Lacey Foster --The Fosters--

(5) Defined by cancer

-Callie-

I woke up and saw my little girl staring at me as she held her teddy. She smiled as soon as she saw me open my eyes. "Hey there." I whispered as I sat up but my head felt dizzy.

"Mama?" Lacey said as she tried to hold me up but I fainted and heard her faint screams.

-

"Callie, honey?" I opened my eyes as my forehead felt cold and drippy. "Hey, you are okay."

"What happened?" I said as I kept my eyes closed and took Mum's hand into mine.

"You were dehydrated, baby." Mum whispered as she pushed some hair out of my face. "You got to keep the fluids up, remember?" I nodded.

"Is Lacey alright?" I whispered softly and I heard a giggle.

"Mama!" She said softly as she hopped onto the bed and kissed my cheek. "Of course I am!" I opened my eyes and realized it was just a dream. But, Lacey was asleep next to me. I got up slowly and quietly then went into the bathroom. I dimmed the light so Lacey wouldn't wake up. I splashed some water on my face then took my shirt off. I looked at the bump on my breast and sighed. It hurt more each day.. I put my shirt back on and decided to wake up Lace.

"Lacey?" I whispered as I shook her a little and she stirred. "Let's go see what everybody is up too, yeah?" And she nodded and put her arms out.

"Carry me." She said and I picked her up as she grabbed her teddy. I kissed her head and we walked downstairs. I saw Mariana and Jesus talking so I decided to go in there.

"Hey!" Mariana said as she got a half asleep Lacey off me and Jesus gave me a hug.

"I am going to check on dinner." Jesus said then he ran out of the living room. I sat down and Mariana had Lacey on her lap.

"Good nap?" Mariana whispered softly and Lacey nodded, and I giggled.

"I feel happier for some reason." I said as I smiled a little as I tied my long brown locks into a bun.

"Mama?" Lacey said as she looked more awake. "I am sorry." And I looked at her with concern filling my eyes.

"It's okay, lovely girl." I said with a small smile. "You had every right to react like that. It isn't simple for you to understand."

"How long do you have to be in the hospital for?" She whispered as Mariana rubbed her back.

"For a few months at least." I said with a sad smile. "You can visit me though. I will need you to help me through this." She nodded and looked at Mariana.

"You are very pretty today." She said as she took a strain of Mariana's hair into hers.

"Thanks bub." She replied to Lacey and winked at me. "You are such a cutie face."

"Thanks!" Lacey replied and kissed Mariana's cheek then something clicked in her. "What is the time!" I looked at the digital clock next to me.

"It's half past six." I replied with a laugh and saw Lacey run to grab the foxtel remote. "Help me find Lazy Town." She said as she gave me the remote. I giggled and put it on for her. I placed her on my lap and brushed her hair as Mariana took a picture on her iPhone. I did a fishtail which looks so cute on her curly long brown hair.

-

-Few days later-

We ate in silence. It wasn't really awkward, it was just hard for everybody to process that this will be the last breakfast with the whole family for a while. "This silence is literally killing me." I said with a laugh. Everybody softly laughed and Lacey looked sad. I helped her cut up her pan cakes but she wouldn't touch them. "Lacey, please eat." I said with a soft plead in my voice. She shook her head and I hoped that she wouldn't throw a tantrum.

"Lacey?" Brandon whispered into her ear and she looked at her Daddy with sad eyes.

"No." She whispered and shook her head as she folded her arms up. Everybody continued to eat knowing to ignore her. I know she was still trying to process everything but I didn't want her to be this effected.

-Lacey-

I didn't and couldn't eat. I looked at Mama who looked sad. I looked around at everybody who were eating looking down. "I don't want to be in trouble." I whispered finally. "I am just going to miss you so much." I cried out as I looked at Mama and started to cry. She wrapped her arms around me as I cried hard into her chest.

-

"It's going to be hard, slugabug." Grandma Stef whispered as she bent down to my height and took one hand into mine as Grandma Lena took my other. We were in my room after Mama and Daddy left. Tears still fell down my eyes. I haven't stopped crying since I told Mama how I felt. I then ignored what they said and looked behind them at a picture of Mama and me.

"Please leave me alone." I finally whispered as my eyes blurred my vision. "Just go away." I pushed them away and ran to Mama's wardrobe which only had a few clothes now. I took her college jumper and put it on. I then lied on her bed and cried.

-Callie-

I shivered as I walked into an room that looked more like an apartment. "Wow." I whispered as Brandon chucked the two suitcases onto the bed. "Very homey." I whispered then looked out the window at the view.

"Just a view of the highway." Brandon stated softly as he put his arm around me. "Let's get this place really looking like home." I nodded and we got pictures out of our family. And put my clothes away. Dr Kat walked in. She gave me a hug.

"Treatment starts in a few hours. Get into more comfortable clothing and just stay relax." I nodded and she patted my back. "It's going to be a hard road, Callie but treat us like a family. All the nurses are very lovely and know how hard it is for a cancer patient." I nodded but didn't like being defined by only the cancer. I am more than this bump, I wanted to scream. She walked out closing the sliding doors.

"I don't want to be defined for the worst things that has happened to me." I whispered as I lied down on the bed as Brandon lied next to me. "Including this cancer."

"So, I won't write anything about cancer on your tombstone?" Brandon innocently joked and I elbowed him in the rib.

"You are so mean." I said with a laugh knowing he was joking. We giggled and joked around forgetting we are even in the hospital for starters. I love Brandon. I love my Mamas'. I love my brothers and Sisters. I love my Dad and step Mum. I love my little girl who has brought the most happiness in my life. I feel so lucky even if I had the worst luck in life.

"Knock knock." We focused our attention to the door where Sophia stood with a bundle of flowers. "I come with a bundle of flowers!" I got up and hugged her.

"Hey little sis." I said and then felt a wet patch on my chest, and heard whimpers coming from her. "Please don't cry."

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