Second Chance

Chapter 7

Kelly dropped me off at home and came in to talk to my mom. I went straight to my room. I change out of my dance clothes and put on a big T-Shirt.

My mind was racing and I didn't have it in me to cry again, so I just stared at a random spot on the ceiling until I drifted off to sleep.

*~*

I hadn't been sleeping long when I woke up to the sound of pounding on my door.

"Maddie, Maddie," I could hear Kenzie screaming my name while she banged on the door repeatedly.

"Coming," I mumbled.

I opened the door and Kenzie sprinted past me and flopped on the bed, crying.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I walked over to her.

"I-" pause for her to catch her breath. "Overheard-" pause again. "MomtalkingtoGregaboutwhatthedoctorsaidand," breath. "They said I only have a 50% chance of living."

I gasped and stepped back in shock.

"What?" She snapped as she sat up straight.

"Nothing, I just, I don't know," I stammered and came to sit next to her.

Both of us were silent as I stroked her hair softly.

"What else did Mom say?" I asked quietly.

Kenzie stared up at me, looking younger than ever before.

"She said the cancer is worse than they thought. Then she said I was gonna do chemo, chemo... something. And she said I was gonna lose all my hair and maybe nothing will even come of it if I DIE."

Her lip quivered before more tears started streaming down her face.

"It's gonna be okay," I whispered as my own set of tears. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"You promise?" She asked between sobs.

"Yeah, I promise."

I only wish that was a promise I could keep.

*~*

•ONE MONTH LATER•

*~*

I heard a yell from upstairs and took it as my cue to take Kenzie her medicine.

"Coming!"

I jogged up the stairs and walked into Kenzie's room. She was facing away from me and staring at something in her hands.

"Hey, what's-" she turned to face me and clutched whatever she was holding tightly. "What's going on?"

She slowly brought her eyes up to meet mine.

"Look."

Kenzie held up a long clump of brown hair and dangled in front my my face.

"It finally happened, Maddie. I found it on my pillow."

Odd enough, no tears were involved. Just realization that this was happening and that Mackenzie really was dying.

In the last month, Mackenzie had gone from bad to worse. The cancer had spread to places in her body that couldn't be reached by surgery or radiation.

All the supposed "cures" had been tried. Kenzie had had three surgeries this month that removed little bits of cancer that grew back. It wasn't just Leukemia anymore. It was full on cancer that had taken most of her organs and filled her blood stream.

Our last hope was Chemo, which she had been on from the start with all the other attempted cures. The medicine she had to take made her tired and grumpy and she had lost an incredible amount of weight. Some days I thought things were getting better, but days like today, I had no hope.

I stared at the long piece of hair clutched tightly in her hands and sighed, before putting on a brave face.

"It's alright, just, uh, take your medicine and we can watch a movie."

Mackenzie relaxed, but not before mumbling one more thing under her breath. "I'm not alright. I'm not ever gonna be."

*~*

Two hours later the credits were rolling and the movie was over. Kenzie and I lay cuddled together on her twin bed which was way too small for the both of us.

I checked the time. It was already 2:45, meaning I needed to get ready for dance. I pulled my arm from underneath Kenzie and slowly got up. Leaning over, I pressed a kiss to her temple and left the room.

*~*

Later on, the girls and I minus Kenzie stood in front of the pyramid in Studio A once again. Mom had stopped coming to dance with me because she had to take care of Kenzie in the late afternoons.

I zoned out as my mind wandered to the one thing that was always on my mind. Mackenzie.

I had started home school in the recent month due to the fact that I wanted to be with Kenzie. I wanted to spend every but of time possible with her before whatever happened, happened. I lost most contact with my school friends, but that doesn't really matter. There's only one thing that matters.

My mom started to trust me to be home alone, but only to take care of Kenzie. She had to get a job at a day care center so that we could afford all the medical bills. Greg carried most of the weight, but he couldn't pay for everything.

As much as I loved to dance, I had lost interest recently. It just seemed like I couldn't afford to be here, when there is something so much important going on at home.

Everyone here is nice and sympathetic and puts up with my bad attitude. I think they know I don't want to come anymore. Abby talked to me about it two weeks ago when I first started to lose interest. Since then, I haven't been on top of the pyramid. The last three competitions have been a disappointment on my part. I always end up with third place or even fourth.

I just find it really hard to stay focused on something as unimportant as this when my little sister is at home, watching me on TV, dying.

"Maddie!" Abby snaps.

"Oh, sorry," I apologize.

I look up to the pyramid and see my name on top.

My eyes widen, oh.

"You're on top this week because I know how hard it is for you to be here, but you still try your best. Lets give Maddie a round of applause, okay?"

Everyone claps and cheers for several moments and I crack a smile. Abby stares at me with a sorry half smile and I know there is something behind it.