Happiest Year

155 days

"Hi my name is Margaret, and uh well I guess I'm just Margaret."

"No, well Margaret can you tell us all, more about yourself."

"Ummm ok well. I'm 17, I've lived in the same house my whole life. Uh I've only been out of state a couple times to see my grandparents. I've gone to the same elementary, middle, and high school as my parents. They were both only children as am I, I have Glioblastoma and I have about 5 months left to live."

Glioblastoma also called GBM is a malignant tumor affecting the brain or spine. In my case it's the brain. It's very fatal usually patients last around a year and a half after they've been diagnosed so I don't have much time left. It's pretty rare I guess especially for a kid and very fast growing. I've been through surgery, chemo, radiation therapy anywhere in my brain that can be poked it has been. There is no definite cure, but it keeps growing back faster than they can try to get rid of it so I decided I wanted to stop. I was tired of just sitting through chemo and besides I really had nothing left so I stopped about a week ago.

"I was diagnosed about 9 months ago and from there the doctors told me I had 14 months left to live. I didn't cry which I guess is unusual because my parents were in tears. I left school since there was no point I wouldn't have been able to graduate and here I am. My doctors recommend this support group and my parents jumped right on the idea."

"Well it's nice to have you Margaret."

The lady went on to speak with the rest of the group all of them teenagers like me. I guess you could say I felt bad for them, but I was really in the same position I mean some of these kids weren't even going to die and I was. I even counted down the days until my final month. The doctors never knew when specifically, but based on stats and once I hit a certain point I only have so much time left.

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Once the group ended with me really getting nothing from I noticed just how depressing this whole room was. This lady wearing a pant suit was asking us about what's wrong with us and why our bodies have failed us. I rushed out of there fast as I didn't want anyone to stop and ask me questions. They all seemed like the type.

As I walked out into the parking lot towards my car I knew I had to stop and get my chemo popsicles. When I had to sit through chemo therapy they would bring me these pineapple popsicles and now they have become my guilty pleasure and since I stopped chemo the only way I could get them was the grocery store.

As I was about to grab the last box of the popsicles someone else went to grab it too. I looked up and saw none other than Parker Kanken my old high schools golden boy like there is in everyteen romance movie, but this one was real.

"Ummm I need those." I really didn't want to deal with this today and I just wanted to go home and sleep a normal side effect of GBM.

"Ya well so do I. These are my favorite and I had a rough day and I just need them so you'd help a guy out right." Parker said, trying to justify why he needed them.

"You know I really didn't want to do this but you left me no choice." And so I pulled off my wig from my head to show him my bald head with tiny pieces of hair trying to grow back. "Ya that's right I'm pulling the cancer card so thanks for those." I said taking the box and walking off. I used to feel guilty if I ever thought of pulling the cancer card, but I mean if I have it why not use it right.

"Hey wait I know you." Parker jogged to catch us to me.

"You go to Trikon High School right. Except I haven't seen you there in awhile."

"Ya I used to go there. I dropped out though."

"Because of your cancer."

"No because I'm fucking stupid." I stopped walking and stared at him.