BEACH ~~ emma wilson

4: family

September 23, 2019

My birthday's tomorrow!!

I'm going to be 17!

The sad part is that I have a doctors appointment today, but I get to leave school early.

My mom came to pick me up at noon. I sat in the car as we drove, remembering Lucas. Not him as much as the cancer. When he had his annual 17 year checkup, the doctor saw cancer.

My parents were kind of expecting it, a bit, since leukemia and cancer in general runs in the family. My grandma had it, she was fine. My great grandpa had it, he survived but died a few years ago of old age. Even my mom had it when she was younger. She was fine, obviously. Most recently, other than Lucas, my cousin had it. She was fine eventually. Everyone in our family who got cancer survived. So my parents were hoping and expecting Lucas to survive. He didn't, but of course that just made them hope even more that I don't get it.

———

We reached the doctor's office and my mom specifically asked them to check for cancer.

Me and my mom have been sitting in the room waiting for the doctor to come back with the results.

He came in.

"Emma, you have cancer. I'm so sorry."

I was in shock.

My mom was crying.

We just sat there in shock and tears for a few minutes. Then my mom hugged me and took out her phone to call my dad. She stepped out into the hallway and the doctor left to do something. While she was talking, I called Noah. I knew he would answer, even though he was in class.

"Hey Emma? What's up?"

I was crying by now too. "Noah... I have cancer..."

"Oh shoot, are you okay? I can come home right now, if you want?"

"No, school finishes in a few hours. The doctors probably have to do some more tests. They did for Lucas... either way, we won't be home till after school ends. You stay, I'll message you everything that happens."

"Okay, one second... Excuse me? Mr. Smith? Can I go to the bathroom? Thank you!"

I heard him walk outside and could practically see him walking through the hallway towards the bathroom. Not going to the bathroom obviously, but standing in a stall talking to me.

"Emma?"

"Mhm?"

"I'm so sorry you have to go through this, but you can do it. I believe in you... and I love you Emma, call me when you're home. Bye!"

He hung up before I could respond. Today was full of shocks.

———

The doctors did some more tests and found that I had Stage 3, treatable but only with chemotherapy.

I knew from Lucas how chemotherapy felt and he had hated it, and it hadn't even helped him get better. I had hated it that time for his sake. But now, I decided to love it. If chemo couldn't help me, no one and nothing could.

Finally, the tests were done and my mom drove me home.

———

As soon as Mom put the car into park, I jumped out. I ran out of the garage and ran to Noah's house.

He must have seen me from his window because he was down before I rang the doorbell.

None of us said anything, we just hugged. I buried my face into his shoulder and cried. His face was in my hair and I could feel him crying too.

We finally let go and kissed each other, on the lips. Not unusual for us, but his siblings came down then. They saw us kissing.

"Ewwww!" Said his sister.

"MOM! Noah's kissing Emma! On the lips!!!" Screamed his brother.

Then their mom came around the corner from the kitchen and shooed the twins back upstairs.

"Hi Emma! It's so great to see you! Do you want dinner?"

I shook my head and looked at Noah, his face showed me that he hadn't told her.

"Mom? I'm gonna go over to Emma's. I'll just eat something there, bye!"

With that he pulled my hand out and towards my house.

———

My parents let Noah sleep over that night. Not in a weird way, just like a little kid sleepover. We talked for a long time. It was really nice and he helped me forget everything.

That's what I like about Noah. He takes me away from reality. It's really nice.

Eventually we slept, after eating dinner and watching TV. He was really warm and cuddly.

———
September 24, 2019

I woke up this morning and Noah wasn't there. I got up and walked downstairs.

When I got down, the kitchen was empty.

"Mom?! Dad!? Noah?! Anyone?! Hello!?"

No one answered so I decided to check the living room.

When I went there, everyone jumped out and screamed.

"Happy Birthday!!!"

Noah came over and kissed me. Mom and Dad hugged me. Lucee, Katie, and Shay, my best friends, came over to hug me.

"You're 17!"

I just smiled and nodded, mostly numb.

They don't know, do I tell them? I didn't know what to do.

I guess my thoughts were showing on my face because they looked at me funny. Noah was also looking. He must have realized what it was because he said something I didn't hear and pulled me upstairs to my room.

"Emma?" I didn't respond, still numb.

"Em? You okay?"

I could hear the worry in his voice. I forced my eyes to focus on him. He looked scared.

"Yeah, I'm fine... just surprised.. yeah..." It was a terrible lie, normally I'm better but today I was off.

"Emma? Tell me, it's okay..."

"Okay, it's just that... I forgot it was my birthday, and I don't want to celebrate. You know what happened to Lucas! If that happens to me, I don't want to celebrate anything! I also don't want them to know! Imagine what would happen if everyone at school knew!"

"Look, Emma. First of all, let me just say this: nothings going to happen! You will be fine! But second, as soon as you start the chemo, you'll be tired. You saw Lucas, he was too tired to celebrate his birthday or go to parties. You have to celebrate and have fun while you're energetic enough to. And they won't know if you don't tell them, and if you don't go out and have fun, they will know. Please Emma! Have fun!"

I nodded and got dressed. Then we both went back down and had fun.

There was no school today, so we just had fun for the whole day.

I even almost forgot I had cancer... almost.