Ruby

Chapter One

I listened as my mother's breath became rapid. As Doctor Fisher's heavy eyes filled with sorrow. Felt pathetic as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

"What does this mean?" my mother asked. She had clamped her hand around mine. She spoke with such intensity, but i already knew the meaning of what he had said. I already understood.

"Mrs Field, if i may explain? Your daughter, Ruby here, is suffering from a form of cancer in her brain. The cancer cells are already too fast spreading, there is nothing i can do. When i said Ruby was terminally ill...it means she is going to die," the doctor said patiently. He looked so sympathetic. So full of sorrow for me. My tears became sobs.

"No!" suddenly my mother screamed out in rage. "No - you lie!" my mother yelled.

"Daddy?!" i said scared.

"Please excuse us Doctor Fisher," my dad said, as the doctor nodded. And as soon as i was in the corridor, i wanted to cry. Tears stained my face, as my sobs became wails.

My dad wrapped his arms around me, listening to my mother rage and his daughter cry. My hair started to feel wet, and i knew my dad was crying now too.

So we both shrunk to the ground. I was in his arms, but i knew he needed me as much as i needed him. I mean, how many more chances will he have to hold me like this again?

A nurse walked passed, staring. I could tell she was contemplating trying to console us, but decided better of it. Good, i didn't want her to ruin it.

But as much as it tore me to pieces to here my dad cry and mother scream, i had to listen.

"DON'T YOU STAND THERE LIKE A BLODDY IDIOT AND TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO!!" I heard her shout.

"TRY! YOU HAVE TO GOD DAMN FRICKEN' TRY! TRY! TRY! TRY!" I heard, as another wave of screeching and fighting and crying came.

So we just sat.

And eventually, after forty five minutes of screaming and crying, my mother came silently out of the room.

"Are you sure you can't give her more time?" my mother asked the doctor. A final plee bargain.

"I told you Mrs Field, she would be in pain. She would be in a hospital bed. She would not enjoy life," he told her. So she nodded curtly, and lead us silent and morbid to the end of my life.