I wake up to soft beeping noises. I'm having deja vu right now because I'm always in the hospital. I open my eyes and see the boys sitting the couch. Corbyn is sitting next to me on a chair, holding my hand. His head is down and his eyes are closed. "Oh, hey. How are you feeling?" Jonah asked me. I look at him and the boys are looking at me with sympathy. "Fine." I said. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel. I mean, I have a brain tumor. "That's good. Are you hungry?" Jonah asked. I shake my head, no. "Okay. Well, I'm gonna go get breakfast for all of us." He said. "Okay." I said. Him and Zach stand up and walk out of the room. "You look good." Daniel said. "Stop lying." I said. He laughs. "You do. You don't look sick." He said. "I will soon if they put me on chemo." I said. "My grandma has cancer. It wasn't brain cancer but it was stage 4. And she made it. She's still alive because she fought really hard." Jack said. I grin a little. "You think I can beat it?" I asked. "I know you can. With all you've been through, you're the strongest person I know. What's a little cancer?" Jack said. I laugh. "Okay, maybe it's like the worst but you got this." He said. I nod. "Thanks." I said. I look at corbyn and see that he's still asleep. I stroke his hair as he starts to wake up. He lifts his head and squeezes my hand. "Hey. Are you okay?" He asked with a tired voice. I nod. He grins, worriedly, and gives me a kiss. "You're so beautiful." He said, really close to my face. I touch his cheek. "I love you." I said. "I love you more" he said. I give him a kiss as I smile. I hear a knock at the door and look to see who it is. So does everyone else. I see Jonah and zach walk in with donuts and drinks, the doctors right behind them. "Good morning, everyone. How are you feeling, Riley?" The doctor asked. "Fine." I said. "Okay, so here's the plan for today. We're going to do surgery. The sooner we do it, the better. But if you don't want the surgery, you have don't have to sign this form." The doctor said. I look at corbyn and he looks at me. "Sign it." He said. I look at the boys and they nod. I look at corbyn again and he looks scared that I won't sign it. "Please." He said as he squeezes my hand. I nod and reach out for the clip board and pen. I sign in all the places I'm supposed to and the doctor takes the clip board back. "I hope you know there's a 30% chance you'll survive." He said. I nod and squeeze corbyns hand tighter. "Okay. We'll start in a few hours after we prep you." He said before he walks out with the other doctors. I start to cry and corbyn hugs me very tight. "I'm scared." I cried. "I know. But you'll be okay. You'll make it, I know it." He said. I sob and sob and sob until there's no tears left to cry. I lay down as the boys all try to comfort me. My eyes are all red and puffy from crying. I wipe my nose and eyes when the doctor comes in. "Ready?" He asked. I nod and he walks over to my bedside next to corbyn. "For the surgery, we'll have to shave your head." He said. Oh no. I'm gonna be bald now too?! "The chemo will just take your hair anyways." He said. "okay." I said, softly. The doctor helps me out of bed and we walk into the bathroom. Corbyn comes in too and the boys just watch from the door. Corbyn holds my hand as the doctor turns on the clippers. I squeeze my eyes shut as he starts to shave my head. I don't open them until I hear the doctor turn off the clippers. I open my eyes and look at corbyn, not looking in the mirror yet. He smiles. "Aww, Riley." He said. "Does it look bad?" I asked as I look at the boys. They all smile. "No." Daniel said. "Not bad at all." Jonah said. "You look so cute, aww." Zach said. I take a deep breath and look in the mirror. I look so different. I touch my head and feel that I don't have hair anymore. It's shocking. "Looks good, Riley." Jack said. I look at corbyn, my eyes full of tears. "I gotta survive this. I don't want a bald head in my casket." I said to him. His eyes are full of tears as well as he laughs and gives me a hug. He kisses me passionately as everyone watches. "Oh wow." Zach said before we stop. Everyone laughs. "Okay. We're gonna give you a sedative before going into the operating room." The doctor said as I lay back down into the bed. He takes the blanket off the bed so it doesn't get in the way. He walks out of the room and the nurse walks in to prep me. I start shaking because I'm cold and very very nervous. What if I don't make it? What if I die? Corbyn holds my hand as tears fall down his face. All the boys are crying a little too. "You got this, alright, Riley?" Jonah said as he strokes my hair. I nod as a tear falls down my face. "Okay, I'm gonna give you the sedative now." The nurse said. "Okay." I said with a shaky voice. She sticks it in my arm and I give it a second to kick in. "We're gonna take her now." The nurse said. "Wait. Can I say a few things?" Corbyn asked. "Make it quick." She said. Corbyn looks at me as he cries. Tears fall down my face but my body is numb. "Live. Please, Riley. I need you. You're the best thing I have in my life and I can't lose you." He said as one of his tears fall on my hospital gown. "Alright. Time to go." The nurse said. "I love you." He said as he gives me a kiss on the lips. "I love you more." I said as the nurse pulls me away. I wave to the boys and they wave back as tears fall down their face. "I'm gonna make it, right?" I said, faintly, to the nurse as she rolls my down the hall. "I hope so." She said. She seems miserable. Now I'm even more nervous. But I'm gonna fight with all I've got. I need to stay alive. For corbyn and only Corbyn. He's my rock and I'm his.
When the nurse rolls me into the operating room, I see the doctor from earlier. "Hello, Riley. Are you ready?" He asked me. "I'm scared." I said to him. "I know. You got this." He said as he puts a mask over my mouth and nose. Air travels through and I feel myself starting to fall asleep.
