A Saint for Life

by Nicole Heck

  “He is,” I replied, but my eyes were too heavy for me to keep them open.

  “Can you turn off the lights? I think I’m going to take a nap,” I asked and covered myself with my new blanket.

  “Bye Gabe! See you later!” Johnny waved goodbye while walking out the door with Danielle.

  *

  “Sorry to wake you, buddy. You need to get ready,” Danielle said. I was in the middle of a really good dream when she came in.

  “For what? You told me I didn’t have chemo today!” I was a little confused and still waking up, so I instantly got upset.

  “Nope, you’re right; you don’t. But there’s a huge surprise waiting for you.”

  “What is it?” I sat up so quickly I got dizzy.

  “Can’t tell you.” She winked. Helping me get dressed and into my wheelchair, she pushed me out of my room.

  “You know what it is, don’t you?” I asked her.

  “Yup!” She smiled at me.

  “And so do I,” another nurse said.

  They were both so happy. I was so excited. It was so nice they were doing something for me. And my day got even better.

  “What are you doing here?” I tried to get up after spotting him from down the hall, but I was too weak to stand.

  “I wanted to say happy birthday! I told you I would stop by!” Chris said while giving me a fist pump. “What, did you think I would forget?”

  “I thought you would have come earlier. I thought you weren’t coming. Isn’t it almost game time? Shouldn’t you be there already? What time is it?” I tried to find a clock.

  “Oh, that. Yeah, you’re coming with me.”

  I looked up at him, then at Danielle. I was confused.

  “But I can’t; Zoe said I’m too sick to go to any games.” I sulked and looked down at my feet. “And who would I sit with?”

  “Well,” Chris knelt down next to me. “Dr. Sheehan is a really cool doctor, and she said you are okay to go! What the doctor says goes, right?” He smiled.

  “That’s right, Gabe. I don’t think a few hours will hurt. I’m going to go with you to make sure you are okay! It’s going to be a fun night.”

  “Is this for real? Like, I’m not dreaming?” I hit myself in the forehead.

  “Yes, Gabe, this is for real,” Chris said with a little laughter in his voice.

  “Oh my God, this is so exciting! I’m going to my first game! I’ll get to see you play for real!” I couldn’t stop saying it.

  “Well, come on, I’ve got to get to the arena! Let’s go, bud!”

  Danielle pushed my wheelchair out of the hospital and hooked me up to a small IV that we could easily attach to the wheelchair.

  This is going to be the best birthday I’ve ever had!

  {33}

  Christian

  “We are definitely going to the arena, right?” Gabe sat anxiously in the back seat.

  “Unless you want to go somewhere else?” I looked back at him through the rearview mirror.

  “Nope. I’m good.”

  “I figured.” Laughing, I made the turn to the arena.

  “Wow! Look at all of the people walking in!” His eyes were wide with curiosity and excitement. He didn’t even know half of what his day was going to entail.

  I reached underneath my jacket, and my fingers latched onto the chain I opened earlier. If only James was here to witness all of this. I know he would have taken just as much of a liking to Gabe as I have. Being able to give Gabe a night like tonight very much resembled something that James would have done for me.

  When we got out of the car, Danielle and I put Gabe in the wheelchair and made sure he was comfortable. We parked in the back so we could enter by the locker rooms. This way we wouldn’t risk anyone who may know Zoe seeing Gabe, or worse, seeing Zoe before it was the right time.

  “So where are our seats? Does Zoe know I’m here?”

  “No, she doesn’t. This is a surprise for her too. But your seats, well, you have the best seat in the house.” I winked.

  “Where’s that?” Gabe’s eyes lit up with pure joy.

  “You’ll see. First we have to make a pit stop to the locker room.”

  “The locker room? We are going to the locker room?” Gabe yelled and almost jumped out of his wheelchair. His reaction was priceless. Emotions ran through me like a wildfire. I looked at Gabe and realized I cared more about him than I did my own self. He was family to me now.

