The doctor exited the room, and I sat on the small couch for it seemed like a lifetime. I looked at Ashley, lying there with tubes coming out of her connected to all sort of machines. I just wondered if we were going to have a life together or not.

                All of a sudden there was a knock on the door; it was Brooke, my cousin. She walked in and sat down next to me, she rubbed my back while I cried for Ashley, hoping she was going to be alright.

                After a long while, she finally spoke, “Spencer, you and Ashley are closer than friends, right?” You could have heard a pin drop when she asked that question.

                I sat up and looked at Brooke, I lowered my head and replied, “I…well I have deep feelings for her, but she does not know, I was going to tell her when I returned back home to LA. I had decided that no matter what happened I was going to tell her the truth, that I love her more than as a friend. I hope you aren’t ashamed of me, but Brooke…I am …gay, I can now finally say it aloud.”

                Brooke just looked at me; I could feel that she too was relieved in some way as if she was the one holding back all these years. Brooke was indeed Rose’s daughter because she had the same characteristics like appreciation, thoughtfulness and compassion. She was too a beautiful woman.

                Brooke spoke, “It is okay Spencer, I understand, I…I mean my mom is gay, even if she doesn’t want me to know. The way Peyton looked at her and especially the way they acted toward each other since Dad left. I knew there was more than a nurse patient relationship there. I love her and you the way you are, no matter what anyone else thinks.”

                Spencer was glad to hear that Brooke accepted her but now she had to convince herself that Ashley wouldn’t be disappointed by her pronouncement, and as soon as Ashley was aware of her surroundings, then she would tell her.

                The door opened as the cousins were embracing each other, and they both jumped back. Doctor Lockhart walked in and was startled to see someone else in the room. She was accustomed to Spencer being the only visitor for her patient. As Spencer introduced Brooke to Ashley’s doctor, Brooke turned around and they looked at each other rather distinctly I noticed. The doctor stood back a little with a look on her face as though Brooke was a lost love of some sort, and Brooke had the same expression on her face. As they were getting acquainted with each other, I excused myself and went down the hall to the restroom. The scene I witnessed when I returned to Ashley’s room was unforgettable. I looked past the door that I noticed was almost shut and then I saw something that shocked the hell out of me.