One sick love story

The contagious curse- part 1

I cuddle my blanket like a new born baby, slowly reaching for my cup of water to sooth my sore throat.
This is what life is really like. I was Cancer free for a day, but now I'm back to reality. It's Sunday and the last day of the half term. Luke goes back to school tommorow, which I find quite upsetting considering I've enjoyed having company this past week.  He isn't up yet, it's almost 9 o'clock. Which is quite late for a nine year old boy to still be In bed. He's probably just making the most of the time he has in bed left, as school starts tomorrow.
"Mum" I shout into the kitchen.
"Yes darling." She comes running in.
"Can I have some more water please?"
"Yes of course."
"Hey mum, do you know why luke is still in bed. It's quite late."
"I don't know, but I have to wake him up now anyway, were meeting some friends at the park today."
"Okay."
She brings me in my water then scurries up the stairs to wake luke up.

A few minutes later he makes his way downstairs and into the bathroom.
"What's wrong with him?" I ask mum.
"I don't know, he says he doesn't feel very well, but he's probably just worrying about school tommorow."
"Oh okay."

After coming out of the bathroom he comes and sits on the sofa next to me whilst wrapped up In his dressing gown, feeling sorry for himself.
"What's up baby brother?"
"I feel sick." He shouts into my ear.
"Are you sure you really feel sick?"
"YES."
"Okay, well would you like me to make you some cereal."
"No, I'm too sick to eat."
"Oh... Okay then. Well, put something on the TV, I'll go get you a drink."

Of course It's natural to be worried about your baby brother, especially when a long line of illnesses runs in your family. You can't but help think the worst.

I come back in with water and he slowly sips into the glass.
"Aren't you going to choose something to watch? How about spongebob?"
"NO. I just want to sleep!"
"Okay, just calm down. Go over there and sleep on the sofa."
"No, I want to stay with you"
I pause at the thought, it makes me happy that he wants to stay with me, but also concerned as he never passes up an opportunity to watch sponge bob. Considering one of the new episodes is on.
"That's fine, come in my blanket, it's nice and warm."

And some how I find myself stuck in this position with him asleep on my lap for over 2 hours.

My mum comes in with her jacket and shoes on and says to luke "are you ready to go to the park now?"
"He's asleep." I whisper.
"Still?" My mum asks concerningly.
"Yeah it's been like 2 hours. He's burning up, I think he really is ill."
She suddenly drops her bag and runs over to him.
"Darling are you okay?"
He wakes up grunting, and still saying he feels sick (welcome to my world, is what I so desperately want to say to him).
She nervously places her palm on his forehead "gosh you are hot aren't you. We need to get you out of that hot blanket and into the fresh air."
"But I don't want to, I want to stay with Darcy."
Without consideration of what he just said, she picks him up and places him on the other sofa. She runs out and comes back in with a fan.
"Here... This should help you cool down. Darcy, keep an eye on him whilst I go ring Jill to tell her we can't come to the park."
"Okay"

He sleeps for the rest of the day. And so do I, apparently. Luckily, he hasn't been sick or anything yet, just saying he feels cold, and not hungry. I know it's probably just a cold, but I can't get this one thing out of my mind.
Cancer will haunt you in so many ways. Even if you don't have it, there is always the fear you will have it. Or someone else in your family has it. When 2 people out of the 4 have already tested positive for it, there is always a higher risk that a 3rd may get it.
Could luke have it?

No.

Of course not.

God wouldn't do something that cruel to my family.
I'm not religious or anything, but it just can't be possible for one family to have this much bad luck.

And also, there is still the possibility he is faking it to get out of school tomorrow. But he's only 9, I don't think he's quite intelligent enough yet to have come up with that idea.

Finally it is time for bed. After another wasteful day as a Cancer patient, I get to go to bed and repeat what I've been doing for the last 12 hours. Breath, sleep, repeat. Breath, sleep, repeat.
Using my scronny arms and legs I carry luke up the stairs and Into bed.
"Darcy, you do believe me don't you? You do know that I'm sick?"
"Of course I believe you. Now get some sleep, it will make you feel better."
I give him a small kiss on the forehead, and leave his room.

I lie in my bed and think about the events that occurred today, like I do every night. It kind of helps me sleep.
I don't know what to think about luke. It's just odd because it's a Sunday and the last day of holidays, but he just wants to sit with me on the sofa. He's obviously not faking.
I need to stop thinking about it.

It's just a cold.

It's Not Cancer.

Every little kid gets sick.

It's not Cancer.

Luke will be fine.

It's not cancer.

He hasn't thrown up or anything.

But it could be Cancer...