  “Oh my God. I’m going in the locker room. Will the whole team be in there?” I nodded. “Oh my God. I’m going in the locker room.” Gabe whispered to himself over and over again. Danielle and I looked at each other, and the two of us could hardly contain our laughter.

  “Are you ready?” I looked down at Gabe. He looked a little nervous as we got closer.

  “Yes! But wait, sorry, Danielle. I don’t think you can come in. Boys only.”

  “Yes, I’ll wait right out here!” Danielle chuckled.

  “Hey, before we go in there, I want to give you something.” I choked up a bit.

  “What’s that?”

  I reached around the back of my neck, and my trembling thumbs tried to unhook the clasp to my chain.

  “Here, why don’t I help you?” Danielle took notice to the emotions that were becoming hard to control. Placing it in my hand, I bent down next to Gabe.

  “This…this I just got as a gift, and now I want to give it to you.” I stared down at the palm of my hand.

  “But if it was given to you, why are you giving it to me?” he questioned.

  “It is very special to me, and I want you to take good care of it.”

  I looked at Gabe and smiled.

  “This was given to me by my brother, and now it’s yours.”

  “Your brother? You have a brother?”

  “I did. You know how you told me your Daddy is in heaven?” Gabe nodded. “Well, my brother is there with him. I know he would want you to have it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I nodded.

  “Wow.”

  We remained silent for a few moments while Gabe examined the chain. Danielle turned away and wiped her eyes.

  “Can you put it on me?”

  “I would love to.” I stood up and wrapped it around his neck. “What do you say? Time to go meet all the guys?” I tried to change the momentum.

  “Yes! I’m ready!”

  I opened the door, and all of the guys stood there and giving Gabe a welcome he will never forget. One of my teammates was holding a balloon, and Matt was holding a jersey we had designed just for him to wear. After explaining to Matt what was going on, we were able to put our differences behind us.

  “We’ve been waiting all day for you!” Matt yelled.

  “This is awesome!” Gabe said while looking up at me. My heart was beating out of my chest. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. But my nerves for seeing how Zoe would react disappeared. This is going to be perfect. There’s no way something could go wrong now.

  “So we have something for you. We had this made especially for you to wear tonight.” Matt turned the jersey around, and it had Gabe’s name on the back. “How would you like to be a part of the team today?”

  “Are you serious? Is he serious?” Gabe looked back up at me. “Are you serious?” he repeated quietly.

  “So serious!” I put my hand on his shoulder.

  “Give me that jersey!” The guys laughed and all smiled.

  “So where is my new player?” Coach Higgins walked into the locker room.

  “Are you ready to be a Saint for the day?” He shook Gabe’s hand.

  “Yes! Thank you!” He toned his excitement down a notch, maybe out of nervousness from being in the presence of the coach. He could be a little intimidating.

  “No need to thank me. We are so glad to have you here with us today. And happy birthday! How old are you now?”

  “I’m nine! Next year I’ll be in the double digits!”

  “Happy birt
hday!” One of my teammates walked over and gave Gabe a high five.

  “Thank you!” His smile got wider.

  “Hey, kiddo. So glad to have you with us today! Happy birthday!” Another teammate gave him a fist pump.

  One by one they each made their way over to individually speak with him. Watching Gabe in this moment was like watching his sickness slip out from underneath his skin and float up into the sky. The inner demon that was slowly killing him seemed to completely disappear. He was full of life for the first time since I met him.

  {34}

  Gabe

  My wheelchair was parked in the corner of the locker room. I watched as the guys put their good sneakers on and got ready for the game. Some, after talking to me, put headphones in. There was so much green and gold in here. It was even better than I imagined it would look.

  I went to scratch my neck, and my finger touched the new necklace Chris gave me. It was so nice. He was sitting next to me on the floor stretching. I looked down at him and thought about how sad it must make him that his brother is in heaven like my dad.

  “Taking it all in?” he asked.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Ask away!” He reached his hand down to his toes.

