Chapter 10
6 Months Later
(Brittany's POV)
At first everything looked good with Jackie's chemo. They informed us that it was working, and I was filled with a temporary optimism that my little sister would soon be out of the pit of despair that now surrounds her when she is concious.
Jackie even attempted to take her first step since the accident that led to the discovery of her cancer. I was right there by her side, grasping her hand. She took two steps and was suddenly exhausted, so El rushed to her aid and carefully lowered her back into the wheelchair, which now has custom wheels with pink around the spokes (Jackie picked them out herself).
But when Jackie started feeling achier than usually, Dr. Johan sent her off to get scans and blood work done. She's awfully brave, allowing all these doctors to poke, prod, and poison her constantly.
Last week, the doctors rushed in, spewing out their findings. Apparently, the cancer is trying to travel and prey on a certain part of the body, causing fatal complications. And right now, the cancer could be anywhere.
Two nights ago, I was spoon-feeding Jackie her soup. She started coughing, "regurgitating" as the nurses call it. Her head was throbbing, she claimed that her "everything" hurt. Doctors and nurses and everybody rushed in. Enough people to fill a small country flooded in.
Doctors pushed her bed out of the room with unfathomable speed, leaving my parents and I behind. I reached out my hand and let it hover until her hospital bed was out of sight. Then I kicked the wall in defeat.
They managed to stabilized Jackie. She's been in the ICU for two days. She's not talking or eating, and she's rarely waking up. Every time the nurses ask me how I'm doing, I tell them I'm okay. I'm okay.
"How are you feeling sweetie?!"
"I'm okay."
"Can I get you anything hon?"
"I'm okay."
It's so easy to tell people you're okay, even if you want to die. As a result of all this commotion, I've read The Fault In Our Stars seven times. I found it in Jackies bag. She's been reading it a lot lately. I'd never read it before the spoon feeding incident.
On my way to the hospital from my house (I had to go and feed Harry), I stop at the Branchwood Outlet. I park my car, disappointed, in a space far from Forever 21. So many people are here for a Thursday afternoon, and all the other parking spaces are full. Now I have to walk.
In the store, a lady asks me if I need anything. I've been really snappy lately, and I resist the urge to say 'No, I just came in here to eat the cableknit sweaters.' Instead I smile politely and say, "Do you have any beanies?"
She nods, tucks her blonde hair behind her ear, and leads the way. She taps her pink heels on the floor and gestures to an arrangement of multicolored beanies. I grab one of each and join the long line of people that flows from the counter out the door.
A middle-aged woman in front of me is standing with her teenage daughter, who's biting her lip and typing away on an iPhone. The woman leans back and grins at me. "That's a lot of hats you've got there, sweetie. What's the occasion?"
I try to stay cheery, thinking up a lie so I don't depress the poor lady. But the truth flows out. "My sister Jackie has cancer. She lost her hair months ago. Right now she's in the ICU and she used to be all about fashion. So I'm buying these for her."
The lady frowns and asks me how I am. I say I'm okay. Then I look away and pretend to be interested in the displays of jewelry, rings, bracelets, and earrings.
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Teen Fiction(Under MAJOR editing: to pieces!) "I still feel my right arm sometimes, like it's a distant friend or something. I just know that from now on I'm that girl, the one that people tell their friends about and take pictures of. I just wish this whole ca...
