The Son Goes Down - Chapter 2

Doug was taken aback…why would they ask him this? “Five foot six…why would you ask that?” he replied. The nurse nodded…and acknowledged it was an odd question. They weren’t certain yet but they feared Scott had contracted a very rare virus, one seen in only a few people around the world. They knew very little about it and it had stumped doctors where ever it had been seen. “Scott will look a little different” she warned. “When we measured him during patient intake he was exactly 5’0”. I’m sorry but it seems that Scott is shrinking.”

Scott stood at the nurse’s station, dumbfounded by the words he’d just heard. People don’t just shrink. Well maybe as they get older but not when they’re only 19 years old. The nurse called for the attending physician and told Doug the room number for Scott. It was a private room just down the hall…the doctor would meet him there.

Upon entering the dimly lit room, Doug could make out a small figure in the bed. This can’t be Scott, he thought. He moved closer and sat in the lounge chair next to the bed. Scott was sleeping and looked so peaceful, despite the IV, wires and flat-screen behind him that monitored his vital signs. Scott looked the same but yet different…smaller…almost younger, thought Doug. He took his hand in his and watched it disappear. Stirring from sleep, Scott grabbed onto his stepdad’s thumb and wrapped his small fingers around it. “Hi dad” he whispered.