Snow Lodge
Chapter 25
For the rest of the day, and all through the night, Brian stayed by AJ's side. He prayed, begging God to ease the storm, and to keep AJ alive. He talked, telling AJ all the thing he should have said before, everything he had been feeling. When he finished that he began to talk about random things little memories he had of the two of them together, things the others had said or done. He talked until his voice was horse, reduced to almost a whisper.
But still AJ remained unconscious.
Brian watched AJ's chest rise and fall, the rattling sound much louder than before. AJ's breathing was becoming more and more laboured, as his injuries began to hinder his breathing.
So Brian kept talking. He couldn't stand listening to that sound. AJ's breathing and the wind that was still howling outside. He had been outside several times, making new snow-packs to cool AJ's body, each time hoping that when he opened the door, that the storm would have lifted.
Each time he was disappointed.
But at least the make shift cooling packs were working. AJ's temperature had dropped a little, and was hovering around 100. It was still high, but at least it was under control.
However, finally, after almost 18 hours keeping vigil, Brian's body demanded that he rest, and he fell into an exhausted asleep, kneeling on the floor at AJ's bedside, his hand clasping one of AJ's tightly.
As he slept, the wind began to die down, and the fierce snow storm began to ease, as the end of the storm finally neared.
