Two days passed as Rey and his family came to see Arthur in his room everyday on time.

But this day was a special day. This day someone different arrived at the door of room four twenty-nine. Someone who might just be able to raise Arthur's spirits and give him hope.

The clock had just ticked passed two in the afternoon when Arthur heard the familiar knock on his door. It opened with its little squeak that Arthur had come to rather enjoy and in stepped the one person he almost forgotten about.

"Hello Arthur." Said his mother as Doctor Conson helped her into the room.

She sat in the chair next to his bed and took his hand. "How have you been? The doctors say you'll be making a full recovery any day now."

As the greying woman spoke, tears began to well up in Arthur's eyes. He wanted desperately to hold and give his mother the biggest hug he had ever given her. But the casts wrapped around him prevented any if not all movement. "I'm fine mom. I never expected to see you here. I missed you a lot." Breaking down into uncontrollable sobs she tightened her grasp and rubbed arm in comfort.

"I couldn't leave you in here all by yourself. I had to see how my brave son was doing." Her smile lessoned his sobs as he regained control of himself.

"I'm just glad to see you again. I thought he might have gone after you."

"Larry won't be around to bother us any longer Arthur, hunny. A man showed up the other day and had a talk with him." Cutting off her son Marry looked upon the two in confusion as she absorbed the woman's words.

"I'm sorry, but… what did this man look like Mrs. Mensa?" She asked resting a hand on the edge of the bed.

"Oh he was a very passive looking man. Dressed in all black, he also wore dark sunglasses and spoke in a very dry manner. He was also very violent when Larry spoke out. I couldn't help myself but laugh when he nearly broke his arm when he made him apologize." The woman laughed patting he son's hand.

"He… he said he was sorry?" Arthur interrupted looking a bit shocked.

"Oh heavens yes. The dark man was no one to fool with. Larry took a few swings at him but received a much deserved ass whooping." The three laughed at the mother's joke.

"But I didn't come here to tell you that. I came to see you Arthur." He looked please as their eyes embraced one another.

“I don’t know what to say… I mean I…”

“Shh, don’t say anything at all.  I’m here with you Arthur, everything’s fine, even in silence.  Just relax, you need your rest.” Her soothing voice calmed the boy and they smiled at each other.

Before long Arthur had drifted off to sleep.  His mother brushed away a few stray hairs from his brow before rising to her feet.  Marry held out her arm as the elder woman took it and they left.  “You’ve got a brave son Mrs. Mensa.  You should be very proud of him.”

The woman laughed as they got into the elevator.  “You needn’t tell me that.  I couldn’t be more proud of him.  I just want to see him happy, maybe now he’ll have that chance.”

Late in the evening, Arthur sat in bed and listened to the radio some of his classmates had given him. When his favourite song ended, the door opened and in walked a dark man, with dark glasses.

He stood at the end of Arthur's bed as Arthur wondered if this was the man who had hurt Larry. "Good evening Arthur." He said with a hint of cheer wavering on his voice.

"Who are you? Are you the guy who beat up my step dad?" He asked with his eyes wide.

It was obvious to the man the boy was scared. Stepping into the light Arthur could see his face as he took off his glasses. He wondered why he'd be wearing them at such a late hour but passed it off as he spoke again. "Yes I am. He'll never bother you… or your mother again."

Nathan grinned to himself as he turned and silently left the room.  Quietly followed by his own footsteps he closed the door behind him.

Arthur sat and stared blankly at the wall. Taking the dark man's words he rested down and closed his eyes. Feeling for once in his life a sense of ultimate peace come over him as he drifted off to sleep.

That night Arthur found himself walking a long road. One riddled with fire and broken asphalt. He walked along the path, remembering his life, all the pain he suffered.

He turned and saw another road connect to his. Watching his mother walk down the same stretch of destroyed road the walked side by side and never said a word. Arthur took his mother's hand and they walked for a long time.

As the road began to clear, and the pavement formed into a brand new black road. His mother disappeared into the air around him, leaving behind the words that would have cured his heart of every pain: I'll always love you.

