He lowered his head. This was all his fault.
Marcus could've joined him for breakfast. He could've been the man he'd woken up to had he worked up the nerve to ask.
He watched as Marcus was wheeled away to the operating room.
"Tell me what's he getting surgery for again?" He asked a nurse.
The nurse answered, "He has an intracranial hematoma, in easier terms, a brain bleed."
She went on, "He may experience headaches, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion…"
Louis wanted to get it over with, "What are the worst-case scenarios in terms of symptoms?"
The nurse hesitated.
"Tell me!" Louis insisted.
"Slurred speech or even…"
"Even?"
"Paralysis," the nurse said finally.
"Memory issues as well," she added.
"The recovery period?" Louis asked.
"We're really not sure until post-surgery."
Louis remained silent.
He hoped for the best - that nothing would happen to Marcus.