  “Do you think your brother knows my dad?”

  He just stared at me when I asked.

  “You know, since they’re both in heaven?”

  “I bet they do.”

  “Was your brother as cool as you? Because if I go to heaven, Zoe said I’ll get to meet my dad, so maybe I’ll get to meet your brother too.” Knowing that all of these people were in heaven made me feel better. I was scared I would be alone but now I know I won’t be.

  “What are you talking about? Christian is far from being cool.” His teammate Matt sat down next to me, laughing.

  When I woke up this morning I didn't think my day would be like this. I didn’t think I would be spending my birthday with my favorite team. This birthday is awesome!

  “Thank you for the best birthday present ever!” I thanked Chris.

  “It was my idea.” Matt said, and Chris hit him. “No, it was his idea. He’s really nice, isn’t he?”

  “He’s my best friend,” I agreed with Matt, and for some reason he looked like he was going to cry.

  “When am I going to see Zoe? I can’t wait to show her my jersey!” I asked.

  “She’s meeting us down here in just a few minutes! Do you think she’ll be excited?”

  “Oh, yes! She’ll probably be so excited to see me!”

  “I hope she won’t be mad.” Christian said.

  “Tell her to suck it up if she is.”

  A few minutes later after listening to Coach Higgins talk to the team, we were headed out of the locker room. Chris was pushing me behind everybody. It was almost game time.

  “Okay, so are you okay? You’re going to be going out on the court with all of us,” he asked me.

  “I’m okay. I won’t be nervous,” I lied. I wasn’t a little kid anymore. I could handle it.

  We entered into the hallway behind the arena, and that’s when I spotted Zoe.

  I looked up at Chris as soon as we saw her because he stopped walking. He looked so nervous, but he smiled so big. You could tell that he liked her a lot by the way he looked at her. I think he may even love her.

  “Zoe!” I shouted and waved to her anxiously.

  This is the best day ever! I didn’t want the night to end.

  {35}

  Zoe

  I looked at my phone. It was almost game time. So far I’ve answered the phone once. Wrong number. Of course. I couldn’t be any more bored. By now all of my nail polish was chipped off into a small pile on the desk in front of me. I had my grocery list and my to-do list for school written out, and I read through today’s paper.

  I don’t even know why it’s necessary that I am up here. Who is going to call during the game? Why wouldn’t they just go to the customer service booth or call the box office? What was the point of me being here?

  My cell phone rang.

  “Ugh, it’s so boring up here. Please tell me you’re coming up here!”

  “No, but we need you down here by the locker room, like, ASAP.” Emily said frantically.

  “I don’t think I can leave.” I was confused.

  “Yes, you can. I was given specific orders to tell you.”

  “Oh, that’s weird. What do you need me for?”

  “I’m not exactly sure, but I’m headed there now. She said that gray door by the bathroom in the office leads to a hallway that will bring you down here. It’s a quicker way, so just go down those stairs, I guess.”

  “Okay, I’ll hang up and be right down.”

  “Okay, hurry!”

  By the locker room. Does this mean I’ll see Christian?

  My hands were trembling, and my entire original plan of what I wanted to say to him went flying out the window. I wouldn’t be able to talk to him now anyway. But even if I was, even if for some odd chance I would be able to, I would probably be too nervous. I should have written it all down to give to him instead.

  Rushing through the office, I found the gray door she was talking about. It really was a much quicker way. I wonder why I've never noticed this before. I was going down the stairs so fast I almost slipped and fell. It sounded urgent, and I didn't want to make my boss mad. Turning around the corner toward the locker room, I stood still. I couldn’t breathe. It felt like my chest was going to explode. I closed my eyes.

  My feet were stuck to the ground beneath me. I was frozen. Re-opening my eyes slowly, I confirmed that I was indeed really seeing this. It wasn't just a hallucination from being dehydrated. I wasn't going crazy.

  “What are you doing here?” I yelled to Gabe, and I walked, well, ran toward him and Christian.

