Satellites

Eighteen

        It was the last day of Thanksgiving Break and Hospital Day. The bruising got so much worse. I have patches on my legs, my thighs, my arms, and some on my stomach, not really a great thing to wake up to. I also started getting nosebleeds, like yesterday. My paleness level just went a little overboard this time. I – LOOK – SO – DEAD.

On the bright side, Mark was here for moral support.

The nurse comes out and calls for me. I stand up followed by Kellin and Mark. We enter Dr. Sullivan’s office and I already know it wasn’t good news. No one will look that remorseful if they weren’t about to say bad news.

“Katherine Valentine; chronic myeloid leukemia, six months and still progressing. Nancy told me that the bruising has gotten worse for you”

I nod. “Yes it has…”

“You see in these types of situations, I’d pull a face and tell you that you still have a chance, but Katherine, your case is so unique.”

“What?”

“You see a person with CML would slowly be brought to pain and it’s been almost eight months and you’re only showing the early symptoms. Nancy came back with your blood tests and it says that your body’s fighting back”

“So she does have a chance?” Mark asks.

“Yes and no – this could be temporary, we don’t know what can happen in due time. I’ll give you two choices. One, we’ll do chemo therapy. Or two, we’ll give you medicines for it.”

“She’s not taking chemo – that shit’s poison.” Kellin mumbles.

            He’s right – in a way it is. I mean it kills the cancer cells, but it also kills you. Dr. Sullivan looks at me and I nod. He starts scribbling down something on one of those fancy looking papers. I will admit this now, his penmanship’s really nice. 

“Here, take this to the pharmacy down stairs, they’ll know what to do. I’ve requested an expedited order, so you should be receiving these medicines within two days”

“How much are they?”

“They don’t cost too much Katherine, and since you and your brother here are under Medicare – it should be covering most of it. Whatever’s left you can pay off later.”

“I have a question” Mark spoke.

“Go on”

“Why does Kat have CML and Kellin doesn’t?”

“Good question, here is my theory. In the womb, the virus was looking for say a host body, maybe their mother’s was too strong so it moved on to the wins. Kellin might’ve been too strong for it as well, so maybe it moved on to Katherine.”

“I feel so bad now…” Kellin looks down. Dr. Sullivan chuckles.

“Kellin don’t be such a wimp, not right now” I reply and grinned at him.

“So Doc, does that make me a weak person in general?”

“Are you willing to beat CML?” He asks back.

I look at Kellin and then Mark. A sudden realization hit me. At first, I was just going to give up and let the virus take over. Right now, I realize that I was about to throw away a perfect picture. Gosh, I am so stupid. All the friends and family I’d be leaving behind. The people who care for me. Screw it, I’m fighting this bitch down.

“Yes, yes I will”

“How long does Katherine have?” Mark asks.

“We won’t know until the full analysis comes back.”