An Abundance of White Blood Cells // [WATTYS 2017]

ONE

Above is Sloane

Having cancer is shitty.

Not as shitty as dying...but it's pretty close. Especially leukemia. Leukemia is a type of cancer where you have too many white blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow, which results in the white blood cells not being fully developed. And sadly, I had this shitty type of cancer. I was diagnosed when I was ten, seven years later, here I am, seventeen and still breathing!

When I had my first chemo session my parents promised I could dye my hair whatever color I wanted, once it grew back. They probably thought I was gonna die because they are against unnatural hair colors, I took advantage of that when I was younger, but not anymore. As of right now, I haven't needed any chemo for two years, my doctors are convinced the cancer is slowly leaving my body. I should be so lucky.

Lately I've been staying home, watching shows on Netflix or reading, or sleeping. Basically anything an introvert would do. My mom doesn't think I get out enough, which is probably true. She tries to get me to go out and do things with other people, I do sometimes, mostly to humor her. But most times I just stay in and A) Be and introvert. Or B) go to one of my friends houses. I don't have many friends. Just two. And that night, my parents were out of town and we were having a sleepover.

***

"Just as I expected, you're doing great." My doctor, Dr. Welsh said as she walked back into my check up room, carrying a clipboard with my test results. Today was my monthly check up. Dr. Welsh is by far my favorite doctor out of all the doctors I've had. She doesn't sugar coat shit. She just tells me how it is, and I appreciate it. Being blunt is good for a doctor. "All I would do is eat a little more protein." She smiled. I nodded.

"So, have you thought about going back to school, finish your senior year-" She began.

"Phillis, did my mom ask you to talk to me this?" I asked. Yes, I was on a first name basis with my doctor.

She paused for a moment. "Sloane, she's just worried that you don't have...friends"

"I have friends. I have Rose and Lena." I replied.

"I know that," Phillis agreed. "But...I think your mom wants you to branch out some more."

I just smiled and got up. "I'll see you next month, Phillis."

I ducked out of the check up room and found my mom in the waiting room reading an outdated magazine that the doctors office kept on supply. She set the magazine down when she saw me, and got up so we could leave. We got to the beat up old blue slug bug that we've had since I was diagnosed and got in. After I buckled in I started pulling my shoulder length brown hair into a sad excuse of a bun. "So, how'd it go?" Mom asked.

"Good, everything's great." I smiled. "Just need to eat some more protein." I pulled the sleeves of my jacket down to cover my nearly translucent skin. Mom turned on the radio and put on what she liked to call "a little background noise" She never actually listened to the music, she just needed the white noise. When we were half way home, Mom reminded me that she and Dad were going out for their Anniversary date that night. I had plans to have a sleepover with my friends, Rose and Lena.

We got home, which was a bright yellow two story house, five minutes later and I helped my mom pick out the perfect dress for the date. She ended up wearing a flowy red dress with a pair of flats and did her hair in flowing brown curls. Dad wore his nice jeans and his nice button up. As they left Mom made me promise I'd call her if I needed her for anything. "I love you honey." She said as Dad practically dragged her out of the house. "I love you too!" I smiled.