Things To Do Before I Die

2

My mum and I head down to the second floor to get my ultrasound done.

I slowly walk out of the cold elevator and step onto the cold hard floor of the unbearably clean second floor. I look for the signs to see where the ultrasounds get done. In the past, my ultrasounds have always been done in my hospital room where it is isolated and I feel more comfortable.

I slowly walk in front of my mum following the signs to the ultrasound room by the Intensive care unit. I feel goose bumps forming on my bald head from the chemo and the cold.

When I reach the ultrasound room I walk towards the front desk. There is a tall lady dressed in the nurse's scrubs at the desk. She looks healthy unlike most of the others in the room.

"Hi. Appointment for Madeline Andrews?" I ask.

The lady looks through her computer, her fingers brushing the mouse and the keyboard of the computer. "Madeline Andrews, eleven-thirty, Endoscopic Stomach Ultrasound?" The lady asks.

"Yes. That's me, thank you," I reply.

"Go take a seat in the waiting room and fill out this form please. There's a bit of a wait today," the lady says as she passes the form over the desk to me on a bright blue clipboard.

I approach the chairs in the waiting room and sit down next to a guy with messy caramel hair. He is in comfortable looking clothes and some Nike runners. The guy turns his head and looks at me, his lips forming a small smile.

"Is something wrong?" I ask him, confused.

"No. I'm Lane. Lane Arthurs. And you are?" He grins.

I look at him and he starts to look weirdly happy to be in a hospital. "I am Madeline Andrews." I reply softly, looking into his soft green eyes. "It's nice to meet you. "

"Why are you here?" Lane asks, interested.

"I have stomach cancer but the doctors can't pinpoint where it is, so I'm going in for an Endoscopic Ultrasound. Why are you here?" I say, whilst coughing a little.

"My little sister has lung cancer. It's the weekend and I'm off school, so I thought she'd want a little company. She is currently in the middle of a Bronchoscopy that no one told me about, so I have to wait to see her," says Lane.

"How long has your sister had cancer?" I ask.

Lane plays with his fingertips, rubbing them against his thighs. "Around six months now, her chemo didn't exactly work properly. Have you started your chemo yet, Maddie?"

"No, not till they find out where the cancer is. Which my doctor hopes they'll find today. I have been here for ages now and it would be great to finally get out. Cancer sucks," I reply, clenching my stomach.

"I completely agree. Cancer sucks and it crushes everything around you. It's a human earthquake!" Lane exclaims. "Do you have any idea of what you would do if your earthquakes never stop?"