When Best Friends Love

CHAPTER EIGHT: YOU MAKE ME HAPPY.

On a plastic hallway chair sat a child, legs kicking in the air, clearing the floor by several inches as they swung back and forth. Maryam was mesmerized by the red rubber boots on his feet and blue duffle coat, somehow the kid reminded her of Paddington Bear. His face had unhealthy look to it and his eyes were hard open as he stared at nothing on the wall. Maryam stopped. The boy's legs weren't swinging in the care-free way she'd first assumed. Each one was more like a kick, sharp and pointed. She crouched down in front of him, letting the boy see her white coat and stethoscope. She fixed her veil and smiled sweetly at the boy. He stared at her with no expression on his face. She gently placed her palm on his cheek.

"Hey there, I'm Doctor Maryam. What's your name?" The boy became still and was quiet for a moment, sitting further back into the chair.

"Aliyu," came out almost like an accident, spilling out of his drawn inward lips. His brown eyes lost their harshness, becoming rounder, more glossy. Maryam looked at his mother and smiled. "He's the one?" She asked politely. The mother smiled sadly, nodding. "Come with me aliyu," Maryam said trying to hold his hand.

After an hour of observation and tests, she sat down on her office chair wondering how she would tell his mother her son has cancer. She scratched the back of her head looking at the boy in much pity. "The boy has Leukemia," a Doctor said, interrupting her thoughts. "I figured that out Doc," she spoke with a long sighed. "Call his mother for me," she ordered. The doctor did as he was told. He came back together with aliyu's mother.

"Uhmm you may not be happy with what we're going to tell you...." Maryam started, looking at the mother to her fellow doctors. "Your son has Leukemia," Maryam broke the bad news to his mother. "Leukemias, which are cancers of the bone marrow and blood, are the most common childhood cancers. They account for about 28% of all cancers in children. The most common types in children are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These leukemias can cause bone and joint pain, fatigue, weakness, pale skin, bleeding or bruising, fever, weight loss, and other symptoms. Acute leukemias can grow quickly, so they need to be treated (typically with chemotherapy) as soon as they are found."

"Is there any cure for this please doctor? He is my only child," she said worriedly her eyes gathering tears. "Well Treatment depends on severity. Treatment is highly variable. For slow-growing leukaemias, treatment may include monitoring. For aggressive leukaemias, treatment includes chemotherapy that's sometimes followed by radiation and stem-cell transplant. But we will do our best to make sure your son is being cured," she explained. She grabbed the woman's hand, "I promise In sha Allah your son will escape this." She reassured.

The boy got admitted immediately and started undergoing treatment. Maryam was in her office together with the mother, writing down what they needed for the boy's medication when Mahmud came in. "Oh sorry, I hope I didn't interrupt you," he said apologetically. "Uh no, come in, she is about to leave," she said giving the woman the paper she wrote the bill.

She left while he sat comfortably on the sofa. He was still wearing his uniform. "What's up," he said reaching to her fridge. He grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it down. "I have a very difficult case to handle right now," she sighed, getting up from her office chair to check some files in her desk drawer.

"You look tired, wanna eat something?" He asked with so much care. "M-hm," she nodded. "Why don't we go get something to eat when you're done with work?" He suggested. She shook her head sighing, "I have a lot to do. Going home late today."

"I'll go get something for you then." He rose up from the couch. "You're the best," she stated, looking pleased. She continued her work while he went out to her favorite restaurant and bought her favorite dish and dessert. When he came back, she wasn't in the office. He arranged the takeaways on her desk and waited patiently for her to come back. She came back in together with her P. A tailing behind with files. She kept the files on Maryam's desk, stealing glances at Mahmud who was busy with his phone. Maryam glared at her and sent her out before she could have the chance to greet him.