The long nights were always the worst for the young boy, and this evening was no exception.

This night brought shadows: thick, black gloom covering his room in utter darkness. Death was beckoning, coming closer by the moment. It surrounded his bed, trying to cut off his life from the world of the living.

Though covered with a feverish sweat, the boy shivered violently. He thrashed his head from side to side on his drenched pillow. The boy was a fighter. He'd fought off death before during other long nights, only to have his illness attack him again. It was a vicious cycle that seemed to have only one conclusion.

Tonight was different, though. It was worse than ever. He tried to call his nurse, but he was too weak and couldn't lift his withered arms to click the call button. He felt his life being sucked out. The darkness pushed down in a suffocating, final embrace.

He began to cry, but it was no louder than a whisper. He just wanted to see his parents again, to see their faces once more.

Just once more. Please, please... please?

But the darkness tightened even more, and he felt the end was coming.

"It's all right, Joey."

Through the gloom, the boy saw Artemis now stood beside his bed. Suddenly, he could breathe again.

"Artemis... I'm dying!" he cried.

Artemis dipped a washcloth in a basin of cool water and swabbed the boy's head. "No, Joey," he said. "You're going to see your parents tomorrow. How about that?"

"I will?" Joey asked.

"Yes, you will," Artemis said.

As Joey studied Artemis's gentle face, waves of calm flowed through his ravaged body. Artemis was his friend, and when he was around there was always a feeling of peace. Especially at night, like now.

Artemis stayed with Joey until his breathing slowed to normal and the boy had finally fallen into a deep, restful sleep.

The next morning, in the corner of the hospital's consultation room, a young couple huddled together in desperation. They sat across the table from a grim-looking man wearing a white lab coat. He looked at the couple, slowly shaking his head.

"Steve... Kate. There’s nothing else we can do for Joey. The cancer has spread throughout his body." He waited for a moment, allowing his words to sink in. "The final stages are quickly accelerating. You should take Joey home while he still has some quality of life..." At a loss for words, the doctor’s voice trailed off. "I'm sorry."

Despite knowing that this day was coming, the couple was still devastated by the sad news. Medical science had done all that was possible for their son.

Steve stared at the floor, holding his head in his hands. Though weary and numb after five long years of hopelessness, he managed to pull himself together to help his family through this darkest of times. Reaching out, he stroked his wife's hair and spoke softly.

"Thank you, Doctor," he said. "We'll find a nurse and prepare Joey."

Kate nodded absently as her husband guided her from the room.

The doctor stood, glancing down at his trembling hands. No matter how many times in his career he’d told parents their child was dying, he’d never gotten used to it. He locked the door and then walked to the window. Staring out, he sighed deeply.

Holding hands, the young couple followed the quiet corridor toward Joey's room. Opened doors revealed sleeping children hooked up to monitors and breathing apparatus. An oppressive feeling filled the pediatric ward.

Outside Joey's room, Artemis slowly pushed a utility cart. Smiling as the couple approached, he saw the looks on their faces. He lost his grin, nodding as they came close. He couldn't help but notice the look in the woman's eyes as she dabbed them with a tissue. When Joey's parents entered the room, he lowered his head, then pushed the cart into a closet and disappeared down the corridor.

An hour later, with Joey carefully bundled up and carried by his father, the family left the hospital. They drove off in their pickup truck. It was midmorning and the sunshine was a brilliant, golden light.

Joey was awake, watching the road, the trees, and the sky. He hadn't been outdoors in a long time and was enjoying the break from his routine. Looking at his parents and their tight expressions, he knew something was wrong. But being seven years old, he didn't understand much of the grownup world. Pain had been his teacher. That, he understood too well.

Staring out the window, Kate noticed the elderly man who’d been outside Joey's room, walking slowly along the road.

"There's Artemis, from the hospital. Think he needs a ride?" she asked.

Steve slowed the pickup onto the road's shoulder and stopped, then hopped out of the cab. "Howdy, Artemis."

The old man smiled. "Well, hello there."

"Figured we could give you a lift," Steve said.

"That's very nice, but I usually walk home. I don't wish to impose," Artemis said.

"Not at all. Besides, I'm sure Joey would like to see you again." Steve gestured to the back of the truck. "With Joey lying down up front there’s not much room, but there's padding in the flat bed. How far's your house?"

"Couple miles up the road," Artemis said.

Steve nodded. "It's settled, then."

Steve opened the tailgate, and was surprised at Artemis' quickness as he hopped aboard. Climbing back in the cab, Steve opened the rear window.

"My name's Steve and this is my wife, Kate. Of course, you already know Joey."

Joey craned his neck to look out the window. "Hi, Artemis," he said.

"Hey there, buddy." Artemis smiled at the boy and then settled back for the ride.