Change Of Hearts

Change Of Hearts (Part 6)

Sister Helen looked out of the window and watched the children played in the garden. Duo was laughing happily with them while Heero looked on and smiled.

“It’s so good to hear Duo laughing again,” the nun commented. Father Maxwell left his desk and went to stand by the window, next to Sister Helen.

“Yes, I’m glad they have finally resolved their problems. Obviously Heero cares a lot for Duo.”

“But I think they are more than just friends. You have no objections to their …..friendship?” the nun voiced her concern.

“I know they feel strongly for each other. Ethically it is not right but sometimes we have to look at things differently. They went through quite a lot to be together. As long as they are true to each other, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

“I guess you are right, Father. God has a miraculous way of bonding people together,” the nun agreed as she continued to watch the two boys.

Duo worked hard on his physical therapy with Heero by his side, helping him, encouraging him. One day, the doctor called upon them to discuss about Duo’s condition.

“You are doing pretty well,” the doctor said as he studied through Duo’s progress report. “The reason I called you here today is to inform you that you might have a chance of recovery.”

“You mean I can walk again? How?” Duo looked at Heero excitedly.

“Through a spinal fusion surgery. Basically this is what we will do. We will first carry out a discogram whereby a special dye will be injected into the discs of you spine, along with saline and antibiotic. From there, we study the discs structure and perform a spinal fusion surgery. A bone graft shall be used, whether it is an autograft, meaning a bone taken from own your body or an allograft, a bone from the bone bank, depending on your health condition.”

Both Heero and Duo blinked at the doctor, confused over the complicated medical explanations.

“What are the chances of recovery?” Heero asked.

“About 70 percent but it’s worth a try.”

“What do you think, Duo?”

“I…I don’t know,” Duo was indecisive.

“No hurry here. Think about it carefully and let me know of your decision.”

Both Father Maxwell and Sister Helen very much agreed to the surgery. They felt that Duo should not let go of any potential chances of recovery. But the boy himself was having hesitation.

“What’s wrong Duo? You don’t seem to be very enthusiastic about the surgery. What are you worried about?” Heero queried when they were alone in Duo’s room.

“It’s only a 70 percent chances. What if it fails? I will still end up wheelchair-bounded.”

“Duo, you have to think positively. It’s not like you to be so pessimistic.”

“I just don’t think I can deal with the disappointment if it fails. Besides, such a surgery must be very costly. How can we afford it?”

“Don’t worry about the money, let me handle that.”

“No, I…..”

“Listen to me, Duo,” Heero interrupted him. “Go for the surgery. Don’t you worry about the money, let me help out. I am the one who caused you your present plight; give me a chance to make it up to you. I want you to able to walk again, to be free to do what you like with no restrictions. Give yourself a chance, give me a chance, ok?”

Duo rested his head on Heero’s shoulder and nodded. “Ok, I will go for it, for your sake and mine.”

The Japanese boy hugged him comfortably, gently stroking his arm.

“Heero, there is something that I’ve always wanted to ask you,”

“What is it?”

“How did…I mean…how did you end up….you know….”

“How did I end up what I am today?”

Duo nodded.

“Well, to start with, our backgrounds are more or less the same, except you ended up in good hands while I ended up with the bad guys.”

The braided boy sat up and listened as Heero told him his life story.

“Like you, I was an orphan too. When I was about five, there was this guy Odin Lowe who picked me up from the slums. He was sort of the founder of the assassin organization. He took me under his wing and taught me everything a killer should know.”

“You mean you spent your childhood being surrounded by all these…all these violence?”

Heero sighed and stared at his hands. “That’s why I became aloof and cold because I was taught to be cruel, unfeeling. I grew up in an environment where I see people dead every day, nothing unusual. I don’t know what is so called happy or enjoy life. All I know is that I must kill in order to stay alive. Would you despise me for what I am?”

The longhaired boy looked up immediately.

“Of course not! It’s not your fault that you turn out to be what you are today. In fact, I am sorry for the way I treated you in the past.”

Duo’s voice sounded broken and upset. Alarmed, Heero quickly gathered him in his arms.

“Hey, it’s okay. Please don’t cry; that was the past. Now, my life is turning better because I have you.”

The boy looked at him, eyes brimmed with tears. Heero gently brushed away the crystalline droplets.

“Don’t cry Duo. I don’t want you to cry for me. I want to see you smile, smile for me always.”

Duo brushed away the tears with the back of his hand and let himself be wrapped in Heero’s warm embrace.

~~ End Of Part 6 ~~