  In that moment I forgot Christian was standing there with Gabe. The look on Gabe’s face said it all. I have never seen him this way before. Happiness was drawn all over his face.

  I got anxious, and it hit me. What is going on? I thought.

  “I’m a Saint for the day! How awesome is this? Best birthday ever!” Gabe exclaimed loudly.

  I knelt down next to him and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

  “I love you, buddy.” I was teary eyed. I know how I’m feeling right now, so I can’t even begin to imagine how he is feeling, but I have a pretty good guess.

  “Look at this!” Gabe held up a chain that laid on his chest. “He gave this to me too. His brother gave this to him. His brother is in heaven with Daddy.”

  I stood up and made eye contact with Christian for the first time in weeks.

  “What is all of this? Is this what you couldn’t tell me?” I whispered.

  “Sort of, yeah. We aren’t finished yet.” Christian smirked and looked over at Danielle.

  “You knew about this too?”

  “Yes, I did. The entire staff did, actually!” she smiled.

  “It’s good to see you,” I said to Christian.

  “You too, but we can talk later. Gabe, are you ready?”

  “Ready for…” He looked up at Christian with a huge grin.

  “For the game! Let’s go!” Christian pushed Gabe toward the tunnel to get onto the court. The team was jumping up and down to their entrance music that was playing.

  “Zoe, follow us.” He looked back at me. I stood there in shock, still trying to process what was going on. I couldn’t even get a word in before the team ran out, and before I knew it, we were on the edge of the court.

  The arena was packed. I don’t think there was an empty seat, and we haven’t had a sell-out game all season. Before I was finished looking around at my surroundings, the lights went out.

  “Okay, so they’re going to call me out there, and then you’ll know what to do.” He whispered in my ear.

  Christian proceeded to go out to the center of the court where he met his parents for Senior Recognition Day. Coach Higgins recognized him along with the
Director of Athletics for all of the success he has brought to the Saints during his career on the team. The announcer handed him a microphone and everyone but Christian walked off of the court.

  Is this all a dream? I couldn’t figure out how this all happened right under my nose.

  “Thank you, Siena fans, for all of the support these last four years. It’s been an amazing ride, and I couldn’t do it without all of you. As much as I appreciate everyone coming here for senior night, tonight is not my night. We’re all here tonight for a special friend of mine.”

  Christian looked over at us. Even though he was far away, I could see how much he cared for Gabe. The love radiated off of him and was visible in his voice.

  “My buddy Gabe is here, and today is his birthday. At just nine years old, he’s been suffering from an aggressive form of leukemia for a few years now. So today, we are all here to give him the biggest birthday party he’s ever had. I want to thank everyone who helped plan this or came out to celebrate with us! Up until right now, he and his sister—my girlfriend,”

  Girlfriend. He said girlfriend. I can’t even breathe right now. Staring over at Christian, the only thoughts going through my mind right now is how could I have gotten this lucky to have him in my life…how were Gabe and I so lucky?

  “They had no idea about any of this. So today, Gabe is not only getting the biggest surprise party of his life, but he’s going to be a Saint for the day. So come on, everyone! Let’s all cheer him on! Everyone, welcome Gabe Gingras!”

  The crowd went insane. Everything remained dark, and a spotlight was the only form of light. Soon the quiet arena filled with a booming applause and cheers. Lacey walked over to center court, and Christian handed her the microphone.

  “Hi, everyone! If anyone doesn’t know me, my name is Lacey, and I’m the cheer captain for the Saints. When Chris came to me with this idea and asked to get me on board to present it to Athletics, I couldn’t refuse. I met a lot of you at the doors today, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your support. In conjunction to this being his party, we also decided to help his family. As most of you know, medical treatments can be very costly. Everything we’ve raised will go directly toward Gabe’s medical care. We don’t have an exact total yet, but we are estimating that from tonight and in the weeks prior we’ve raised a total of over $100,000!”