SM: Her Last Summer

Chapter 16: A Beach Bash

AVERY'S P.O.V:
"This Summer?" Mum gasped.

Doctor Perkskine gestured towards his chart, "Avery is already past the stages of making a full recovery with basic treatment. From her results we are surprised she has survived the past three months. Without performing the alternative treatment she will die. Basic treatment may not even allow her to survive the rest of the Summer."

"How much is this treatment?"

"The treatment is estimated to cost over one hundred thousand dollars or more. The procedure will be extremely expensive and will eradicate most of the cancer," he said.

My mother nodded along, "We can afford it. When can we start?"

"We could start as soon as next week. We may have to transfer to another hospital, but most likely she will be positioned here," he informed.

"Wait!" I exclaimed.

My mother turned to me expectantly, "Honey. I know you are probably worrying about the money, we can afford it."

"It's not that. You said two years Doctor?"

"Two years. Then another four for full recovery."

"I can't do that," I said.

"Of course you can. You have too," Mum ordered.

"No. I can't. Stanford won't hold my position for six years Mum."

"You won't even make it to Stanford if you don't do this," she snapped.

Doctor Perkskine gave a cough, "Mrs Hunter, the choice of taking the treatment is up to Avery."

"Avery, you are going to take this treatment aren't you honey?" she pleaded.

The words that I was about to say I knew would forever alter my relationship with my mum.

"I don't know."

She slammed the car door and stomped up the driveway.

"Mum!," I called.

"Two weeks Avery! Two weeks! If you don't make the decision by then you are going to die! Don't you care?" She yelled.

"Of course I care. I just don't know whether I want to be stuck in a hospital room for six years," I fumed.

"It is better than dying!" She argued.

"Mum-" I pleaded.

"No. We are not continuing this conversation. It is not like my opinion is going to influence your decision," she chided.

She pushed the front door open and flounced up to her room. I hurried in after her. The lock of her bedroom door was a signification that our conversation had ended. I trudged to the bathroom and studied my complexion. Baggy eyes and exhaustion were the only physical signs of my diagnosis. The diagnosis that is causing me to question everything. Kayleigh, my enthusiastic bestfriend still didn't know. I knew I should've told her about my appointments but I knew keeping it from her and everyone else would make it seem more ridiculous.

The thoughts troubled me as I continued to stew over the decision. This is how it is; I can live for the Summer or I can live for the rest of my life. I know I should be choosing the latter but when I think of that I see myself in a hospital gown, tubes as accessories, doctors and nurses prodding at me. The idea wouldn't appeal to anyone. I buried the thoughts in the back of my mind. Cancer was not going to stop me from having fun.

I threaded the leather belt through my loose denim shorts. Much to mum's annoyance I had decided to skip out on what I assumed was a melancholic dinner and instead pamper myself for the night ahead. I pulled up the white strapless top to cover more of my chest and tugged on the red flowered button up. Piper sat on my bed flicking through a surf magazine.