I Am

Chapter 9

I stood at Avery's bedside, staring at her face with a tear rolling down my face. Her eyelids were closed over her pretty blue eyes, her brown eyelashes resting on her cheeks. Her fiery red hair was knotted, spread around her face like a lion's mane. There were light freckles over her pale nose. Her cheeks had a red tinge to match her hair.

How could my baby sister have Leukemia? Why, God, why? Why Avery?

I touched her tiny hand. It flinched. I saw her slowly open her eyes.

"Peter?" She said in a quiet voice.

"Good morning, Avie," I said. I was so happy to see her awake. Since she had passed out yesterday, the doctors hadn't been able to do too much. Now they were pretty sure she had Leukemia, but they needed to run more tests. "Are you ok?"

"My head hurts and my tummy hurts and I feel hot and tired," she said. That was exactly what McKenna had already said twice. This was definitely getting strange.

"The doctor will make you feel better," I said. "Do you want me to go get her?"

She nodded her small head. I woke my dad up before I left. He needed to see his daughter.

"Avery!" My dad exclaimed as I woke him up.

"Daddy!" Avery exclaimed.

I left the room and went down to the nurse's station like last time.

"Peter!" I heard as I was turning to walk back to the room.

"Briella!" I said as I tuned around to see her pretty face. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you and to check on Avery and McKenna," she said. "How are they?"

"McKenna is perfectly fine," I said, "but Avery.... They think Avery has Leukemia. She just woke up."

"Oh my gosh!" Briella said. "Is she going to be ok?"

"I don't know," I said. "Briella, there's something strange going on. While Avery was passed out, McKenna gave us a list of symptoms common to Leukemia patients, but her blood work shows that she's perfectly healthy. When Avery woke up, she repeated the list exactly how McKenna had said it, but Avery's blood work reflects her symptoms."

"That is strange, Peter," she said.

When we got back to the room, Dr. Rossin was already in there talking to Avery and McKenna. Avery was laying in her bed and McKenna was sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce in the extra space on Avery's bed.

"How did you get here, Briella?" I asked when it suddenly dawned on me that she couldn't drive.

"Sammy and Felix brought me," she said.

"Why didn't they come in?" I asked.

"They said they had band practice," she replied.

"Oh," I said. "That's right."

The truth is, I really missed being in the band. I had been the lead singer in the band since Freshman year, but when things got bad after my mom died in my Junior year, I quit. Matthew took my place, and he's a great singer, but I missed it.

The doctor had finished talking with Avery and McKenna. She now directed her attention to my dad.

"As far as I can tell, there is nothing wrong with McKenna," she said. "But Avery almost for sure has Leukemia. We will need to run a few more tests to be definite, though."

"Then why is McKenna exhibiting the same symptoms as Avery?" My dad asked.

"I'm not completely sure," she answered. "I think there might be some sort of twin telepathy think going on. Or maybe something from God."

***

"Avery's going to need chemotherapy treatment for her Leukemia," Dr. Rossin had told us. The words echoed in my mind. Ever since Avery had woken from her, I guess you could say, temporary coma earlier this afternoon, Dr. Rossin had been running tests on her.

She finally came to the conclusion that Avery did have Leukemia. As of right now, Dr. Rossin said

that Avery was not likely to die from her cancer. She said Avery had a very good chance of beating the cancer.

Avery needed to stay in the hospital, but the rest of us could leave. My dad wanted to stay with her, so he called his work and let them know that he needed some time off. A lot of time off, that is. When he told them that his daughter had cancer, they let him have as much time as he wanted.

I stayed in the hospital that night until 10:30, then Sammy and Felix came and picked me, Briella, Eva, and Marco up from the hospital.

"How are they?" Felix asked.

"Avery has Leukemia," I said. "But McKenna is fine."

"Is Avery going to be ok?" She asked, concerned.

"Dr. Rossin says she will," I replied. "She just needs to have chemotherapy."

"That's good," she said. "I'll be keeping all of you in my prayers."

We were at my house now. I got out and Eva and Marco followed. Briella got out and gave me a sympathy hug then got back in the SUV.

I gestured to Marco and Eva to start walking back towards the house.

I helped them both take baths, brush their teeth, and get in their pajamas. I tucked them into their beds then went to my own room.

I kneeled down at my favorite spot to pray, but I couldn't find the words to say. So I just kneeled there basking in the presence of God. After a good 15 minutes I said "amen" and went to lay in my bed.

As I was laying there I started to cry. I just let everything out. I thought about my mom and cried. I thought about Gabi and cried more. I thought about Briella and cried even more. I thought about Avery and cried harder than ever.