THIS CHRISTMAS

keeping a secret

As the evening went by, Sarah's mind continued wandering off at every chance it could get. She only tried to put on a smile all evening so that no one would suspect anything  going on. Few minutes later, everyone said their goodbyes and retired for the night.

Kevin was already fast asleep, but Sarah just kept tossing back and forth on the bed. After a while, she stood up, picked her phone and went to the bathroom. She sat down there for a while and later tried calling her doctor but ended the call before it could go through.

With tears already in her eyes, she said, "I can't tell anyone about this, how would they feel, this would be too much for them to bear".
She kept sobbing for a while but later stood up and returned to the bed and after a while  she fell asleep.

As her normal routine, Sarah was the first to get up from the bed. She stood up, went to the mirror and steered at herself for a while almost crying knowing she was sick. She quickly shook off the sad mood and immediately put on a radiant smile as she always did and went downstairs to prepare for the days activities.

"Mum I can't find my shoes", yelled Esther. It was noon already and the family was getting ready to go and share food and clothing materials to the poor and homeless like they always do. "Try checking under your bed", Sarah yelled back, shaking her head and taking a deep breath to show her tiredness.

Meanwhile, Sarah's phone had not stopped ringing for about an hour, but she refused to pick her call since she knows it's the doctor calling her. Dr. Maxwell had left several voicemails which she kept deleting and also text messages she decided not to reply to.

"Please, we need to talk, you have to stop ignoring my calls and messages and I hope you reply me soon". That was the last message Dr. Maxwell sent to Sarah which she saw and deleted immediately.

"Babe, hmm, admirers huuun", said Kevin sounding really funny. Sarah moving close to her husband smiling she said "are you jealous", holding him around  his neck and he on her waist. "You know i'm not", looking at her passionately, "but if anything's the matter you'd tell me right", still looking at her". Sarah trying to hold back her tears, took a while and then said, "yes I would". Then they kissed taking a while to themselves.

***
Days had gone by and Sarah was still avoiding to speak to the doctor. That night before she slept, she stood up taking her phone with her, went and sat in front of the mirror and she finally sent him a message saying "i'd see you when I return, and please stop calling me, my family is beginning to get suspicious". The doctor saw the message and took to her instructions, he waited for her to return, leaving her to enjoy the new year with her family.

After sending the message to her doctor, Sarah eyes welled up with tears. "why should this be happening to me, this is not what I have been praying for, how would my children feel knowing i'm going to die, how would my family feel". All these she said in her mind as tears began to roll down her eyes..

Kevin woke up slightly and didn't find Sarah beside him, he immediately sat up and found her sitting in front of the mirror. "hey babe, come to bed", he said while yawning. Hearing her husband's voice, Sarah immediately dried her tears, stood up and walked to the bed. "are you okay", Kevin asked, pulling her close to himself. She smiled and replied, "yes I am", kissing him on his lips and after a while, she fell asleep.