The Sister

Chapter Six: Doctors Don't Tell Good News

It's been a week since the accident, and I've been able to go to school, and have had a lot of support from my peers, teachers, my crush, and the whole community. They started a fundraiser and were able to raise five hundred thousand dollars to help with college, food, and household items. Grandma has started to feel ill again, and today, September 14th, I'm taking the near by bus, so she can visit the doctor's office and have her annual check up.

"I'm Annie Johnson here for my annual check up with Dr. Richard," said my grandma to the receptionist sitting at her desk typing away on her Apple laptop when we arrive. This place always smells like someone died. I haven't been here for at least 4 years. My parents never got check ups for me, and physicals weren't necessary until 7th grade,which I just entered into. I was a very healthy child along with my other siblings.

"Dr. Richard will see you in a moment, he is currently running late with his other patient," the blonde receptionist said with a dull voice. Great! I get to sit it with my grandma in an awkward scilence, to wait for the dumb doctor. With the funeral just days away. I still need a dress, grandma and I planned to shop after the doctor. Luckily this place has got magazines and books for me to read. I looked over at my grandma to see her watery eyes with the sides of her mouth curled down.

"Hey grandma what's-" I was cut off my a deep low voice.

"Annie Johnson?" It was her doctor. He looked to be around his fourty's.

"Here!" She replies with a raspy voice. I knew she was older, but it sure didn't sound good. We walked up to the doctor, and shook his hand. He said it was nice to meet me, and I said thank you, and we were off down the long hall. Dr. Richard stopped us to weigh my grandma. 110. I had no clue if that was good or not, but judging from the doctor's face... It wasn't. Down the hall we continued walking in eerie scilence. Annie almost looked as if she was full of concern, but everytime she noticed me look up at her she would put on a smile. Then we stopped, and the doctor turned in a room. Everywhere there were pictures, brochures, and tons of medical supplies. My grandma was told to sit on the bed with my white paper that feels like sand paper, and makes really loud sounds everytime someone moves. Immediately the doctor goes to work with checking her knees, listening to her heart, checking her ears and mouth, and inspecting her movements.

"How's she been acting? Is her health in good condition?" Asks Doctor Richard as he turns to me.

My grandma gives me a concerned glance, as if not to tell the doctor of her poor health lately, but I learned to never lie to your doctor, they are here to help, "she's told me she has been feeling a little under the weather lately, with pains in her stomach, and on he chest. As if someone where to be stabbing her. When she walks she seems to be getting a little slower, but the older a person ages the slower they get," the doctor had a painful look on his face. "Why? Is there anything we need to be concerned about?"

"May I speak to you in the hall, umm..."

"Katelyn."

"Ah, yes. Katelyn, may I quick see you in the hall?" Why? What was wrong with my grandma? Is this very necessary to be alone? I need my grandma, she is all I have, if he wants to tell me something about her health, he can the both of us. He must have read my thoughts though because he saw the doubt in my eyes and said, "Please, it is urgent."

"Very well, if I have to," I turn to my grandma, "be back a I'm second." She looks up to me with puppy dog eyes, but says nothing. Just a quick nod, and goes back to looking at her lap.

"I'm afraid I have bad news. Your grandmother has fallen very ill, and being 86 I'm not sure how much longer she shall continue. We could try pills to help her out, we could try to let her cells fight the sickness off and risk the chance of death. I'm sorry to bring you this news, and I know you have recently suffered a great loss, and this is all very hard for you. I knew your parents, as I am your personal doctor. I would like to have you make the decision of what your grandma should do. Would you prefer for her treatment?" Her life depends on what I choose? Couldn't i even talk to her about it? Thirteen! I'm only thirteen! The pills would probably work, seeing she will have a longer life then. I can't risk losing her. Not now at least.

"I suppose the pills," I answer. Boy do I hope my grandma can swallow pills! I tell my grandma she will take pills to help her treat her sickness. She tells me to get the pills from the doctor, and we will go shopping. I decide to shoot July a quick text: goin' shopping, meeting you at Fred's Funeral Farm in 5?

July: c u in 5! :D

July met us and we went into the store. Black and white where everywhere. July was so close to me and the family, she was attending the funeral in the front along with her father. Lucy, her mom, died when she gave birth to her baby brother. She's the oldest of three siblings. July picked out a white dress with black flowers, and I picked out the same dress just colors switched. They were beautiful! "What do you ladies say to ice cream?" My grandma asked us as we passed the Ice Cream shop, which is just down the block from where we live.

"Yumm! Yes, please grandma!" So we all got orange sherbet in a waffle cone. The store had tables outside, and we sat down to enjoy. July and I talked about our crushes. Cade. Dreamy eyes, nice and tall, awesome abs, and fluffy blonde hair. My dream boyfriend. <3 He is super funny, when we used to date for 2 years he always treated me super nice. Even my first hug was with him! The only reason we broke up is that he just wanted to be friends, and that was fine for me. Even though I've dated other guys, really I never got over him. Eli is July's crush. He has short brown hair, abs too, green eyes, and is about five feet, three inches, same height as July and me. Cade and Eli happen to best friends.

After ice cream and talk time we walked to my house, and we hung up the dresses on my closet hangers. Then since July lives two houses over, I walked her home. Once back home I took out the pills that the doctor wanted me to give my grandma, and she gulped them down with a full glass of water.