Healing Melody Read Online Free

the elevator, I use my crutches to make the long journey down the corridor to Max’s room. I don’t know how I’m going to face him, knowing I failed him. When I enter the room, I see my older sister, Layla, standing by his bed. She glances at the brace on my right leg and immediately knows I lost the fight. Her face darkens with sadness. I hobble over to the bed. With his eyes half closed, and his face pale white, Max looks at me and tries to smile.  
    “How’s my little tiger?” I say, touching his cold hand.
    “Did you beat him, Dad?” he softly asks, his voice as weak as a whisper.
    I can’t tell him the truth: That his father has let him down.  
    “You bet I did,” I lie, forcing a smile.  
    Layla, who stayed with Max while I was at the fight, looks at me with caring eyes.  
    “He refused to go to sleep until you came back,” she says. She then gently squeezes my shoulder.
    “I knew you’d beat him,” Max murmurs, struggling to keep his eyes open. “You’re the toughest guy on the planet.”
    I have to use all my willpower to keep from crying right there in front of my boy. It requires more strength than the fight I was just in. I take a deep breath and nod.  
    “You know it, Tiger.”
    “Dad, when am I going to leave the hospital? I’ve been here forever.”
    “Soon,” I reply. “We just need to make sure you get all better.” I gently squeeze his small hand. He’s so delicate. His arms, razor thin.
    “Why’s it taking so long?” he asks, looking up at me.
    I’m at a loss for words. I look at Layla. I can tell she doesn’t know what to say either. How do you explain to a five year old boy that he’s sick and we’re doing everything we can to make him feel better, but it might not be enough? I look into my son’s weary, young eyes and sigh. “Max, you know how sometimes we go out for ice cream, and you like to try all the different flavors to see which one you like?”
    Max nods.
    “Well, that’s what the doctors are doing with your medicine. They’re trying to find a medicine that your body likes. It’s just taking a little while, but we’ll find it. I promise you.”
    I’m on the verge of tears, but I force myself to keep them at bay. I smile at my boy as I gently run my hand over his head.
    “I miss mom,” Max utters softly.  
    Layla and I share a silent glance. I don’t know what to say. The beeping sound from the monitor resting near Max’s bed echoes throughout the room. Max hasn’t seen his mother in over three years. She abandoned him. The pressure of being a single mom while I was away fighting in the Middle East was too much for her to bear. To cope, she began drinking and doing drugs. When I returned home from my last tour of duty, I saw the destructive state she was in. I told her she needed help, but she refused to seek treatment. Then one night, she disappeared. Max and I haven’t seen her since.
    “Honey, you just focus on getting better,” says Layla. She caresses Max’s thin arm. The illness has consumed his fragile body.
    Since Max’s mom left him, my sister Layla has stepped in to help me. “Now remember what you promised me,” she reminds Max. “When your daddy came back, you promised you’d go to sleep. Time to rest those tired eyes, sweetie.”
    “Tigers need their rest, Son.” I tell him that every night at bedtime.  
    “Okay,” Max says quietly.
    He offers me a soft smile and closes his eyes. Within seconds, he’s fast asleep.
    Layla looks at me and whispers, “Let’s step outside.”
    I follow her into the hallway with my crutches.
    “He’s getting so thin,” I mutter once we’re outside the room.
    My sister nods. We remain silent as people race back and forth down the corridor.
    Then Layla finally speaks. “I think you should try and find Monique.”
    I look at her dumbfounded. “Are you kidding me?”
    My sister shakes her head. “She has a right to know.”
    “No, she doesn’t,” I snap, loudly.
    Layla sighs and