Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
⇸
Delilah was awoken by someone jumping on her. She groaned, sucking in air that was lost. She opens her eyes with a scared look only to see Ronnie smiling down at her. Delilah rolled her eyes before pushing her off.
"Aw, come on. I woke you up before work. Shouldn't you be happy about that?"
"No." Delilah turned, stuffing her head in between the pillows and the blankets.
"Come on.. Ew, girl, were you hot or something. The bed is completely soaked with sweat."
Delilah sighed, "No. I was fine."
"Well, you need to get that checked out."
"Whatever." Wait. She stops, thinking about the nights she woke up, sweating. And most days she was exhausted from doing nothing. Her lymphs were fine, but they were starting to get sore. Delilah popped out of bed, her face white.
"What? What's going on?" Ronnie's own face blanched with fear. Delilah's mantra became like a roar in her head. I don't have cancer. I don't have cancer. I DON'T have cancer. "Delilah, you're scaring me."
"I need to make a call." She searched for her phone, shaking. She didn't want to go through it again. She was only a year sober. How could she have it again? She was in remission. Ronnie handed her the phone.
"Whatever you're thinking, it's gonna be okay. Make your call. I'm here." Delilah breathed out and nodded, giving Ronnie a hug that crushed her.
She dialed a number and waited. "Dr. Rome's office, how may I help you?"
"Hey, Katy."
"HUH, Delilah! How are you?"
"I'm alright." Her voice was strained. "I need to talk to Dr. Rome."
"Okay, hold for a moment." Delilah sat down as the music played, her leg going up and down. She made a fist with her free hand.
"Hello?" Dr. Rome's deep voice calmed her only for a second. "Delilah?"
"Hi, Dr. Rome. Um, I'm a little scared."
"What's going on?"
"I think.. I think I have cancer again."
"Okay. Tell me your symptoms?"
"I've been having a lot of night sweats. The ones I can remember actually woke me up. My lymphs under my armpits, again, feel sore. But other than that, nothing."
"Hmm, then I suggest you make an appointment with a doctor. I know one in Detroit. I'll send over a file to him. Better yet, I'll make an appointment for you and then have Katy call you back."
She nodded, "Okay."
"Delilah, it's going to be okay. If it is cancer, we caught it a lot sooner than the last time."
"Yeah."
"I'll talk to you later."
"Thank you." She hung up and then looked at Ronnie. "I'm getting an appointment."
"Good, okay. Then we can go and they'll say it was nothing. Everything will be fine." The good thing about Ronnie was that she always looked at the positive side. She was not like that. It was good to hear a positive side.
Delilah smiled.
"Then," Ronnie started. "all of us will live our lives like we want too. Josh and Emery married with kids. You and Jake." She gave her the eyes.
"I wasn't going to say anything about it."
"Please. The look on your face last night was pure bliss. I've never seen you or him look like that. You didn't, you know..." She made a gesture that made Delilah groan in embarrassment.
"No!"
"Then what?"
"Well," Delilah's face broke into a stupid smile. "he bought a fixer upper."
"I'm sorry, what?"
Delilah chuckled. "You heard me."
"He bought you a house before you were dating? Geez, he must love you. HUh! Did you say that you loved each other?"
"Too soon."
"UGH!" She hysterically fell back onto the bed. "You two are sooo hopeless. You guys fell asleep in each others arms, talk about serious things, look at each other like you two are already married and you can't say that you love him and vice versa."
"Give us time." If I even have it.
The phone rang, breaking her from her depressing thought and answered it. She expected Katy's voice, but instead it was her mother.
"Delilah! Good morning. I'm glad I caught you before work."
"Good morning, Mom."
"So, Marlon is moving in with Rose."
Delilah was surprised, "Oh?"
"Yes, and he said that it was something that he should have done a long time ago.
"Oh.. mom... I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. You were right sweetie. When I confronted him, it was like a different person in front of me. If he loved me, he would have told me about it. Actually, it should have never happened." Delilah smiled. Her mother sounded like she was a teenager. She was being rebellious and Delilah was proud of her.
"So, what now?"
"Well, Arlo and I are staying in the house. He did try to take Arlo with him, but apparently Arlo didn't want to go."
Delilah bit the inside her cheek, "He's a lot smarter than we think sometimes."
"Yeah. I told Marlon if he wanted Arlo, we would have to get a court order. Marlon and I are divorcing."
"You go, Mom!"
"Thank you!" They were quiet or a second. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great!" She lied through her teeth but she wanted her mother to be happy and not worry that her daughter might have cancer again. "I better go. I have to get ready for work."
"Okay. Bye, sweetie."
Ronnie gave her a look. One that said 'Seriously?'
"Okay. I get it. But Marlon and Mom are getting a divorce and she sounds happy. I didn't want to ruin it."
She huffed and stood. "Fine."
Delilah grabbed her arm. "Don't tell Jake."
"What?"
"Please. I want to tell him on my own time and when I know. For sure."
Ronnie was debating. Yes, girls before bros. However, this was her actual brother. And Delilah knew if she broke Jake's heart, Ronnie would give her an earful.
"Fine. But as long as you promise that you will tell him."
"Okay," Her phone rang again and she answered. She was given a time for her appointment. She looked at Ronnie. "They got one for tomorrow."
Ronnie sighed, "Good. I'll take you."
Delilah nodded, grateful that she had a wonderful best friend.
But lurking beneath her heart, was fear. And it was spreading.
