The FAFSA Bride. ||| on hold |||

Chapter 16: The Donor

Four Months Later

                Bryce was up late, trying his hardest to focus on his midterm study guide. Michelle had practically forced him to stay in school, despite his ardent objections. Their life was crazy enough has it was, with cancer treatments and doctor’s appointments, everything had blurred together. Michelle didn’t want Bryce to put his life on hold, which was a sensitive subject for her since she’d dropped her classes shortly after her diagnosis. Between the physical side effects of the treatments and the mild depression Michelle felt about being sick, school was just worth the effort. Bryce felt similarly, that he should work and be there for Michelle. All he wanted was to hold her hand and help her, but that only made things harder. I don’t want you to always see me like this, Michelle would say. I’m not the beautiful women you felt in love with. Of course, she was referring to her ever thinning hairline and the fact that she’d gone from curvaceous to gaunt and thin. But Bryce didn’t give a damn about her appearance or their sex life, because he only cared about one thing. He wanted to help Michelle get healthy, whatever the cost. So after a lengthy debate about their situation, they’d come to an agreement. Michelle and Bryce moved in with his parents, so that Tina Santiago could help take Michelle to appointments and help care for her. In some ways, Bryce’s parents were thrilled. They were lonely in their big house with no children and Bryce’s parents adored Michelle. But on some level, Bryce knew his parents were worried. Everyone was worried. Guys his age were supposed to go to pub crawls, not to their wives latest radiation therapy appointment. But he’d do it for eternity, because she was still alive.

                Bryce watched his wife sleeping on the couch, noting how she actually did still look beautiful. She had a scarf wrapped around her head to cover the bald spots, and her face looked soft. He couldn’t help but sit and watch her, hoping she could get some decent rest after the latest treatment.

“So how is she doing,” Bryce’s father, Martin, asked.

“Well, she is sleeping,” Bryce said. “I talked to Dr. Bresko today about her test results; it could be better.”

“Did he talk to Michelle,” Martin asked.

“Not yet,” Bryce replied. “I asked him to tell her in the morning. She had a very rough day today; she felt so sick. I think she just needs to sleep.”

“So what did the doctor say?”

 “Basically, she isn’t getting worse, but she isn’t getting better. The cancer is just stable, not going one way or the other. They can continue the current treatment and hope it helps, but it might not.”

“And the damage it does to her body might make other treatment options difficult.”

“So does that mean they look into a transplant option,” Marti asked.

“Yeah,” Bryce said. “Michelle’s dad and cousin are getting tested tomorrow to see who the best match is. She should be in surgery by the end of the week.”

“That is good news, Bryce.”

“I hope so,” Bryce said. “Dad, I can’t say thank you enough for helping us out. I mean, when I got married I thought of a lot of scenarios and how we’d handle them. But I never thought of what to do when my wife got cancer.”

“Son, you helped us plenty of times,” Martin said. “We’re family. This is what we do.”

“I know,” Bryce said. “I’m going to sit with her while she sleeps.”

“Ok, son,” Martin said.

***

Michelle sat in the bed with a small notebook computer on her lap. Bryce had went to get her something to drink, helping like always. Michelle appreciated his love and attention, but she also felt guilty. Sometimes she thought about how they’d only gotten together to pay for school, and now, that reason was gone. He had every right to walk away, but still, Bryce was there. He was more than a husband to her, he was like her guardian angel. So, she kept fighting and trying to get better, although her self-resolve had little to do with it. She had been going to support groups with other patients, and trying to find ways to be happy. A small part of her feared she wouldn’t survive this battle and she’d just drift away into oblivion. My life is freaking John Green novel, she thought. Still, she intended to make her life special, to enjoy the moments. But still, she couldn’t help thinking of the inevitable, so she typed away on two separate lists. One was for the best case scenario, and one was for the worst case scenario. Bryce emerged with a cup of water and a smile, making Michelle return the gesture. My angel, she thought to herself.