Paying For Cancer

Chapter Two

Yeah yeah, long time no see, just take the story. :P

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 I held the object in my hands so hard that my knuckles were turning white. I couldn't feel it in the middle of my palm anymore. My eyes were so blurry with tears that I was unable to see it, either. My chest was tightening as sobs wracked my body. There was no way I could do this. I had cancer, I had to look the part. Right?

The electric razor hummed violently in my hands, numbing them. I had cancer. I had no need for my hair anymore. It was all going to fall off during treatment anyways.

Oh, treatment, huh? Madison, how could you be so naive. You weren't getting treated. You don't have the money. Your insurance doesn't pay for it.

I was going to die, so what was the point of keeping my hair?

Taking a deep breath, I poised the razor on my forehead, just before my hairline. I had always prided myself on my thick, pecan-colored curls. They were a nuisance, sure, but they were beautiful, and they complimented my dark skin and my blue eyes.

No need for those anymore.

I braced myself for the first buzz by closing my eyes and letting out a long sigh. Here goes nothing...

"Madison, no!" I heard a shout, causing me to stop dead in my tracks. I threw the electric razor away from me and turned on my heel to find Willow and Val standing in the bathroom doorway, with Marcus lingering in the background.

My jaw fell as I gaped at them. "Will? Val?" I looked at each girl as I said their name. They wasted no time in scrambling forwards, gathering me into a somber hug. I looked at Marcus. "You told them?"

Marcus shrugged, his eyes full of remorse. "They wouldn't leave me alone, Mads."

I had begged and pleaded with Marcus to not tell my best friends. I didn't want them to know that I had cancer so that we could finish out our high school careers normally, without the constant thought of me being sick and the potential of me dying.

Rage pounded in my ears as I broke free of the tangle of arms around me and shoved past Marcus. I heard Val shout my name, but I was too angry to reply. I grabbed my keys off the counter and made my way outside. Willow's car occupied our driveway, blocking my car in. I huffed in annoyance and began walking.

I needed to get out of house. Marcus had been suffocating me. I walked several blocks down, and then several more. My rage was starting to wear off, and the cold was settling in. I shivered, and my breath billowed in front of my face. This October had been strangely cold. Finally it became unbearable with just my t-shirt on and I pushed my way into a gas station.

I let the warm wash over me, breathing a sigh of relief at the comforting feeling. My stomach growled painfully,, and I patted my pockets, swearing as I realized that I hadn't brought my wallet. Or my phone, for that matter. I heaved a sigh and wandered around the gas station, gearing up to go back outside. Without looking, I made my way down the chip aisle, searching the shelves with a longing feeling in my stomach.

Suddenly, I ran face-first into someone. I stumbled back, but luckily caught my footing and used the shelves to pull myself back up. I felt a hand wrap around my upper arm, steadying me. I opened my mouth to thank them, but stopped short when my eyes fell upon the man who had been at my cheerleading tryout.

He shot me a smile. "Easy there, tiger." He cooed, removing his hand from my arm.

I offered him a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that, mister. I should have watched where I was going." The way he was looking at me made me feel like a child.