Bex

Chapter 38:

  Today makes four weeks since I'd been a resident at Hope Mercy Hospital- it also meant that I'd gone through all my rounds of induction chemotherapy. Dr. Jackson told me yesterday that I would be starting intensification chemotherapy today, since everything had gone well so far.

I was a little bit more nervous about starting the new and more aggressive chemo. I'd heard that intensification chemotherapy was, well- more intense, for a lack of a better word- but Dr. Jackson had assured me that I'd already gone through the worst of it already.

  Me and Axel were laying in my hospital bed, cuddling, and watching The Proposal for the zillionth time- I never get tired of watching this movie! I pulled Axel's black beanie more securely around my head.

  "I can't believe we use to act like that before we got together- for real." I commented, watching the part where the main characters were arguing about pretending to be a couple.

  "I can," Axel continued when I gave him a look. "You're stubborn and I have a knack for being a charming asshole ."

  "Well, you at least got the last part right." I teased.

  "I got all of it right."

  I rolled my eyes and continued to watch the movie. Suddenly Axel's phone rang; he pulled it out of his pocket and answered it. I paused the movie.

  "Hey, Mom... yeah, I know." He looked at me before quickly adverting his eyes. "I'm really sorry, Mom, but you know I can't. Tell her I'm sorry and that I love her... okay, bye, love you." He hung up the phone and gave me a phony smile. "Let's keep watching the movie- I love the part that's coming up next."

  He reached out to hit play, but I grabbed his hand to stop him.

  "Axel, what was that about?"

  "What was what about?" I rolled my eyes at his fake innocence.

  "You know what. What were you talking to your mom about?"

  He sighed, "It's Riley's birthday, and she's having a party. She wants to know  when I'm coming, but I can't leave you here alone." He cupped my cheek, looking lovingly into my eyes.

  I felt a pain in my chest at the thought of holding him back from his life. It was why I tried to scare him off when he first came to see me in the hospital, but we all know how well that worked out (cue eye roll). I grabbed his wrist, removing his hand from my face.

  "Axel, it's your sister's birthday. Go see her! I'll be okay without you for a few hours."

  "The last time I left you alone, you ended up in the hospital." His eyes shone with worry.

  "You've left me alone many times before that, and nothing bad ever happened then." I tried to convince him.

  "Nothing bad? You had cancer the whole time." He deadpanned.

  "Oh my God! Axel!" I grabbed his face in between my hands. "I. Will. Be. Okay. I'm in a hospital surrounded by doctors and nurses- you know, the ones who save people?"

  I got him to crack a smile at that, but he still wasn't convinced.

  "I don't know- you're starting a round of that new chemo today. I don't want you to be alone when that happens."

  "Axel, I've already been through four weeks of chemo; I think I'll be fine. Go wish your sister a happy birthday for the both of us."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes!" I beamed. "Nothing bad is going to happen to me while you're gone."

  "Okay..." He said reluctantly.