That Boy

Only a month...

I'd turned eighteen a week ago. Life was great, the world was going round and school was going great. Until I hit a steep incline and started back down the mountain of cancer. Not even a week and a half until my next appointment and in the middle of the night I woke with a loud coughing. I grabbed a tissue and held it to my mouth. When I pulled it away there was blood all over the tissue, on my fingers and lips. My head started to spin, I hate blood.

"Mom!" I yelled, "Dad!" I started to get out of bed to rush to their rooms when I started coughing again, blood got on the sheets and my hands started to shake. Just then my light turned on and my dad ran in, lifting me into his arms and we met my mom out at the car. Everything went black from the sight of blood. I didn't wake again until the next morning. I lay in a hospital bed with a needle in my arm, pumping fluids into me. I heard my heart monitor, soft and steady in the background.

"Oh good, nurse she's waking up." I could hear it in the distance and to my right sat my mom and dad.

"Mom?" My voice was hoarse.

"Hey sweetheart. How are you feeling?" She smiled and held my hand.

"Thirsty, dehydrated and my mouth feels like a desert." She slowly brought the cup of water to my face. "What happened?" Part of me already knew as the tears started to fill my eyes.

"Don't cry honey," my dad looked away as my mom spoke to me, "it's only stage two" Her voice shook as she herself tried not to cry. "Mrs. Harpso has been in to see us and said-"

She was cut off by the nurse, "Tessa. How are you feeling?" 

"Shitty." My mother patted my hand in disapproval. "My chest is sore and I'm dehydrated. I thought this fluid tube was supposed to keep me hydrated?" I wasn't even close to okay right now.

The nurse looked a little shocked, "Well you've been out for several hours and we've been pumping plenty of fluid into you. Its because of the medicine that you feel dehydrated. Just drink some more water and you should be fine." She smiled.

"Whats wrong with me this time?" I just wanted real answers. "When do I get to go home?"

"Your going to be in the hospital for several days Tessa. Your going to miss some days of school but we'll make a call to your office and get it worked out." She paused for a moment, "Basically what happened is between your last MRI and your next one your cancer started growing again in your lungs." She paused another several seconds, "Also you have several people in the waiting room wanted to hear about your condition and come in and see you. Of course we are only aloud to let your parents in with you at this point, at least until you get a little stronger."

"What no I'm eighteen my parents can't decide whether I can have visitors or not." I was furious by this.

"Well your just not strong enough for all of these people at once." The nurse turned to leave.

I started unhooking all the tubes and stuff and started to stand from the bed, "I'll never be strong enough to handle people. But I'm eighteen and can make decisions for myself now. I want to see everyone." The nurse turned back to me.

"Fine. Just stop being so dramatic." After hooking me back up to everything she left.

Moments later in came Mrs. Walker with her husband and my aunt Shellie with my uncle Dan. One of my old best friends who'd left me because of the cancer came running in and gave me the biggest hug. It was shocking but she was just the person I needed right now. 

"I'm so sorry I ever stopped being your friend. I regret leaving you everyday." She spoke as we embraced. When she pulled away tears were falling down her face.