Miracle Girl

II

Usually helicopter rides were full of wheezing, panic, and blood; so this was the first time that I was actually able to enjoy the ride. We were flying to St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco, the hospital that told me I had cancer.

I found it ironic that the start of my journey and the end would be in the same place, but of course I would never mention this to my parents. Mom had just stopped the crying an hour ago, and I knew Dad was words away from breaking down again.

I couldn't imagine what they must be feeling. To lose their son, although they had two others, was a travesty to any parent. I was determined to put on a brave face, something I had learned to do from the beginning. Because if you actually let people know your pain was an eight out of ten, they'd freak.

So eights became fives and fists were clenched tightly behind my back to hold off any yowls of pain. And this technique had been mastered because to see my parents panic as if they were experiencing the same pain as me, was useless.

Soon enough the copter landed and the spinning, dizzy feeling in my head went away. The most embarrassing thing about this was the fact that my Dad had to carry me out. I'd lost a lot of weight in the past three years, and now weighed a full hundred and two pounds.

Plopping me in a wheel chair Mom kissed me on the top of my bald head, and a nurse lead us inside.

The moment we entered the room I had all eyes on me. My siblings had come to welcome me back. My eldest brother Landon came and patted me on the back, but his gentle slap knocked the breath out of me and I hid the fact that I couldn't breath for a few moments.

"Let us get him into bed before you bombard him." My Mother hugged Landon, my other brother Terry, and my younger sister Amanda.

All eyes were on me and I knew I must have looked worse in person than over Skype because all three couldn't stop staring at me. Wanting to prove I was fine I waved off all hands that tried to help me get into bed.

Hoisting myself up I watched the panicked faces of my family as my knees wobbled. It was a horribly embarrassing feeling, when your family looks at you as if you're already dead. I hated everything I'd turned into, and the fact that something so small could ruin my life this much.

I collapsed into bed and took a breather. All eyes were locked on me, but not one made a move to step forward.

As the realness of my predicament settled in, I became something they didn't recognize anymore. Countless video chats and visits couldn't make up for the years of Christmas's, celebrations, and just regular day encounters that I had missed.

Just before the situation collapsed on top of itself Landon's college girlfriend Dana came in. "He's here? I go for one coffee run and I miss everything!"

Dana had become a part of our family two years ago, at a time when chemo was helping steadily and we were told I'd be cancer free very soon. I had met her two times in person and a few more on video chat, but she went in for a hug anyways.

And of course with me being a teenage boy a breast height, I couldn't help but notice her cleavage as she came into close proximity. My head was awkwardly buried in her large chest and I finally understood why Landon was so obsessed with her.

She pulled back and I gulped in fresh air. "Isn't he just the cutest." Dana exclaimed in her mild New Jersey accent.

Backing away she went and stood beside Landon.

Terry came next. At eighteen he'd be leaving for college in a few months, and I just hoped I was dead before he had to leave. His spiky hair never seized since he was my age, and by the awfully made band t-shirt, I assumed he was still in his emo punk rock band.

He didn't give me a hug, but instead stood with his hands in the pockets of his skinny jeans while I wondered who taught him how to put eye liner on.

Last was Amanda. She'd be starting high school in September and looked completely ready. I never got to attend high school, as I was diagnosed in middle school and was pulled out soon after, but Amanda was the picture of every popular girl I ever imagined or saw on TV.

Just as Landon began to talk about his classes on economic psychology, which didn't sound the least bit interesting, a nurse came into the room.

"Sorry to steal him away so quickly, but doctor Addison want's to run some simple tests to make sure everything is running smoothly." She had a permanent smile on her face, and oddly, the pink scrubs with tiny cats on them were comforting.

Spying the small name tag I said, "Sure thing Justine." She continued smiling as she unlocked my bed from it's locked position and rolled me down the hall.

They all said their goodbyes and I waved up until we turned out of the room.

Relieved to be out of their constant watch I settled into the bed.

"Isn't that sweet that your family came to visit you." Justine commented. If only she knew how much I didn't want them here in my time of suffering.

Please show me how much you like this book in votes and comments! It would mean a lot! And feel free to point out any spelling errors and plot holes throughout; this is the first draft.