The Soul Guardians

chapter 5

"It's been quite hard to judge Esmeray's progress, this past month actually," I heard Nurse Maggy say to my parents as I hid in the bathroom. "She has so many ups and downs and dips in her charts, it's hard to see any improvement."

All I could hear from my parents was a simultaneous "hmmm". That was all Nurse Maggy was going to get out of them because of course they could read my charts and interpret them on their own. They've been doing it all my life and all their lives too, since they're doctors themselves. Unfortunately for them though, they weren't oncologists. I didn't find that too unfortunate though, because I'd much rather be in the care of medical professionals other than my parents.

Not only would it make them feel horrible if their care wasn't enough, but it would make me feel horrible too. It was easier to tell a doctor the treatments weren't helping any of my symptoms than to say that to my parents' faces, you know?

But I guessed the idea of not being able to actively help your own child in their battle with life and death, sickness and health was a real bummer... which was justified yes, but there was no need to take it out on everyone else.

"Fatigue is definitely a clear symptom, though." My mother almost barked. "She's always asleep. Perhaps we could start with that?"

"Yes, what is this new treatment plan going to do in terms of fatigue?" My father asked.

It wasn't Nurse Maggy who answered. It was a male voice. Not my usual Doctor Sanders, it was a doctor's voice I didn't recognize. I came out of the bathroom immediately to see my parents accompanied by Nurse Maggy and the doctor I didn't recognize, crowding my bed.

"Oh, there you are!" Nurse Maggy gave me a huge smile, "We thought you'd disappeared."

"Yeah, I was just making my way out actually. I'm late."

"No, stay, we have to introduce you to Doctor Calgary," Nurse Maggy gestured to the tall stranger in the white coat who stood between my parents. He gave me an awkward close-mouthed smile, and extended his hand.

Wavy brown hair and a large dimple in his right cheek, his brown eyes made him appear soft and kind, there was something youthful about them that gave him a boyish look when his build suggested he must have been in his early forties.

I shook Dr. Calgary's hand, noticing the scratches and scars all over. "Nice to meet you," I lied. "Where's Doctor Sanders?"

"Family emergency," Dr. Calgary said, "his wife is encountering some... complications with her pregnancy. He's needed at home right now."

I stared at him, wondering why he was speaking so slow and trying to dumb down words for me like I was a child. Even more so, I wondered why Doctor Sanders hadn't told me himself. That man was like my second father. I practically grew up with him.

"I hope things get uncomplicated. And that Doctor Sanders will be back soon," I said, not entirely intending to be shady but coming off that way anyways. "Now, if I could be excused..."

I backed away and bent down to get the gift boxes I'd wrapped a while ago for the twins' birthday so I could leave. 

My parents didn't look too sad to see that I didn't want to be around them. They understood. I loved my parents but these days I didn't want to be around them much. It was too painful. I think it hurt more to see them watching their child's health deteriorate than well, my own health deteriorating.

What made it worse was our recent disagreement about my treatment plans, and other medical care plans. The folks thought I was nuts, mind you.

"If you're off to the cafeteria we could join you," my father suggested with a sincerity I'm not used to in his chocolate brown eyes. "And go through the new plan?"