Too Perfect ✹ Shyland

4

Ryland's POV

I opened my eyes to find myself in a similar situation. Doctors and nurses surrounded me, but Shane was no where to be seen. It was terrifying.

"Ryland?" My sister, Morgan, said. "What happened? Shane called me, saying you passed out?"

"Morgan... Ryland will need surgery.. he has a mass on the tissue around his heart, constricting it from pumping through his body. We have been monitoring it, but now that his symptoms have progressed negatively, we believe it could be cancerous, unlike how we detected. We need to operate as soon as possible... It's his best chance.." One of the doctors explained. Morgan started crying, and took my hand.

"Ryland....." Morgan said. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I knew I was.... dying...." I said. "I didn't wan-t to- scare you..."

"This is scaring me more now..... Does Shane know?"

"No..." I said. "I- tri-ed to tell him... but I- couldn't brea-the.."

~

I was given medicine to calm my body down for the surgery, and Shane was allowed into the room while I was fading out of consciousness.

"What's going on?" He asked me. "Morgan told me... you're sick?"

"I am.." I said. "I have a tumor... near my heart..."

"I can't believe it..." Shane said, wiping his eyes. "Are you... dying?"

"I don't know.." I said. "There's a chance.... If they can't remove the whole mass, I could eventually die..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He cried more.

"I don't want you to worry about me..." I said taking his hand. "I love you.... and I don't want you to worry about me. I didn't want you to tell me to stop working.... so I said I was working more to support the kids..." I said. "I didn't want you to find out like this.... I tried telling you..."

"I know..." He said. "I love you so much, baby.... I can't lose you...."

"That's why I've been so hard on you..." I said, feeling the effects of the medication. "I want to know you can be both of us... both the fun... and working... dad... Can yo-u?"

"You know I can..." Shane said.

"I know..." I said. "If I... don't see you.... after this...." I took a breath. "I want you to know.... I will never stop lov-ing y-ou....."

"I'll see you after this...." He cried, then gave me a kiss before I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

~

"Ry?" I heard a voice. "Ry? It's me.... Your sister..."

"I'm alive?" I groaned.

"Yes...." Morgan said. "Shane is in the waiting room with Annie and Reid if you want me to bring them in....." I nodded.

"Does Annie know.... what's going on?" I asked.

"Yeah.." She said. "Shane talked to them when Annie saw you being wheeled down to surgery..."

"Okay..." I said. She left the room to get my family, and Shane was still crying. "Hi..." I said.

"I told you.." He smiled. "I told you we'd see each other after the surgery...." Shane sat next to my bed, and took my hand. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty weak..." I said. "Hi Anniebear...." I looked at my daughter. "I'm proud of you..."

"Why are you proud of me?" Annie asked.

"You were being a strong big sister... for your brother, and you were there to make sure your other dad wasn't crying his eyes out..." I said.

"No... He was crying his eyes out.." She said, and Shane chuckled.

"Do you blame me?" He asked, and Annie shook her head. My doctor walked in moments later.

"Hey doc..." I said. "What's the verdict?" He looked through my papers, and listened to my breathing.

"Your breathing is still a little erratic, but that could be because you're coming off of the medication.. How do you feel?" He asked me.

"Pretty weak... but I'm alive.." I said. "Did the surgery go well?"

"Yes..." He said. "The tumor was completely removed. We advise you to keep to limited activity for about a week, then you can slowly.... slowly.... get back to your exercise regimen. You will still have a little bit of discomfort as you get back to your healthiest state, but you're going to live... You're not completely in the clear, however, and since you're this weak, we may have some to run some more tests to make sure your body is adapting to the change."

"Thank you, doc..." I said.

"It's my job.." He said. "Shane.... Don't be getting too physical with him.." Shane's cheeks turned red, and I giggled.

"No worries.." I said. "He'll be working around the house for the both of us, so he'll be too tired.." I winked at my husband, and he blushed.

~

Within the next week, I was released from the hospital and put on limited activity rest for about a month. I was able to walk on our treadmill, and Annie kept checking in on me, making sure I was getting up and exercising when I could. Shane did all of the house work along with running his YouTube channel. I was okay to go back to work by August.

"Welcome back!" Joslyn said, giving me a huge hug when I walked in. "We were all so worried about you!"

"I told you guys not to worry.." I said, but Lily carried out a cake, and I was distracted. "Okay... I'm sorry, but I'm on a strict diet right now..."

"It's vegan.." Miriam said. "Completely vegan. Joslyn called Shane, and he gave her a list of what you can have right now.."

"Shane?" I was about to turn around, but he had his arms wrapped around my waist. "Baby...."

"Well, are we going to all gawk at how cute Shyland is, or are we going to celebrate Ryland being back?" Misty asked. "We have work to do!"

~

    "I'm proud of you..." Shane whispered into my ear as we cuddle up together on the couch after putting our kids to sleep that night.

    "Proud? How come?"

    "For being this strong..." He smiled. "You knew you had health issues.... but you didn't want me to worry, and you didn't want Annabelle to worry...."

    "I don't see that as being strong.." I sighed. "I should've said something when I first found out.. But it wasn't the best time, and we needed to focus on our family...." I looked up at Shane as my head rested on his chest. "I'm sor-" In an instant, our lips connected, and his hands wrapped around my waist.

"Don't apologize..." He said softly. "It's not your fault.... some things like this happen because the world just can't handle it being perfect...."