July 1, 2001.

  Billy focused his gaze closely, not far from a nearby siged by a car, which erched in the distance seeking an answer. He sace hidden behind Billy's sad eyes, still processing the correformation, the fear... a new fear, the fear of death, a fear that brought an uable obsession. His mother, as pure as she was, was a noblewoma, always cheerful, and sought to help the people around her... She had a problem with football, food, and clothing... but she also had a problem with parties, she loved to celebrate them, just as she loved to watch the stars from the window, even if invisible, she observed them with brilliant delight. She hated the cold and cherished everything natural.

  While listening to some alk, the songs memorized themselves one by oh a certain panic, all the sad songs came to his memory like arrows, and raindrops awakening the movement of the city of Liverpool. It was 2:00 pm, the exact time for his medie, the precise moment to soothe the pain c through his body. His whole body burned, especially his chest, which ached with the pain of broken ribs, just as his head hurt, as did his legs and his eyes.

  -Mr. Carson, I brought the medie, - said the doctor, stepping closer and seeing the plexity in the boy's defeated gaze. In words and whispers, he accepted the whole situation with a sudden joy and a fear of the unknown. The boy seemed to be a great teenage singer, with cameras gathering around him as others came together to learn about everything that had happened. Some nurses were offered a hundred pounds for any relevant information.

  -Thank you, doctor. I'm afraid the pain is still present, and at times I 't move perfectly, - said Billy.

  -Hoake the pill a for a while. You're sleepy. Just like me, I'm exhausted by everything that has happehe hospital has bee chaotic, you too... sleep, my child, - said the sweet nurse Hughes, who, despite being the head nurse and always trying to be tough on people, had a heart as tender and fresh as a child's. Seeing the face of the little orphan, her heart told her only to care for the boy with all her love, with affe, dedication, and passion.

  Billy took his pill, but sleep did not e. Just as his ces for rest also became apparent.

  ***

  Jerry arrived around three-thirty. After such a pleasaing and seeing the ges taking p the pany, and the blow, he o quell the doubts. Maiations were so present that he could still ee them: clothing ercials, food ercials, sports ercials, scheduled certs, tour programs, interview calls, notes, and so many others that only made Jerry's head explode, with the eternal displeasure his heart faced.

  -Thanks, I'll proceed with caution, - said Jerry.

  His path was to another frontation with Billy. This time, he had to prepare the boy mentally. Walking through the whitewashed corridors of the hospital, he sighed with the tranquility so needed in the regur hospitals that received all kinds of emergencies.

  -Excuse me, you refer me to the head of the hospital, Mr. Alfonso? We have a busio build together, and I'd prefer it to be quick, - said Jerry.

  -Unfortunately, no... but you go to administration and request what you need, - said the woman at the ter, nurse Valr.

  Jerry sighed and made his way in search of the much-desired Alfonso. He got within two steps of an administrative arting to hate this hospital, though.

  -Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm Jerry, and I have a request regarding my t, Mr. Billy Carson, - said Jerry.

  -Of course, I am fully aware of everything that's happening, - said the head nurse, in charge of administrative affairs.

  Jerry looked down the hall, calming his thoughts. He didn't want to be here; he felt somewhat suffocated in an unusual way. He let out a deep sigh, almost using his voi a simple note of power, g air, in a curious way. He struck the e against the desk.

  -I would like the boy to have a psychologist or some help to vent. I want to know at least his mental state, I want to know everything necessary to help him. I hire a specialized professional, or perhaps you have someone in charge who handle all situations, - said Jerry.

  The nurse, with her hair in a ponytail and a light hat, is in an imagined p her light blue uniform.

  -We have a health professional who take care of that job, but there's a small fee, for the associated work. We have a pn for seven to eight sessions over the few weeks, - said the head nurse.

  -I'll pay, but my boy leaves in two weeks, so schedule the sessions every two days, - said Jerry, with a frown, and although he didn't notice, his presence was anding. Despite not wearing his elegant clothes, he visited with an open wool jacket and a beach shirt without buttons, his voice owerful, in a way that couldn't be ignored.

  -Thank you. -

  ***

  -Boy. - Jerry ented.

  -Old Jerry. - said the boy.

  -It hasn't ged us at all. - Jerry said, knowing the deep meaning of his words, always carrying a subtext.

  -or called. He's more down than I am. He asked if I had new songs. - Billy smiled.

  Putting down the book in his hands, the pile of twelve books was all there. Only musid reading simply calmed his mind. Many times, reading only mattered for from the menu or reading news about himself, the kind that provided requested updates.

  -I'll bring a cell phoh an iional line so you call anyone. Some people, the band want to talk to you, and Joe Daniels, the vocalist of Local H, regrets your loss and says you'll always have a p Chicago. - Jerry said.

  -Did Joe say that? - Billy asked, raising his head.

  -He did. You always t on those two. Though arrogant aic, they're all good people once you strip away the bad parts. - Jerry ented.

  -Thanks, Mr. Jerry. Here, I have everything you need. In it, there are two special things. I have all the songs; I'd like you to take all the forms and publish them in my name. you do that? - Billy asked, handing over a stack of papers, closer thahought, each with great titles.

  -Sure, I'll give you the request… and show you the dot that credits you with the chts. Just hand them over, kid. - Jerry ented.

  -Thanks, old man. I feel like having beef empanadas, with hot sauce, and house sauce. Also, if you bring a big steak, I'm disappointed with the food here. I crave the Latin seasoning my mom used to cook. How about a trip to eat the day after I get out? - Billy asked.

  -I do that, and I bring some meat, sagna. This is a hospital, not a prison, as long as it's not something forbidden like alcohol. - Jerry ented.

  -Spill it, old man. - Billy said, looking straight at Jerry. On his nightstand, he leaned over his shoulders with some displeasure and started reading different literature books, starting with Harry Potter, a cliché he was willing to enjoy.

  -The record pany requests that as soon as you recover, we use the media to sell products. We have a call from Vans so endorse, along with Quicksilver and other brands. We chose everything iail, but we have a small store of handmade leather jackets. They're of good quality, only giving collector's pieces, no payment, but their gifts are well received. - Jerry ented.

  -I'll take the ercials. I guess nothing matters anymore. Yeah, old ma's do it. Besides, I want a girlfriend, they say, women - Billy ented.

  Taking note of everything that happehe bomb dropped.

  -They want to film your mother's funeral. They say if you look sad, we'll sell more. - Jerry ereading on eggshells, saying it so abruptly.

  -You don't have to do it if you don't want to, but I want you to know that they'll py dirty for us. It's painful, but you have to swallow it all. I'll support you, just decide it with all your heart. - Jerry ented.

  -What is the record pany willing to give me? - Billy asked, ging the subjeow everyone wao use him, so what would he gain?

  ...