Before You Say Goodbye

CHP 27: A FACTION AFFECTION

Two days later, everyone visited Catherine.
"Hey there Cat!", "Yo Cat! How're you now?" Came the numerous questions immediately as all her friends entered her room. Everyone greeted Catherine who was now better in health, although feeling a bit dizzy and having mild chest pain. Apart from that, she was good and everyone was really glad about that. "Better now? We're missing you so much at school," said Kate. "Umm...it must be hurting, right?" asked Oliver trying to express concern. He was that kind of a person who cared a lot but couldn't always find the right way to show it. "I'm pretty sure it's not hurting more than attending those English lectures!" replied Michel, lightening the mood. Everyone chuckled at that joke and Catherine was extremely happy that all her friends had come to visit her. "We were going to bring you a bouquet, but Jennifer suggested we better give you this. She said you'll like it better..and, don't worry about the price, okay?" said Felix while handing Cat two wooden flutes of a pretty decent quality. "Oh my God! Wow! You guys are so sweet! Y'all really didn't have to spend money on me though...really. Umm... Jennifer? You suggested on getting this?" Exclaimed Catherine and then asked Jennifer with a hint of doubt in her voice. "Yes.." said Jennifer who was standing in a corner, quiet the whole time, with a slight pause and a bit of uncertainty on how Cat would react. Catherine called Jennifer towards her bed and suddenly gave her the tightest hug she could possibly have given. "Thank you, Jen, you really did suggest the best gift for me. And all of you guys...I don't really know what to say right now. I love y'all so much!" said Catherine with tears of joy and a feeling of being blessed to have such lovely caring friends in her life. "Aww Cat...we love you too," said Cheryl hugging her. "You see, flowers are sure to get dull and eventually die, but what I know won't ever die is your passion for music. Isn't it right, Felix?" said Cheryl with a cheerful voice, to which, Felix smiled and nodded. "Thank you, everyone, especially you Jennifer. And yes, be rest assured, I don't hold grudges against you at all," said Catherine with a big smile that made her entire face glow. "So, when will you come back to school?" asked Michel. "Very soon. Most probably tomorrow or Monday," reported Catherine with a firm determined voice.
The group had a nice time reminiscing about the school days when they had first met. They also shared their first impressions of each other. "Weird right? In the beginning, we were bullied by Jennifer.  Now she's our friend and we are the ones that bully her the most" said Catherine with a laugh. "I swear... I was a complete jerk...and, please okay...You'll will never be able to bully me more than I did y'all!" added Jennifer in a chill way with a little regret of her past actions. Everyone spoke about their families, their passion. They teased each other, in Catherine's words "bullied each other". Cat also played some of her musical instruments, they sang, they danced. Michel made everyone laugh with his "so-called un-funny jokes" which were ridiculously hilarious. In a nutshell, they all had a great time; maybe the best in a long time after the whole party thing had happened. Basically, this was the moment they felt that the group was perfect and everyone wished for time to stop right there.
Despite all the fun, Cheryl was still a little cross with Oliver, which was justified, yet she was all chill and calm with him today.
Time flew by, it was now night and everyone had to leave for home, though none of them felt like leaving. Catherine was overjoyed and after they all left, she wrote on the Chatpad group saying, "Thank you, everyone. Thanks for all the love❤️😊. And yes, I know y'all love me a lot, okay? So don't cry when I die and don't y'all dare talk behind my back or else my ghost will come to haunt y'all at night! Ps: I'm Just kidding...don't take it too seriously 😂!" to which everyone joked about how Cat's ghost would appear with a drumstick rather than a knife. They also sent her heart emojis and asked her to thank Mrs. Shawns for welcoming them to her place on their behalf.
As a day or two passed, Catherine was looking all fit and ready to go to high school. She was getting ready to leave and was just looking for her school bag when suddenly, out of nowhere, she collapsed on the floor with a severe pain in the chest;  the coughing started again with blood in them. Her joint pain got worse and she started losing consciousness as she called out for her mom. Her mother rushed towards her room upstairs, only to find blood all over the carpet, with Catherine lying on the floor, writhing in pain. She rushed her towards the nearest best possible hospital immediately and got her admitted there. Mrs. Shawns called Cat's father who was out of town for some work and even their family doctor to the hospital. After Catherine got admitted, Mrs.Shawns also called Cheryl informing her of what had happened.
Everyone was shocked at how and why had the pain started again. Cat was completely normal for two days and took all her medicines at the right time. Cheryl informed everyone in their group, but in order to avoid any chaos at the hospital,  they decided only one more person should go with Cheryl. Michel was the first to step forward and he desperately requested Cheryl to let him come along to see Cat. Catherine had an IV plugged in, had the oxygen mask on, and was sleeping peacefully when they all arrived. Upon reaching, Cheryl and Michel met Mrs. Shawns and asked her what exactly had happened. Mrs.Shawns narrated the whole incident with a little sobbing in between and even told them what the doctors had said. "They have said suggested undergoing 17 blood tests to check if there is any fatal disease. And...the most important test result, the one I fear is -... can... Cancer blood test," said Cat's mom finally bursting into tears. She continued saying "Catherine is my only daughter! My everything...what if she has cancer.... what will I do then, where will I go! What shall I do!  She can't have cancer, no please. God, don't do this to my baby. " she continued crying. Michel and Cheryl did their best to console and comfort her, saying that nothing would happen and they should think positive and hope for the best.
After hours and hours of waiting, the blood reports arrived. As Mr. Shawns reached the hospital by using an immediate plane ticket, the doctor called them to her cabin. They were both accompanied by Cheryl and Michel, who waited in the corner of the cabin. "Okay...so, you are Catherine's parents? I request you both to please sit down. I need you two to have some water and listen carefully to what I have to say. Catherine Shawns has been diagnosed with stage 3 lung Cancer, which is very rare for her age, but don't worry. We are doing our best and I feel she'll recover from it. But it will take time. We will need to give her several medicines, injections, and chemotherapy and also some surgeries if needed." as the doctor completed her sentence, there was utter dead silence in the cabin. Everyone felt an invisible lump forming in their throat, a lump of fear, a lump so colossal that it felt almost impossible to breath. The doctor said again," I understand this is very difficult for you all, and I'm very sorry. But, before we proceed, there is one question that needs to be answered. This is the hospital's requirement before we start the therapies. I know this is not the right time to ask, but, all the procedures I just mentioned are very expensive and the hospital requires to know whether or not will you be able to handle those". "Really?! The damn money!! I can pay a million dollars if it means getting my daughter alright!" Thundered Mr. Shawns and then collapsed into his chair with his head in his hands. Mrs.Shawns almost fainted due to the shocking news and after she came back to her senses she started wailing, saying," Why does it have to be MY daughter doctor? Why isn't it me? Why isn't it someone else? Why her?". As the doctor comforted Cat's parents, Michel rushed outside to hide his tears and to prevent himself from breaking down in front of everyone. He was followed by Cheryl who was also in a similar state as him. Once outside, Michel couldn't hold back and cried so hard that even the nerves of his head could be seen popping out. Through the glass window, he looked at Catherine who was sleeping peacefully with a beautiful smile on her face. The doctor reassured everyone that she will survive the disease if they act promptly and that she will be fine soon if all goes well. Cheryl, with a trembling voice, sent a voice note to the group informing her friends of what had happened. All of them got very emotional and everyone shed a few silent tears on hearing Cheryl's voice note. Yet, the doctor's words felt like a ray of light and they all hoped that Catherine will be alright and with them very soon.