Page 49 of In the Shadows

“Hey Brando, how are you?”

“I good. I miss you and JoJo.”

Hearing him say that made me tear up, if only he knew. “We miss you too, bud.”

“Where’s JoJo?”

Fuck man, I didn’t know if I could do this. Time to man up.Don’t let him see you cry it will only upset him.“He’s sick, bud.”

“JoJo need a hug?” He held his arms out, dropping the phone on his lap so all I could see was his chin.

Oh my fucking God, this kid was killing me. “I’ll give JoJo a hug for you when I see him, okay?”

“’Kay. Mom, Mom,” he said, “JoJo sick.” I heard her tell him to say goodbye so I could get back to JoJo. “Bye Ricky, love you. Tell JoJo love him too.” He handed my mom the phone and took off.

“I’m so sorry, honey,” she apologized.

“If he didn’t love Joey so much I could understand that, but please don’t ever apologize for him having such a big heart. That’s all due to you and Brett,” I said once again through falling tears. “Shit, Mom, I’ve gotta go. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby, give Joey a hug for me.”

I couldn’t take it anymore, I hung up before I lost it and began walking back in the direction of the hospital. The doctor scheduled to start reducing the pentobarbital at four p.m. Ten minutes before, in walked Diamond and Mickey. None of us expected an immediate change, we knew better, but we all still held on to what little hope we had left.