Tom nodded. “Of course! I have loads of vacation time saved up, I could probably take a week paid and a week unpaid off, no harm, no foul. I’ll put in the request as soon as I can,” he smiled, his hand finding Gerald’s before looking back to the doctor.

“I’m afraid so. At least for the time being. You’ll have to come back for appointments here and there for us to check on the functionality of your lungs, and hopefully you can be rid of the oxygen for most of the day and only need it at nighttime. You’ll be asked to start physical therapy exercises first at home, then later on at an outpatient facility. It’s all outlined in your discharge paperwork.”

Tom looked back at Gerald, his eyes immediately meeting the other’s. “Hey, hey. It’s going to be alright. I’ll be right by your side, okay? We’ll get through this together.”