" yells Raymond.

Gerald rushes to the crash cart and places the paddles on Jonathan's chest. He yells, "Clear!" and quickly starts to perform CPR. Jonathan can feel Gerald's hands pushing up and down on his chest. He doesn't feel like he's dead. He feels like he's in a different world; a realm where there's nothing, but peace, and quiet, and...

"Hurry, Gerald! We can't lose him!" Raymond yells.

Gerald reaches over and grabs a syringe and injects it into Jonathan's chest.

"Raymond!" yells Gerald.

"Wait a minute, Gerald! Hold on. He's twitching some more."

Gerald and Raymond watch young Jonathan's body twitch. Both of them are totally amazed that his body's moving, but his heart is completely stopped.

"Is... he... alive, Gerald?" asks Raymond.

"I don't know. He's flatlined. I don't know how this could be happening! Right now, he's officially dead; brain dead. I don't know what to do for him! I don't know what to do!" Gerald throws the syringe to the floor. Raymond turns his wheelchair away as if Jonathan's a goner. But he's not. He can hear them both. How can he show them he's alive?

Gerald sobs, but stops when the heart monitor begins to beep slowly. Raymond spins his wheelchair around and looks at the monitor, stunned as well. Gerald places his fingers on Jonathan's neck to check his pulse. After a few seconds he whispers, "He has a pulse, Raymond!" He yells again, "He has a pulse!"