Give Yourself A Chance

“Mateo?” I asked from outside the door after knocking two times. “It’s me, Arianna.”

I was about to knock again because I did not hear any response for a few minutes but then Mateo said, “Come in.”

So I got in and immediately my eyes darted to the boy sitting on the hospital bed. He looked so small in his white hospital gown. There was an infusion tube on one of his hands and underneath his eyes were huge black bags. Those eyes reverted back to the television screen across his bed. He was watching the news.  

He couldn’t sleep, I thought.