Open Heart One Shots (Choices)

Beautiful Day (Kyra & Cassie)

Summary: When Kyra feels sorry for herself, a friend changes her perspective.

She did not want to be the Cancer Girl. As she entered the last few months of her twenties, she was determined her thirties would be about Kyra Santana. Maybe she didn't know yet who that woman was, but she was excited to learn more about her.

A wave of sickness rose from her stomach to her throat, but she stubbornly tamped it down. For now, though, Kyra mused, that journey to self-exploration would have to wait.

Her hands gripped the edge of the treatment chair's armrest, fingers clenching and unclenching around the padded material. Tilting her head back to stare at the ceiling, she counted backward from fifty and felt the nausea recede by the time she hit ten.

This wasn't her first rodeo with chemo. She barely even felt the port under her collarbone, pumping drugs directly into her veins. But it was a reminder that she wasn't whole. This device that sat just below her skin, a disc-like bump visible above the neckline of her loose-necked top.

Her mood turned morose, leaving behind the hopeful optimism of a few minutes ago. The disease had defined her twenties, and with six months of treatments in this round, it would define her thirties, too.

Who was Kyra Santana, if not Cancer Girl?

"Uh-oh. I know that look. Do we need to jump out of a plane again?"

Startled from the stormy thoughts clouding her brain, Kyra looked up into the teasing green eyes of Cassie Valentine, a half-grin lifting the corner of her lips.

"I'm game if you are," Kyra chuckled, noting the expensive-looking gift basket she was carrying.

Her heart sank at the idea of having to throw out what would no doubt be fancy chocolates, gourmet cookies and other goodies. She didn't know how to tell Cassie that her stomach was not up to such snacks.

When she finished a session, it took all her energy to get home before she crashed, let alone eat anything rich. Most days, she barely managed to keep anything down.

"Once was enough, Wonder Woman," Cassie rolled her eyes, pulled up a visitor's chair and plopped herself down.

"Here, this is for you," she handed over the gift basket wrapped in cellophane with a red bow on top.

Kyra stared at the unusual basket in bemusement. Instead of snacks, there was a stack of multi-colored plastic cards fanned across wrinkled tissue paper.

"I figured you wouldn't have the energy to cook after your sessions," Cassie explained when Kyra arched one brow in question. "So, I got you gift cards for food delivery apps, restaurants in your neighborhood, ride-share apps and the like."

Cassie leaned in and pointed to a brightly colored envelope tucked under the cards. "There are also a couple of gift certificates for nail salons and day spas for when you want to shake off the Chemo Blues."

"Marry me," Kyra blurted out, overwhelmed by the gesture more than the basket. An indescribable feeling of gratitude filled her chest.

Cassie gasped and pressed a hand dramatically to the base of her throat. But a small giggle escaped her lips. "Wow, you're easy to please. Of course, you did flirt with me the first time we met."

"You flirted back," Kyra reminded her, grinning, unoffended.

"I can't help myself," Cassie shrugged, mirth swimming in her eyes. "It's in the genes."

"Well, if you ever want to experiment or play for the other side, I'm your girl," Kyra teased, knowing her friend was only into guys.

"Deal!" Cassie winked and threw her head back in laughter.

The nurse entered the infusion room then. She checked Kyra's vitals, asked about any adverse reactions to the drug protocol and made notations on the chart before leaving them alone.

Kyra adjusted the blanket across her lap, tucking her forearms under the fleece. Although she'd been hot earlier, the cold from the air conditioner now raised goosebumps on her skin.

"You don't look as harried as the last few days," Kyra commented, scrutinizing the lack of dark circles under Cassie's eyes and the neatly tied blonde hair, not a strand out of place.

"The ethics hearing is over. I get to practice medicine again, doing what I love," Cassie said, stretching her legs and crossing sneaker-shod feet at the ankles. "I didn't realize how much I loved being a doctor until I thought it might be taken away forever."

She paused and smiled softly. "Plus, it's a beautiful Spring day, and I get to spend my break with my friend. Life is good, and I'm blessed."

"It's that easy, huh?" Kyra mused, disbelief coloring her voice. "Even with the long hours y'all work, grumpy attendings and PITAs?"

"Even then," Cassie said, waving away the objection. "My father always tells my brother and me to be thankful for the small stuff and not sweat the big stuff. I'd forgotten that lesson this year but won't again. I have two more years of residency left. I'm going to practice medicine my way and not worry how someone else would do it or what they'd say."

Kyra nibbled her lips as she reflected on Cassie's words. "Before you came, I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself."

"And now?"

"And now," Kyra sighed softly and blinked. "And now I'm grateful I have someone who'd give me a basket filled with gift cards instead of useless stuff." She glanced at the window. "I can see the sun shining outside and smell spring in the air."

She reached for Cassie's hand, squeezing it in gratitude and friendship. "It's a good day to be alive, and I'm blessed."