Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 72 - Choices

"Look, we have a problem."

Randy, Link and I took a deep breath. Dr Anderson took a long sip of his water.

"What's wrong?" Link asked

"Well, as you know, we did the brain scan last week after the 2 months of treatment, and, well... the results weren't very good."

He brought the image up on his computer and I took a sharp breath in, as did Link and Randy.

"The growth is... fast. Faster than expected. Much faster than expected..."

"What are we going to do?" Randy asked nervously, fiddling with his fingers.

The doctor sighed. "We can continue with the treatment, maybe increase it, but honestly, I don't think there's anything we can do for her now. She's dying, and I don't think we can slow it any longer."

Randy turned around and tried to blink the tears out of his eyes, as did Link. I took a deep breath, and looked up at him. "So we're just supposed to give up on her?"

"Look, guys, there's the chance that something could kick in and it could help, but she's not enjoying life here. Her life may be longer, but will she really be living? If you stop treatment, take her home for a few months and just make her happy. That's the best advice I can give."

"How are we supposed to make that choice?!" Randy accused. "We're taking her life away and condemning her to just a few months with no hope, or condemning her to a life of misery here!"

The doctor sighed and sat down. "I'm not saying it's an easy decision, but it's one that has to be made."

We all sat in silence for a moment.

"I think we should let her decide." I murmured.

"Are you crazy!?" Randy accused. "She's 14! She can't make these decisions!"

"I think she can." I explained. "She knows what's happening, she knows what she wants. It's her life, guys, and I honestly believe that it should be her choice."

Link nodded in agreement.

Randy sighed. "Alright..."

-----------------------------

"Cooper, honey, we need to talk..."

She looked at me, then at Link, then at Randy, before trying to sit up slightly. I moved the bed into a sitting position and propped her up with pillows so she wouldn't fall over.

"W-What's going on?" She whispered. I could see her fighting so hard to stay awake.

"C-Cooper... we found out t-that..." I felt myself tearing up, but tried to blink it away. "Y-Your scan... i-it wasn't good..."

"Oh..." She murmured.

"A-And the doctor's are s-saying that the treatment isn't g-going to work anymore... t-there's only a small c-chance. A-And y-you could... if y-you wanted... s-stop and c-come home for t-the next f-few m-months but t-then y-you'd..."

"Die." Cooper whispered.

I nodded tearfully. "T-This isn't a choice y-you should h-have to m-make, but w-we didn't feel r-right making it for you."

"Yeah..."

"Y-You don't h-have to d-decide right n-now if y-you-"

She cut me off. "I wanna go home."

"Coops..."

"I wanna go home." She repeated. "I w-wanna live. A-And being here i-isn't living Rhett. I w-wanna go home."

I pulled her into a hug as we both started crying. She was so young, and this wasn't fair on her at all.

But she was so brave, and so strong, and I admired her more than anything.