Seasons In The Sun
Chapter 14:Nicola
Hush now, don't you cry
I heard a voice behind me. "Now you know what the tablets were for" Bryan had come in and I hadn't heard him, "Bryan. Oh Bryan, why didn't you tell us?" "It was to be the happiest day of your lives, I couldn't do that to you. Then there was the tour I wanted to enjoy, not postpone. I was going to tell you all when the tour ended, but now... the secrets out." I was crying freely, "Bryan... how long?" "Not long. They averaged about a year."
I caught him in my arms and held him, crying as he did. He'd kept all his fear and pain inside. He stayed that way for a long time, crying out all the repressed pain, fear and anger. Once again someone sneaked up on me, "What is going on here?" It was Mark, his expression was one of pain and anger. "Mark.. It's not what you think. Come here, sit down. Bryan has something to tell you." So Bryan told him. He broke down and tried to comfort Bryan as once more he couldn't stop the tears as he spoke of his certain death. It broke my heart to sit there unable to help either of them. I left them to go call the others. I called Shane first, "Shane, it's Nicola. Listen, can you come over to Bryan's, now? It's serious" "Why? What's wrong? Are you okay?" "Yes, but, Bryan's not, please, come quickly Shane" "Nicola what's wrong!?" "He's dying Shane, there's only months left. Please, can you call Kian?" "Yeah, I'm on my way." Shane was running in the door even before I'd hung up with Nicky. "Nicky, I've got to go, Shane's just arrived. Just get here as soon as you can." Shane went straight to Bryan and threw his arms around his shoulders and joined in the flood of misery. Gemma hung back, not wanting to interfere with the boys' pain, after all, they were all, pretty much brothers. Living in each other's pockets for practically every day for eleven years. They were closer than we could even imagine.
I went to Gemma and held her, for I understood. There was nothing we could do to comfort the men we loved. Nicky and Georgina joined us minutes later. Nicky was even worse off than the rest, he'd known Bryan the longest. Georgina went to Bryan too. Mark broke away from the pack and came over to us