Present
Natalie didn't even notice a difference, like waking up stuck in a tidy, cold hospital bed was perfectly normal for her. "How's the uh- testing going?" She asked the one detail she could remember from the past week... the detail spurned on by the sterile blue hospital walls.
"It's definitely going... I'm expecting results back soon, hopefully." The doctor offered a half smile.
She studied the older woman for a moment, following the wrinkles in her face. "Like- tomorrow soon? In a few days?" But a smile crossed her own as a nurse came in, handing a file to the doctor.
"Well, this is convenient."
"Heyyy, funky timing-"
"Natalie..." The doctor sighed as she looked over the results. "Oh dear God-"
"Oh-"
"Natalie- you... in simple terms, you have a rapidly developing leukemia in your blood..."
"No I don't... I'm hallucinating this, lies! Mhm!"
"I'm sorry... um-"
"What stage is it..."
"It's not that si-"
"WHAT STAGE IS IT?"
"We'll do the best that we can to treat you..."
"AM I GONNA DIE??"
"Your survival rate isn't... we can't- I'm sorry- but we'll do the best we can to help you."
Natalie felt hot air coming faster and faster from her mouth, her hand gripping to the metal rail of the bed. She put another hand on her chest, but feeling the doctor's hand on her back only made her hyperventilate more. "GET OFF..." She snapped.
...
Your phone: hey mom
Morticia (mom !!!): hi
Your phone: i cant say this any easy way
Morticia (mom !!!): woah
Your phone: all of those flu symptoms were because i have cancer
Morticia (mom !!!): no way
Morticia (mom !!!): what do i need to do now
Your phone: nothing, mom, nope, you dont have to do anything
Morticia (mom !!!): how bad is it
Your phone: very cancer-y
Morticia (mom !!!): skill issue
Morticia (mom !!!): developed a life threatening illness? skill issue, get good
Your phone: what do i do?? am i supposed to want treatment?
Morticia (mom !!!): whatever is gonna make you happy
...
"Momma?" A little Natalie gently prodded at her mother's shoulder.
Katherine kept her eyes on the screen, taking another swig of beer as she pressed next episode on her show.
"Momma... igopoo..."
"Mmph." She let out a pathetic grunt at her daughter's issue.
"Momma...?"
"You stay in the fucking hospital for months, abandon me and cause me to start fucking drinking again, AND YOU EXPECT ME TO RAISE YOU?" She turned and roared into the child's face. Natalie's tense waddle away didn't even shift her expression. "Go bother your GODDAMN FATHER."
...
Present
Guinevere cursed under her breath as she approached Katherine, Nightwhisper right beside her. "Mom..."
She took a deep breath, the words shallow and hoarse. "She's not coming home anytime soon... is she?"
"NO! I WONDER WHAT FUCKING CLUED YOU IN THERE!" Katherine screamed right back, her face contorted in rage.
"Aren't you even gonna get her chemo??"
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I supposed to be forcing things on my daughter now? I was never supposed to before. BECAUSE EVERY DECISION I MAKE IS WRONG. FUCK YOU."
Guinevere slightly gasped at what her mother had to say. "IF YOU AREN'T GONNA BE A PARENT, I'LL GO TO DAD."
"YOUR FATHER IS GONE."
"What...?"
"YOU FUCKING HEARD ME, HE WALKED OUT. BECAUSE I'M A SHITTY PERSON THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH ANYMORE."
"So you're all just gonna..."
"GO AWAY."
Your phone: Natalie, please, you have money in the bank
Sis: i dont really want to
Your phone: Natalie, you're being ridiculous
Sis: sport, i just learned this today, i cant make that decision yet.
Your phone: Please, don't let it get worse
Your phone: Natalie
Your phone: Natalie, this has to be dealt with! Now!!
Sis: i need to think
...
"Open mic show, guys! I can't believe I'm talking about this over Minecraft parkour, but there's no rulebook about how to approach serious news."
"Videos and streams are gonna stop for a few weeks, I'm having some health troubles- y'all know I've been sick for a little while, I'm just gonna take a break and treat it."
"Like bro, my blood has gone rogue, it's gone on strike! They want some kind of pay instead of being slaves to my body! Forming a workers union?? What even is that! They don't have RIGHTS!"
"I swear, my body is homophobic! Anything else goes wrong, homophobic! I didn't realize my lack of intelligence was grown right into my DNA, must be why my blood messed itself up and needs outside interference! As I say it, that sounds like my work ethic for school! And dude, like, if my body had any kind of self preservation, why does it want me to be in a hospital eating bad food while I get treated? Bro, just don't develop a blood disease! I really know it's MY body now, can't do anything right!"
"In all seriousness, my videos are gonna stop for a little while, so my body can sort itself out. I hope y'all have a happy Valentine's Day, spend time with your partners, if you're aro, mock those cringe Disney sitcom couples. See ya."
Natalie started typing in "health update," but she didn't want to instantly worry her viewers from a title. "minecraft parkour cause this is all i have in my files + health update" sounded much better, but again, she didn't want to instantly worry her viewers.
"They're not children."
She hit upload on the video.
YOU ARE READING
Admiring the Light
Roman pour AdolescentsFriendless and timid, Guinevere is stuck in her socially anxious shadow, content to let her sister lead and live a sheltered life. Without Natalie pushing her to break out of her comfort zone, she'd be trapped in fear. The world is scary, even her o...
