Second Chance

Chapter 4

We boarded the bus several hours later and drove for close to two hours before breaking for dinner. We were in some "middle of nowhere" town and our dinner options were limited. We stopped in a shopping center with two different restaurants. Everyone agreed we should go to McDonalds rather than a sketchy place called "Papa'a Sushi."

So as we all ran from the bus in fits of giggles, laughing and pushing eachother around. Everyone except for Kenzie, that is.

I pulled her over to the side and quietly whispered, "Is this about what Mom has to tell us?" And she softly nodded, yes. My fun mood was killed that instant as my mind created terrible possibilities of what my mom was going to tell me. Clearly, Kenzie already knew. I just couldn't figure out why my little sister, the weak, quick tempered, little girl knew before I did. Nothing was making sense.

"Maddie, Mackenzie," My mom called out before we stepped inside the restaurant. She stood outside, ten feet away from the door.

"Yeah?" I answered, still waiting at the door.

"Come over here."

I glanced at Kenzie and tears were forming in her eyes. She knew what was coming and I did too.

"I think we should have some family time and eat separately from the other girls tonight."

"Can we just get our own table then?"I questioned and turned back to the door.

"No, we should go somewhere else. I want it be more private than that." We all glanced around and I started to protest against it, but mom interrupted me.

"Papa'a Sushi? How about we try something knew?"

Mackenzie stayed completely silent while I bargained with my mom on our dinner choice. I didn't stand a chance though. Papa's Sushi it is.

*~*

Ten minutes later we were seated in a corner booth of the sushi place and nobody was saying anything. I broke the awkward silence by asking what to order and my mom just said she would order for me.

The silence resumed and I stared off in the distance.

"Just tell her, Mom," Kenzie piped up. She had been eerily quiet all day and I was about to find out. I felt sick.

"So, Maddie, you know Kenzie's been having some frequent pain in her right hip."

So it was about Kenzie and her health.

"Yeah," I shakily answered.

"Well, last night at dinner, Kenzie started to feel sick, like she was going to faint. And as you might have noticed, we went outside and didn't come back."

Oh, I noticed.

I nodded for her to continue.

"So, to prove that nothing was actually wrong, I took her to the ER and we saw a doctor."

"So that's where you were all night? You left me alone! I had to spend the night with Chloe!"

"'Madison, I wouldn't have left you if I didn't think you were safe."

I rolled my eyes as she continued.

"They did some tests and and diagnosed Kenzie with Leukemia."

"Leukemia?!" I panicked. "What's that?!"

"Cancer of the blood."

"CANCER?" I screamed. "Kenzie has cancer?"

Kenzie was in tears at this point, while I was too shocked to believe it.

This wasn't okay, I should be the one with cancer, not my little sister. My baby sister had this, this disease and I couldn't do anything about it. And I hate not being in control of the situation.

"Well, what's gonna happen to her?"

No one answered.

"MOM?"

"She starts Chemo on Wednesday, and hopefully they caught it early enough."

"Hopefully? Mom-" I started to cry, and it soon turned into full on sobs. This could not be happening. This could NOT be happening. This is a dream and I'm going to wake up in three, two-

Nothing.

"Girls," my mom came to our side of the table and pulled us into a hug.

"It's going to be alright. It's gonna have to be."

I pulled away.

"And what if it's not?"

The thought of losing Kenzie made me want to die. Instead of dying though, I felt something rising through my throat.

"Uh-" I tried to get someone's attention.

But I couldn't, and therefore I hurled all over the table. Many times.

This was the worst day of my life.