Soon You'll Get Better

13.

13. 

November 17th & The Promise

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Percy POV 

"What?" I yelled. 

"Yes. I'm sorry, Percy. It's lung cancer," 

My mind swirled with a million questions. "How?" 

"Either you smoke, which I'm pretty sure you do not, or it's been in the family," Dr. Solace explained. 

"But, I don't smoke, and neither does anyone in my family," I said. 

Dr. Solace looked at my mom. "You didn't tell him?" 

My mom shook her head. 

"Tell me what?!" I asked. 

"Someone in our family did have lung cancer. Your father did," she explained quietly. 

I was in shock, but I recovered and I yelled. "WHAT?? YOU TOLD ME HE DIED IN A CAR CRASH!"  (A/N Can anyone guess where this line came from?)

My mom shook her head. "I didn't want you to worry." 

I was frustrated. I didn't know but my doctor did? 

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" I yelled. 

"I told you, Percy, I didn't want you to worry." 

I scoffed. "So lying to me is better?" 

My mom blew out a breath. "I didn't lie. I withheld. Your father did technically get in a car crash. But he didn't die from it." 

Yeah right. I thought. 

I must've voiced that out because my mom turned and sighed. "Look, sweetie, I didn't mean to lie to you. You've had a lot on your plate." 

"Yeah. But that doesn't mean you can hide things from me," I countered. 

She sighed. "You're right." 

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Can I go home now?" 

"Son, don't rush it," Paul chided. 

I rolled my eyes again. "Don't tell me what to do." 

My mom got mad. "Percy. Apologize to Paul right now!" 

"Or else what?" 

She couldn't really stop me from doing anything. Or so I thought. "Or else, you are not going to swim practice." 

I froze. I loved swimming and I would do anything for it. 

I opened my mouth to apologize when Dr. Solace said, "Actually, you can't go to swim practice." 

"What?!" I shouted. 

"Percy, how do you expect to hold your breath for more than 10 seconds?" she asked. 

I looked at my mom. She just shrugged. "Can I at least help kids? I'm captain, even if I can't swim, I can at least teach them, right?" 

"I suppose, if you don't go in." She smiled at me. 

I faked a smile. What was the point of smiling anymore? 

"Great," I said miserably. "Can I leave now?" 

"Not yet, you have to have chemo to cure it. I want you to come here starting next week. The average cycle is 4-6," she ordered. 

I groaned. "Why?"