Second Chance :: Nathan Chen

Chapter 14

Song: Don't Get Me Wrong by Lewis Capaldi 

Kierra's POV

"What?" I ask shocked. "I don't have time for cancer. I'm a World Champion, a figure skater, I need skating. I don't have time to be on the sidelines with cancer."

"Kierra, whether you choose to admit it or not, you do have cancer, a highly invasive cancer. And that's why we need to get you into treatment as soon as possible. Chemo and radiation are normally recommended in these cases, but, this might not work for you. Which is why a lung transplant is most likely your best bet."

I sit there in shock. 

Because I can't believe anything she's saying, and I can't make words out of any of it. It's just a drone of random jumbles of words. 

"I'm sorry, I, I..." I stammer. 

I don't cry. 

That's what figure skating taught me. You don't cry no matter how low your situation is, you put on a smile, and pretend that everything's okay. 

"Do you have someone you want to be here with you during this time?" Iris asks as she places her hand soothingly on my thigh. "It's recommended that you have a friend or family member with you as we try and figure out the best thing for your situation." 

"I don't have anyone I want here with me," I reply numbly. 

I want Vincent to be here with me, but he's in Colorado  having a private. 

"You know how cancer can be genetic, I was afraid that you would somehow get cancer."

Nathan's words ring loud and clear in my mind. That night in the hotel room when we were younger. When he told me he was scared of losing me. 

Fuck he cursed it. 

"Since you need a transplant of the lung, you need a donor. With the blood type of -AB it's pretty hard to find a donor. Which is why a lot of times family members will apply to be a donor." Iris states. 

My life is slowly crumbling under my feet, and I can't do anything about it. 

"And what if I don't get a donor?" I ask knowing the answer all too well.

"Then," Iris pauses. "You, you, run out of time."

It takes a couple of moments for the words to start sinking in, if I don't get a donor, I'm dead.

"And how long do I have?" I question fighting to keep the trembles out of my voice.

"At max, I can give you only 3 years," Iris says.

"And what about figure skating?" I question.

"You can continue doing it, but the longer you go on the more troubles you'll have with your breathing and routines," Iris informs me as she closes my file.

"Thank you very much," I whisper trying not to cry as I shake hands with her, watching her depart. 

She leaves me alone in the room. 

I'm dying. 

My fingers stroke the pristine figure skating blade with my name carved into the side. 

'Kierra Yu'

And what if in 3 years there is no more Kierra Yu?

What if in 3 years she's just a fleeting memory from the past? Another victim lost to cancer? Another face that no one remembers?

The tears that I've always been told to keep in are streaming down my face. 

Because Kierra Yu is going to die. 

Vincent's POV

I stare at the text from Kierra. 

The smile that was previously on my face drops in an instant. 

'Hey Vincent, wanted to tell you that I have cancer, yay big deal, wahooo. I have Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma, so yeah. have fun at the rink.'

'Kierra?' I text rapidly, waiting for her to reply. 

The read logo shows up instantly, but she doesn't respond. 

'Kierra, talk to me'

Yet she doesn't text back. And I stand there phone clenched in my hand, watching as the girl that I love leaves me on read. 

Nathan's POV

"So uh Nathan, there are some things I need to talk to you about," Rafael says as I finish my session. "Since Adam decided to retire, my focus has been centered around you. And now I think it would be nice to bring in a new student."

I open my mouth trying to say something. "A new student?" I repeat.

"Yes," Rafael replies, "Vincent Zhou has been asking me about lessons for a while, so I'll be taking him on."

"What?" I say trying to remain cool and collected. I've never really shared the ice with someone my age.

"Yes, I'll be training him this year as in 2020 and we'll see how it goes from there," Rafael states.

"And when is he coming?" I ask still slightly shocked.

"Next week."

Vincent's POV

"Kierra?" I ask uncertainly.

"Yeah?" She asks spinning around to face me.

"Is everything okay?" I ask. 

"As good as life is ever going to get," Kierra replies a pained smile appearing on her face. 

It's been two weeks since Kierra got diagnosed, and so I decided to stay with her for a short while, just to make sure she would be okay. 

"I know that this isn't a good time, and I should have probably told you this a while ago, but Rafael is willing to coach me. So I've decided to leave the training center in Colorado, and go to Utah for training. I'm leaving on Monday," I say quickly. 

"What?" She asks shocked. 

"I've always wanted to focus more on my jumps, and that's what I'm doing," I reply.

"So you're just going to pick up and move for how long?" Kierra asks her voice trembling.

"It's for a year, I'm sure we'll always see each other at competitions," I suggest.

"Why though?" Kierra asks.

"I mean if I want to become the next Nathan Chen, be an amazing jumper-"

"So that's it? You want to become the next 'Nathan Chen', you want to be a boy that throws girls aside like toys-" Kierra begins

"Kierra, no I shouldn't have said that. That's not what I mean-"

"I know exactly what you mean."