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Aunt Elizabeth lost her Cancer Battle

Tracy's POV

It's Saturday, so I head to the cyber cafe to chill. I walk inside and see Mike has ordered me a smoothie. I walk over to him. After I thank him, we walk over to the couch under the window and sit down. The gang is there too. Kira is rocking out on stage with her band. Halfway through the song, I feel my pocket vibrate. I reach into my pocket to look at my phone. I see my mom's picture on the screen. I know she only calls me if it's really important.

"Sorry, Mike, I've got to take this," I say.

"Okay, darling, hurry back," he says.

He kisses me on the cheek. I smile and kiss him back. Then I get up and walk out of the room.

"Hey, Mom, what's up?" I ask.

"Tracy, I have some bad news. Uncle Sergio just called. He told me that Aunt Elizabeth lost her battle with breast cancer," Mom says, sounding all choked up.

After I hear those words, the phone falls out of my hand, but I catch it before it hits the ground.

"Tracy, are you still there?" Mom asks.

"Yes, Mom, but the doctors said she was cancer-free after the last round of chemotherapy," I say.

"They did say that, but the last treatment took too much out of her," Mom says.

"Did the doctors know this would happen?" I ask.

"Yes, sweetheart," Mom replies.

"If they knew this would happen. Why did they go through with it? It doesn't make any sense," I say.

"Sweetheart, I'll explain everything later. I have to call the rest of the family to tell them the news," Mom says.

"Okay, mom, see you later," I say.

I hang up. I put my phone back in my pocket, wipe the tears from my eyes, and walk back into the cafe.

Mike's POV

Tracy walks back over to me, and I can tell that she is upset.

"Hey Angel, what's wrong?" I ask.

"My mom called to tell me about my aunt Elizabeth. She lost her battle with breast cancer," she says.

"Tracy, I'm so sorry," I say.

I get up from the couch. I walk over to her and hug her. Tracy sets her head on my chest and starts to cry. I hold her, rubbing her back as her body shakes with sobs. After a few minutes, she pulls back, wiping her eyes.

"Are you okay?" I ask gently.

She gives a small, shaky nod. "Can we just go back to your house, please? I really don't feel like staying here anymore," she says, her voice hollow.

I nod, keeping an arm around her shoulders. We say quick goodbyes to the gang, making up an excuse about Tracy not feeling well, and head out to my car. The drive to my house is silent.

Mrs. Andrews's POV

The front door opens, and I see Mike walk in with Tracy. The moment I see her face, my heart clenches. It's pale, blotchy, and streaked with fresh tears. She looks utterly broken. I stand up from the couch.

"What happened, you two?" I ask gently.

Tracy shakes her head, her gaze fixed on the floor. Mike pulls her closer, his arm a protective band around her shoulders. "Her mom called," he explains quietly, his own voice heavy with a sadness that doesn't belong to him. "Her aunt Elizabeth passed away."

My hand flies to my mouth. "Oh, Tracy, sweetie, I am so, so sorry." I close the distance between us and pull her into a warm hug. For a moment, she's stiff, a statue of grief, but then she melts against me, and I feel the first of her sobs shudder through her small frame. I hold her tight, rocking her slightly. "You poor thing. Your parents are already in Georgia, aren't they? Well, you are not going to be alone for a single second. We are right here with you, okay?"