Cancer?! But that means- no! My mom can't have cancer! She just can't! I looked frantically around the room seeing if that would give me some sort of answer. I got up from the table and walked into the kitchen, resting my hands on the counter.
I heard someone get up from the dining room and make their way into the kitchen. They placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me around. It was my mom. I instantly wrapped my arms around her and pulled her body closer to mine. I silently let the tears fall from my face as I bit my tongue to keep from crying out.
My mom pulled me back and looked into my eyes. She took the pad of her thumb and wiped the tears from my face. She then pressed her lips to my forehead and held my face in her hands.
"I don't want you to be upset." She said barely above a whisper.
I took her hands from my face and gripped them tightly in mine. "Mom? How can I not be upset? You have a disease!" I snapped back.
"I'm going to get help. My doctor scheduled me for my first chemo session."
"What if chemo doesn't work? What else is there?"
"We're going to try chemo first and if it doesn't seem to work then surgery is the next option."
"How could this have happened? You've been healthy all your life!"
"Zander, its hereditary. Someone one on my mom's side had it, it was passed off to her, and now onto me."
I opened up one of the cabinets and pulled out a white mug. I took the lid off the cookie jar and pulled out one of several herbal tea bags we store in there.
"I'm going to make you some green tea. I-I heard on the news that it reduces your risk of cancer." I filled up the teapot with some water and placed it on top of the stove.
"I already have cancer, Zander."
I threw the tea bag on the counter and wrapped my arms around my mom again, sobbing. She rested her chin on top of my head and rubbed her hand up and down my back.
"Shh, my sweet baby boy. Its alright, I'm going to be alright. I'm not going to leave you just yet. I'm staying right here."
I clung tighter to my mom and finally got the idea through my thick head that this could be the last time I could actually see her!