And still the boy walked onwards. His head held high as he approached a fork in his road. He remembered what the dark man said. He looked to his right, and saw more pain and suffering. But there was a light at the end of the darkness.

And to his left he saw happiness. A life he never knew, and had almost grown to hate. Looking back to the marker in front of him he read the words: It is your choice.

Arthur re-read the sign a thousand times before giving up. He sat down on the warm concrete road and closed his eyes. And for once in a long time, he smiled. Knowing that either road he chose, it would end well… because he had his mother’s love to guide him.

”What’s your hurry Rey?  We’ve got all day, there’s no need to rush.” Marry called after her son as he repeatedly tapped the elevator button.

“I aced my history exam, I know I did.  I’ve also got something to give him from Anne and the others.  Stupid elevator!  Hurry up!” He cursed tapping the button even more incessantly.

As the elevator pinged to the correct floor, Rey bounded out and down the hall.  He knocked softly on the door and waited for a reply.  None came as his mother caught up to him.  “He’s probably still sleeping Rey, maybe you should have called before you came?” She said giving him an incredulous look.

“Nah, he’s got all day to sleep.  This is important.” He retorted opening the door slowly.

The creaking of the hinges echoed off the bare and empty inside of the room.  Rey walked in and stopped, voice ready to awaken his sleeping friend.  “Arth… where?  Where’d he go?  Arthur!”

Marry stepped in a moment after looking just as confused.  Rey gave her a pleading look as her mouth hung open in silence.  “I don’t know… wait here, I’ll go ask Nancy.” She finally responded leaving the boy confused as he pulled a small box from his pocket.

“Maybe they moved him to another room?” He whispered to himself as he turned and headed for the doorway.

He solemnly closed the door behind him and looked down the hall.  He saw his mother looking worriedly at a bawling nurse.  The white clad woman was barely talking through her sobs and nose blows.

He cautiously walked up to them and gave his mother a questioning look.  Tears began to well in her eyes as she pulled away from the woman and took her son out of the small office.  “What’s wrong?  Everything’s all right isn’t it?” Rey queried not knowing whether or not he wanted an answer.

Marry stifled back a tear and wiped her eyes.  “A man broke into the hospital last night.” She confessed as Rey’s eyes went huge.  “They don’t even know how he got inside…  Drew, the night nurse first heard it.” She choked back sobs as she forced herself to sit on a gurney.  “Arthur’s gone Rey.  He was killed in his room.  They did everything to try and save him but it just wasn’t good enough.”

Rey’s heart stopped as he gazed into the wall, expecting something, someone to bound out of it.  A simple random thought kept him from breaking down when his mind finally collapsed.  “I’ll kill him!” Rey screamed and took off down the hall.

“He’s already dead…” A nurse called out from the small office, stopping Rey in his tracks.  “They caught him just as he left, the cops got him.”

Rey stopped in his tracks, he grit his teeth and grabbed a nearby guide rail.  No, no, no no!  What the fuck!  This isn’t happening!  “This isn’t fucking happening!” He screamed and began lacing into the wall with his fists.

The wall began to give as indents formed beneath his bleeding knuckles.  His berating of the wall slowed until his legs collapsed and he held his head, hoping to shield himself from the world.  His mother went over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.  “Shh… It’s okay, it’s okay.  Just cry.” His mother said soothingly rocking him gently back and forth.

MONTHS LATER

“Hey Arth, just came to see ya.” Rey forced a grin as he sat in front of the marble cross.  “I don’t know what to say anymore.  I mean I know you can’t respond… I wish you could.  Just isn’t the same, even if I only knew you for a few months.  Thought you should know I… stopped writing, I’ve stopped a lot of things, heh…”

Rey moved closer and rested his back against the smooth, cold marker.  Rey stifled a tear and rubbed his nose.  “I wish I could’ve saved you, you deserved more than this, so much more.  I wake up, hoping, even praying this entire thing was a dream, a nightmare, and that you didn’t exist.  But you did, and life still goes on, may God be with you, seeing as I can’t.  Until tomorrow my friend.” His voice trailed off as he brushed himself off and stood up.  He frowned at the writing on the marker, and turned away, not looking back, too afraid of what he wouldn’t see.