The word kept bouncing around Rick's head, and his mind flashed on times whenever his parents got sick. His mom once had to stay overnight in the hospital, and he kept remembering all of the needles, the IV bags, the whole sterility of the place. He tried to picture Alex there, but he couldn't. He couldn't picture bright, vibrant, everything was fine Alex in there.
It was like two pictures that did not mesh well together. He couldn't see it, no matter how much he tried, and he looked down at his head, his tongue thick in his mouth, threatening to coke him if he didn't speak.
"What...what is it?" he finally asked, stumbling only once. He needed to be strong. Alex needed him. He had to be strong.