Wife for Hire

Chapter 12

(Karmen)

The next morning I didn't even bother checking to see if Jason was awake. I was still heated from our fight last night and that damn contract was about to get shredded if this money wasn't helping me pay my mom's bills. I tried to get my thoughts off of Jason and solely on my mom. She was all I had other than Joe and Maxine, I was determined to keep her around for as long as possible. I finally decided to turn my car off and climb out to head inside the hospital. I had no idea what Eric would say and honestly, I wanted to believe that it was good news, but if karma and the universe had taught me anything it was to not get my hopes up. I bent down to check my hair and face in the driver side mirror and stood tall, everything would be fine.

I made it to Eric's office and stood outside for a couple of minutes. Maybe I should go see mom before the meeting? I shook my head, she would be concerned if I went now. I couldn't think straight and I couldn't focus on anything either, mom would notice something was up.

"Karmen?" I looked up to see Eric standing next to me, a small smile on his face. I tried to return it, but couldn't.

"I'm glad you could come by this morning, please come in." He said opening the door and motioning for me to walk inside. I did and sat on the side of his desk opposite of the computer. He went behind the desk and went to sit.
"Do you want any coffee? Tea?" I shook my head, my stomach felt like it was doing flips, I didn't think I could hold anything down. I don't know what was new about this meeting or why it bothered me so much. I had been so optimistic about the other ones, but today, today I felt like I would throw up on everything.

"No, I don't think that's a good idea right now." I said. He nodded and got comfortable in his chair, he looked me over for a couple of minutes and then nodded to himself.

"Karmen," He started. I shook my head and stood abruptly from my chair. I couldn't hear what he had to say and those eyes were practically already telling me what needed to be said.

"Karmen, your mother has been diagnosed with Stage 2 lung cancer, it's treatable right now and we may be able to stop it before it spreads, but we don't want to get your hopes up." I looked at the doctor who had been telling me this. Stage 2 lung cancer? How were we going to be able to afford to treat it? Where were we going to get the money from? I shook my head.

"That can't be, can't you do more test?" The doctor looked at me, pity in his eyes.

"We've done multiple already dear, it seems like that's it." I shook my head and stood from the chair. I had just graduated highschool, I was supposed to be auditioning for a talent agency in a couple of days. There was no way I could do any of that now.

"I know this must be a lot to take in, but don't worry we'll do everything we can to help her recover." That was three years ago, at first the cancer did get better, she was fine for a little while and then it got bad again and I was left with the responsibility of taking care of her and myself, my dreams of becoming a singer no longer a possibility.

"Karmen, I think it's time." I shook my head, the words I hadn't wanted to hear. The words I had been dreading finally spoken. I couldn't look at him, I wasn't sure that if I opened my mouth to say anything that my vocal cords would piece themselves together to even get out what I wanted to say. "There;s nothing more we can do here except make her feel comfortable." I shook my head.

"There has to be something," I said, finally getting my vocal cords to work. I didn't know what else to say. There had to be something we could do, more chemo, another surgery, anything. Eric seemed to be reading my mind, because he shook his head.