Chad Bartow looked around the quiet room.  It was plain as are most hospital rooms.  It contained only the necessary items.  The curtains on the window that looked out over the hospital’s large parking lot were the tone of green Chad found unattractive.  Normally he liked green a lot, but this shade reminded him of vomit or pea soup.

He noticed Frederick had opened his eyes.

“You like pea soup?” he asked Frederick.

“Yeah, I do. Why? Don’t you?”

“When there’s no other choice,” Chad answered.  “How’s it going?”

“I’m okay…considering,” Frederick replied, mustering up a weak smile.  “Surprised me sneaking in quiet like that.”

“Ha,” Chad laughed. “That’s what Janet says. That I’m a sneak.”

Janet Whitlock was Chad’s girl from their high school days, but she was no longer a girl, of course, just as he was now a man.  Now that both were nearly out of college, it was expected they’d marry within a year.

Frederick smiled again. “She must have a good reason.”

“Just don’t say that in front of her. She’s got a big enough head as it is,” he told Frederick.

Frederick smiled. “That about her head I’m telling. First chance I get,” he said.

Chad had started regular visits to Frederick after he’d found out Frederick’s illness was terminal. They’d had quite a few courses together at university as well as an occasional lunch. Rumor had it that Frederick’s last breath was nearer than his doctors had previously imagined. Chad didn’t know about things like that.

Frederick sighed. “I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned how much your visits have meant to me,” he told Chad softly.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Chad responded. “You’d do the same for me.”

“I would now,” Frederick said. “I don’t think I would have before I got sick. Can you reach that glass of water for me?”

Chad got the glass of water off the cabinet top and took it over to Frederick. He gently lifted Frederick’s head off the pillow so that he could drink.

“That’s better,” Frederick said. “Thanks.”

After Chad put the glass back and a few moments of silence had ensued, Frederick spoke again.

“I like Janet a lot. She’s tops. I don’t think you’ll ever find a woman better suited for you.”

“I sort of agree,” Chad said.

“So tell me,” Frederick asked, "why do you do this?”

“Do what buddy?”

“Visit me like this. Regularly. But as I said, I appreciate it.”

Chad swallowed. He tried hard not to let Frederick notice the tears in his eyes.  “I always liked your style, Fred,” he said. “The happy, loud, confident student everyone noticed in the hallways. That everyone liked. Many times I thought how nice it would be if I were that way."

“Asshole,” Frederick said. “Everybody likes you.”

After a few more moments, Chad spoke the last four words Frederick would hear on this earth.

“I love you, Fred.” With that, Chad turned and left the hospital room and his sitting with Frederick.

The End of “Sitting With Frederick”