My Destined Experience

Chapter 18

"I'm sorry what's Addison's disease and what's Huntington's Chorea?" I ask, confused.

"Addison's disease is a disorder in which the adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones. Huntington's Chorea or Huntington's Disease is an inherited condition in which nerve cells in the brain break down over time." Doctor Gavin explained. My mom's hand went to cover her mouth, I could see tears filling her eyes. "Unfortunately neither can be cured. But treatment can help."

My mom let out a quiet sob after Doctor Gavin left. "Mom, everything's going to be alright." She nodded, "Em, and Ash are coming."

"Sweetie, do you understand what's happening?"

"Yes. I'm sick, and I'm not going to get any better. It's only going to get worse from here. But they are my friends and they were worried about me when I didn't respond to their messages before, they want to visit me and they are on their way." My voice was trembling by this point. I took a deep breath, "Just let me see my friends, please."

"Ok." My mom left ten minutes ago, to go get some food and coffee from the cafeteria. I don't know why hospital food is the worst food. I think she went down so she could cry in peace. She always puts on a brave face.

I decided that since I was alone to do some research on my diseases. I found out that both are hereditary...and fatal. Adults usually live to seventy-five with Addison's and the life expectancy for an adult with Huntington's is twenty years. Unfortunately, the outlook for kids is grim. Huntington's could kill me in less than ten years and Addison's causes sudden death. This is sadly the outcome for children.

I was still trying to wrap the fact that I could die any day now around my mind when Ash and Em came into my hospital room. "Hey," I said giving them a weary smile. They both rushed in and gave me a hug. "So what'd I miss at school?" They caught me up on everything.

The popular girl apparently wore something that was way too revealing, I got out of a pop quiz in history, and Em and Will are now dating. "That's fantastic news!" I said when Em told me.

"Hey Sophie so you never told me, will you go to the amusement park with me next Saturday?"

I gave him a look, I could feel myself about to burst into tears. I pulled myself together, "Can we talk down in the garden, together, alone?"

"Sure." My mom calls Chloe in to ask if we can go down to the garden, she says yes and takes out the IV in my arm and Ash and I head down to the garden while Em waited inside. There was a sign on the gate that read Healing Garden. Maybe it'll make me die slower, I thought. Ash held open the gate for me as we entered. The flowers were still in full bloom and they had cheerful colored flowers, yellows, purples, pinks and light blues.

There were two water fountains. One fixed to the wall, water cascading down the wall so that if you were a little kid you just couldn't resist sticking your hand in the water. The other was at the heart of the garden, a classic park fountain. Both of the fountains floors were littered with coins, from well wishers hoping their loved ones wouldn't die. We sat by the wall fountain.

"So what'd you want to talk about?" Ash asked curiously.

I bit my lip, "um," my throat started to close and suddenly felt like I was going to puke. Why was this so hard? I had only known him for nine months! And yet when I'm with him I...I focus on the positive, I'm happy, I haven't had a nightmare since February, and every time I think of him I smile, really smile, not a fake one. Stop! If you keep thinking about how much you like him, you're going to cry.

"Sophe, what did you want to talk about?" Ash asked again, this time touching my arm. His touch reminding me of our first date. I looked him in his eyes, like looking into a pair of emeralds, I took his hand off my arm and held it for a moment.