All By Myself

Chapter 1

Sarah's POV

Saying I was scared was an understatement. I was terrified. I didn't want to know, but at the same time, I did.

* * *

I was in the kitchen, making a sandwich trying to distract myself, when the phone rang. Knowing I was home alone, I rushed to answer it.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hello," a woman answered. "Is Sarah Beth there?"

"This is she," I replied getting worried.

"Hello, Sarah, this is Dr. Jones from Maple Mountain Hospital. We got your test results back. I'm sorry, Sarah, it came back positive." My heart stopped. No. I thought. No. "Sarah? Are you okay?" Dr. Jones asked.

"Can you call back later?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Of course. Good-bye, sweetie." The phone call ended. I still held the phone to my ear, my mind racing and frozen at the same time. I slowly lowered the phone and dropped it on the counter. I stumbled to my room in a daze, tears threatening to break free. I reached my room and collapsed on my bed, letting the tears fall; I broke down.

I heard a knock on my door. "Sarah, is everything alright?" Dad called through the door. "Sarah?" The door opened. I sat up, letting the tears stream faster. I looked at him and shook my head. "What's going on, sweetheart?" He asked sitting next to me.

I wrapped my arms around him. He held me close waiting until was ready. Finally the tears slowed and I released from the hug.

"Dr. Jones called me," I stated. "Dad, I have leukemia. The test came back positive." I waited for him to say something. Instead, he pulled me into him.

"I'm so scared, Daddy," I sobbed into his chest. He hugged me tight.

"It's going to be okay, baby. We'll get through this," his said, his voice cracking. "Together." We sat together in a comfortable silence. Suddenly the phone rang out. Dad let me go and stood up. "I'll be right back." He walked out of my room, leaving me alone. I had finally stopped crying.

I grabbed my phone, and sent a text o my boyfriend, Ryan.

Me: I have to tell you something tomorrow. Don't let me forget.

Ryan: Why can't you tell me now?

Me: I want to tell you in person.

Ryan: Should I be worried?

Me: I don't know.
    
     I ignored his text

I locked my phone as dad walked into my room. "That was Dr. Jones. She wants to talk to you tomorrow. I told her sometime after four would be good."

I nodded. "Okay."

He looked into my eyes. "Do you want to go to school tomorrow?" His voice was laced with concern. I sighed. "It's okay if you don't. It'll be fine."

"I want to go. It's the first day of my senior year, I want to be there. I also need to talk to Ryan," I replied.

Dad nodded. "Okay. Do you want me to drive you?"

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I'll ride the bus. You need to get more sleep." Since Mom died nine months ago, Dad hasn't been the same. "Can you pick me up, though? I want you with me when I talk to my teachers."

"I can do that." Changing the subject, dad asked, "So, about dinner. Chinese or pizza?"

"Pizza!" I replied, enthusiastically.

"Pizza it is. I'll phone the pizza place and order a plain cheese pizza and bread sticks. That okay?" I nodded, I'd always loved plain pizza. He walked out of my room again. I got up and plugged my phone into the dock and put my All Time Low playlist on. It started with Dear Maria, Count Me In blasting from the speakers.

"Sarah!" Dad yelled. "Turn it down!"

"Sorry, dad!" I yelled back, turning down the volume. I started to sing along. Trying to distract myself again. The next song started just when dad called me downstairs. I trotted down the stairs to see Dad standing in the living room.

"Yeah, Dad?" I asked.

"I just remembered, I didn't grab the mail when I came home. I have to go into town and get it. I need you to stay down here and wait for the pizza, in case I don't come back in time." He stuck out his hand. "Here's fifteen dollars, it should be enough. " I took the money from his hand.

"Okay," I said nodding. "Hurry back. I'd hate to start dinner without you." I smiled.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." He walked outside and into the car. I ran to my room grabbed a book and plopped myself on the couch in the living room. After a few moments, the doorbell rang.

I hopped up and walked to the door. I opened the door and , as I expected, stood the delivery boy. "Hello," he said. "Is this the Beth residence?"

"Yes, it is," I told him. He smiled.

"Alright. I have a cheese pizza, bread sticks and root beer," he said, looking at a slip. Is that correct?" He looked up.

"Yeah," I said.

"That will be," he paused, looking at the paper again. "$13.50." I dug in my pocket and pulled out the fifteen dollars. I handed it to him. He took the money and handed me the change. I put he remaining money in my pocket. He handed the food and drink.

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

"No problem," he replied. "Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you, I will. Good-bye," I said as he walked a way. I closed the door. With food and drink in hand, I walked to the dinning room and placed it on the table. I proceeded to the cupboard and grabbed plates and cups. I placed the second cup on the table as dad walked in.

"Hey," I said. "You're just in time."

"So it seems," He replied, a grin spreading on his face. He took his seat and I mine. We began to eat in silence. I didn't eat as much as I normally do, and Dad noticed. He looked at me, worry showing on his face.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

After a few moments, I answered. "I don't know. I'm just scared. I don't know what's going to happen." I took a shaky breath and continued. "I don't want to die, Dad." He grabbed my hand.

"Sarah," he said quietly. "We don't know that. We don't know anything yet." Silent tears started to stream down my cheeks.

"Dad? What are we going to do?" I looked down; I knew Dad wasn't well off. "How are we going-"

"Sarah," he said cutting me off. "Don't worry about that. Everything is going to work out." He placed his other hand under my chin, tilting my face up so I looked at him. "Trust me," he said. I was scared, I didn't notice earlier; but in that moment, I saw that he was too. Dad normally kept his feelings bottled up, so seeing him like this was something new to me.

Those words kept echoing in my mind. Trust me. I closed my eyes, trying to stop the tears. How can I trust him? I thought. He knows no more than I do.

I took a shaky breath and stood up. I made my way to the door and slipped on my shoes.

"Where are you going?" Dad asked as I opened the door. I looked and him and shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't know," I replied, walking out the door.

***************

Hello! I'm Erin. This is my first book. I know it's sorta a long first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and continue reading! I plan on updating every few days or so. Sometimes earlier. We'll see. Anyway, ta-ta! Love ya.

<3/Erin