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Description
    "Hey, Alex!" Josh said playfully as he sat next to his brother on the white bed. Of course, no response, just a simple mumbled cry. This was an odd visit because their parent's were actually visiting Josh along with him. Their mother would accompany Josh in his little chats with Alex ever so often,but his father hadn't ever entered his room and simply waited in the lobby of the hospital.

     "Hello, Alex," his mother said in a small voice. She loved both of her sons,but she saw Alex differently now, he was like a shell of a human. She had forced her husband to see Alex because she was going to make this Josh's last visit to Alex. At least for a while. She found in unhealthy for Josh to be visiting him so much and she knew he wouldn't come to. It had been five years. Josh was already a teenager and was becoming a man. She loved Alex,but she didn't want Josh's idol to be him. She hadn't broken the news to Josh,but she needed to and soon.

     Adam mumbled out an emotionless greeting and leaned against the wall farthest from Alex. Josh began going on about his day to his brother about what had happened the past week. About the bike he was planning on getting and about how Joey had tried to ask a girl out. He also talked about how he was a nervous wreck about starting high school, even though his summer break had just started. The minutes flew by as he ignored his parents and went on and on about his week and before he knew it, the half and hour visit had come to an end.

    "We have to go, Josh." his mother mumbled quietly.

     "We can come back next week, right?" Josh said hopefully, knowing that he had to show Alex the flashlight. The doctor once told him that certain items or memories could trigger Alex's mind and he wasn't going to give up on his brother. Maybe he could show it to him next week.

     "No, Josh, I'm sorry, b-but-" Lillian spoke in a kind tone.

      "Why?" Josh choked tears back in a whiny tone.

       "Because..." his mother began,but was cut off by Adam's booming voice.

        "He isn't going to change son, he's gone forever. And he is never coming back," his tone was cold and cruel. It sent rage through Josh's body.

        "Shut up!" He screamed "You don't know that! You and mom may not care about him,but I do! And I'll do anything to help him!" Josh was going to continue ranting,but Adam's glare of pure fury stopped him in his tracks.

       "Shut your mouth!" Adam's voice boomed as he slapped and grabbed Josh, shaking him violently. In this confrontation, three nurses and a doctor came to see what all the ruckus was about,but more importantly, the flashlight fell out of Josh's pocket.

       While the nurses got the Shepherd family under control, Alex picked up the flashlight and turned it on. He flashed it in his eyes and somehow his mind seemed to snap into place. He looked over and stared directly into Josh's eyes. "Josh?" he stared into the familiar dark brown eyes. Of course, he had changed from what his brother remembered, but he would recognize his brother even if he hadn't seen him for fifty years. He slowly walked towards the younger boy and tightly embraced him. "Josh..." he uttered softly.

          "Alex..." his brother replied. Although they didn't say anything else at that moment, just saying each others names was enough for them to understand that they missed each other so very much.

Description
    "Hey, Alex!" Josh said playfully as he sat next to his brother on the white bed. Of course, no response, just a simple mumbled cry. This was an odd visit because their parent's were actually visiting Josh along with him. Their mother would accompany Josh in his little chats with Alex ever so often,but his father hadn't ever entered his room and simply waited in the lobby of the hospital.

     "Hello, Alex," his mother said in a small voice. She loved both of her sons,but she saw Alex differently now, he was like a shell of a human. She had forced her husband to see Alex because she was going to make this Josh's last visit to Alex. At least for a while. She found in unhealthy for Josh to be visiting him so much and she knew he wouldn't come to. It had been five years. Josh was already a teenager and was becoming a man. She loved Alex,but she didn't want Josh's idol to be him. She hadn't broken the news to Josh,but she needed to and soon.

     Adam mumbled out an emotionless greeting and leaned against the wall farthest from Alex. Josh began going on about his day to his brother about what had happened the past week. About the bike he was planning on getting and about how Joey had tried to ask a girl out. He also talked about how he was a nervous wreck about starting high school, even though his summer break had just started. The minutes flew by as he ignored his parents and went on and on about his week and before he knew it, the half and hour visit had come to an end.

    "We have to go, Josh." his mother mumbled quietly.

     "We can come back next week, right?" Josh said hopefully, knowing that he had to show Alex the flashlight. The doctor once told him that certain items or memories could trigger Alex's mind and he wasn't going to give up on his brother. Maybe he could show it to him next week.

     "No, Josh, I'm sorry, b-but-" Lillian spoke in a kind tone.

      "Why?" Josh choked tears back in a whiny tone.

       "Because..." his mother began,but was cut off by Adam's booming voice.

        "He isn't going to change son, he's gone forever. And he is never coming back," his tone was cold and cruel. It sent rage through Josh's body.

        "Shut up!" He screamed "You don't know that! You and mom may not care about him,but I do! And I'll do anything to help him!" Josh was going to continue ranting,but Adam's glare of pure fury stopped him in his tracks.

       "Shut your mouth!" Adam's voice boomed as he slapped and grabbed Josh, shaking him violently. In this confrontation, three nurses and a doctor came to see what all the ruckus was about,but more importantly, the flashlight fell out of Josh's pocket.

       While the nurses got the Shepherd family under control, Alex picked up the flashlight and turned it on. He flashed it in his eyes and somehow his mind seemed to snap into place. He looked over and stared directly into Josh's eyes. "Josh?" he stared into the familiar dark brown eyes. Of course, he had changed from what his brother remembered, but he would recognize his brother even if he hadn't seen him for fifty years. He slowly walked towards the younger boy and tightly embraced him. "Josh..." he uttered softly.

          "Alex..." his brother replied. Although they didn't say anything else at that moment, just saying each others names was enough for them to understand that they missed each other so very much.