Meredith's sister

38

Mia's POV

The days blurred together after I told my sisters. The flood of emotions—fear, disbelief, anger—still hadn't fully settled, and the uncertainty hung over me like a constant storm cloud. But with every phone call, every quiet conversation, every moment of support from Teddy and my family, I began to understand that this wasn't something I could fight on my own.

Meredith, Amelia, and Maggie rallied around me like they always had. There were practical matters to address—appointments, tests, scheduling—but there was also something deeper in their eyes now, something I couldn't quite put into words. They were worried, yes, but they were also determined to help me fight. To keep me.

It was late that night when I found myself staring out the window of my apartment, the city lights below flickering like distant stars. My thoughts were tangled, a constant loop of questions with no answers. What did the future look like now? What if I didn't make it through this? What if I couldn't keep my promise to Teddy? To Allison?

The sound of keys turning in the lock broke through my thoughts. I turned around to see Teddy standing in the doorway, her coat slung over her shoulder, her eyes immediately finding mine.

"Mia?" she said softly, her voice filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

I nodded slowly, even though I wasn't. "I'm fine," I lied. "Just thinking."

Teddy took a few steps into the room, setting her bag down by the couch before crossing over to where I stood. She didn't ask me to explain myself—she never did. Instead, she reached out and cupped my face in her hands, her touch warm and grounding.

"You don't have to pretend with me," she said quietly, her eyes searching mine. "I know this is hard. I know you're scared. But we're in this together, Mia. And I'll be here with you, no matter what comes next."

I felt the familiar sting of tears behind my eyes, but I held them back. I couldn't cry. Not now. Not when I had to be strong—for Teddy, for Allison, for everyone.

"I'm scared, Teddy," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What if I don't make it through this? What if I can't fight it?"

Teddy's hands tightened on my face, her thumbs brushing away the stray tear that had escaped. "You don't have to know the answer right now," she said softly. "We take it one day at a time. That's all we can do."

I let out a shaky breath, looking down at the floor for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "I don't want to leave you. I don't want to leave Allison."

"You won't," Teddy said, her voice fierce with certainty. "I won't let you. We're going to do everything we can to fight this. And we'll do it together."

For a moment, all I could do was stare at her, the weight of her words sinking in. "I don't know what I'd do without you," I said softly, my voice breaking just slightly.

Teddy pulled me into her arms then, holding me close, her warmth enveloping me like a lifeline. "You won't have to find out," she whispered into my hair. "You won't have to do it alone."

I closed my eyes, letting the sound of her heartbeat steady me, trying to hold onto the small sense of peace that her presence brought. Maybe I didn't have all the answers. Maybe I didn't know what the future held, or how much time I had left. But as long as I had Teddy by my side, I could keep going. I could keep fighting.

The next morning, I found myself sitting across from Jane in her office. The sterile scent of the hospital was heavy in the air, and the fluorescent lights above hummed softly. Jane was flipping through the results of my latest scans, her brow furrowed in concentration. I had been to the clinic for several follow-up appointments, but today was different—today we were talking about the plan.

"So," Jane said, finally looking up at me. "The tumor is relatively localized, but it's pressing on the optic nerve, which is why your symptoms have been worsening. The good news is that it hasn't spread to other areas, but we still need to act quickly."

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral. My mind raced with her words, with the weight of act quickly. "What are the options?"

"We can go for surgery first," Jane said, her voice steady. "We'll try to remove as much of the mass as we can, but the location of it makes the procedure risky. After surgery, we would likely follow up with radiation, depending on what we find."

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing as she continued. "How risky are we talking about, Jane?"

"Nothing in medicine is without risk," Jane said, her expression softening. "But with the right team, the chances of success are good. The sooner we can take action, the better."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "And what happens if the surgery isn't successful? If the mass can't be fully removed?"

Jane hesitated, her gaze soft but grave. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there. But we'll do everything in our power to give you the best chance."

I nodded again, though the fear still gripped me. I wasn't ready for this, wasn't ready to face the unknown. But I didn't have a choice. The clock was ticking, and I couldn't let it run out.

After a long pause, Jane leaned forward, her voice low but firm. "I want you to know, Mia, that we're going to be here for you every step of the way. You have a team, and we're going to fight this with you. You're not doing this alone."

I felt the tears sting my eyes, but I blinked them back, focusing on her words. She was right. I wasn't alone. And for the first time since I'd heard the diagnosis, I allowed myself to believe that maybe—just maybe—I could fight this.