One Summer Only

Chapter One

Ever since I was young, I was taught to always cherish the moments spent with those you love. It wasn't until this very second that I understood why.

"How long?" 

"A year...possibly less if the cancer begins to travel towards her brain."

I've always spent my life dwelling on all that is positive. However, as the doctor told my father that mother's breast cancer had metastasized, all I could think about was how everything we had planned for this summer and even in our life would be slowly taken from us bit by bit. My mother, Christa, was like a ray of sunshine. She was an active member in our church, she had taught Spanish for more than 15 years at Bradley High School -- where I was currently enrolled in -- and was the most generous and kind individual in River Falls: our hometown. But most of all, she was undeniably the best mother and wife to her family. 

"I would advise you, Christa, to make a will and to be prepared for the cancer to slowly grow over time." Dr. Shah said, his voice no more than a whisper.

As I looked at my father, his eyes became watery, but no tears escaped his eyes. My mother smiled the faintest smile. She knew this day would come and I could tell she was ready for the day where she could peacefully pass on. I was not oblivious to the fact that my mom was in pain, but I was still selfish enough to hope that she would stay with us forever. 

"Please tell me there are treatment options." I spoke as my brother placed his arm around me.  Tears were freely falling down my face. My dark, brown hair sticking to the side of my face. "You have to have some type of treatment to save her!" My parents and Dr. Shah looked at me with sad expressions. "How is it that we've found cures for every other disease except this one. How does that add up?" My hands had left my side and were now being used to express my frustration.

"Honey-"

"Don't honey me, Dad!" The tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. "Mom is dying and you're just giving up!" Mom's expression dimmed, her eyes becoming glossy. "We can't give up...there has to be a cure."

"Cassidy, there is only so much we can do." The doctor stated.

My father stood up from where he sat: on the hospital bed next to my mom. He cautiously walked over to me before enclosing his hands around my head and waist. What I though had been a stream of tears had quickly become a river. How does one cope with the inevitable death that cancer grants its victims?

Later that Day...

"Cass..." My mother walked into my room, slightly pushing my door open. I was currently curled up on my bed, hugging the one stuff animal that my mother had given me as a child. "Honey, you know I love you, right?" Her frail hand grazed my hair. My back faced her as I listened to her soft-spoken voice. I slowly rolled over and looked up at her skinny, boney face. She looked sick but her eyes were so vibrantly blue that it took away from the ill features of her face. I nodded and carefully laid my head on her lap. My eyes had stopped leaking tears, but my face was still sticky from the tears that I cried before my mother had entered my room. "You wanna know something?" I sat up, facing the person I loved most in this world. "What?" She softly smiled.  "When I was informed that the cancer hadn't shrunk after radiation, I decided that the treatment was no use and that I wanted to spend the rest of the year with the people I cared about most. That included you, your brother, your father, and the Braigers." I sat up and gave my mom a kiss on the cheek.

The Braigers were family friends of my mom and dad's. My dad had met Kelly at a work convention and later introduced Kelly and his wife, Brielle, to my mom. Since then, they became inseparable. Around the same period of time my brother was born, the Braigers had triplets: Luke, Zachery, and Raine.  My older brother, Caleb, and I met their kids shortly after I was born. We practically grew up together. The triplets and Caleb being two, and I being a newborn. And just like that, our family became a larger family. The Braigers visited us every year and every year, we hosted the best get togethers. We did everything from swimming at the lake to visiting the amusement park, which had been built fairly close to our housing complex. 

My brother and the triplets were currently 19. Whereas I was still waiting to turn 18, making me 17 at the moment. Due to my mother's declining health, the Braigers decided to come down earlier than years prior. In most cases, they would stay for a week at our house. However, since my mom only had so much time left, they planned to stay at our house for the summer. Since I would be graduating this weekend, the Braigers would be driving down tomorrow. I was looking forward to seeing them, regardless of the reason behind their sudden appearance. They were my family, and I couldn't wait for the nights spend with them. 

"Are you excited to see the Braigers tomorrow?" My mom asked, as her hand continued to rake through my messy curls. " I would be lying if I said I wasn't." I said, a slight smiling forming on my face. "Bri says she already has a list of things she wants everyone to engage in, and I believe one of those things include spending a whole day at your favorite amusement park." She said as she slightly shoulder shoved me. My smile grew a little wider. "Do you realize how upset Raine will be to hear we will be returning to the park?" I giggled. "Why would she be upset?" My mom asked, her eyebrows now squinted. "Luke, Caleb, and Zac all bet her to ride the Mamba last year, and you know she doesn't back down from a bet. Well...let's just say she got really sick from nerves as the rollercoaster began to descend. Moral of the story, the people in front of her got vomited on." My mother and I began to laugh over the embarrassing story. "She never wanted to return." We were now laughing so hard that our sides began to hurt. So much so that after a minute or two, my mom hunched over in physical pain while she uncontrollably coughed. "Mom are you alright?" I asked, rushing over to hold her up.  "I'm okay...just give me a second." A few seconds passed and her coughing fit subsided. 

My expression dropped once again as I took in how sick my mom was. "I'm gonna go get a drink." She stated as she steadily lifted herself off of the bed. "Are you okay now?" My mother asked me worriedly. "Yeah...thanks mom." She smiled back before telling me she loved me and walked out the door. 

Sometimes we have to force ourselves to fake how we are feeling so that others can experience happiness. And in some moments, it's essential for those around you, but that doesn't mean that it can't unknowingly hurt you.