Relative Strangers (Book 2) No Man Is An Island

35. Sick But Healthy

E hadn't wanted to reveal the truth about what was happening to her, to the rest of the team, as she didn't want them all to feel sorry for her.
She didn't want to be pitied, as that made her look weak.
But after what had happened on her island, she realised that she didn't have a choice.
"The reason that there is radiation inside of me, is because I have picked it up from the anomalies. Every time you go through one, you take a part of it with you. One of the first things Matt said to me, when we first met, was how are you alive. He saw the radiation levels in my body from my medical chart, and didn't believe that a person could function will all that inside them" started E.

"Wait! Does that mean there's anomaly radiation inside all of us, since we've all been through numerous anomalies?" Asked Becker.
"A very small amount, but nothing that you could really pick up on a scan. Like I said to Matt, you've been through a dozen or two, whereas I've been through thousands" answered E.
"So the radiation in us, won't effect us in anyway?" Questioned Connor.
"No, you haven't picked up nearly enough for it to do anything to you" replied E.

"But this radiation is doing things to your body?" Quizzed Abby.
"Yes, it is altering my DNA, and changing it" revealed E.
"Changing it into what?" Asked Connor.
"I don't know. But whatever it is, it isn't good. Before I came here I was studying its effects on me, but I haven't looked into it in months, because I've been busy. Clearly it has gotten worse, since I've never had a seizure before. I don't know why that anomaly on the island increased my radiation levels temporarily. I haven't been near it in over a year, and I'll have to make sure that I don't any time soon" replied E.

"But what if you come across another anomaly that gives off strange readings, like that one?" Asked Matt.
"I have never found another one like it before. But if I do, I'll stay away from it" promised E.
"If you know that the anomalies are making you sick, then why don't you stop travelling through them?" Frowned Abby.
"I asked her the same thing when I found out" admitted Matt.
"And I'll tell you what I told Matt. The anomalies are a part of me. And denying them, would be like denying myself. I just couldn't do it. Besides, it's too late for me anyway" revealed E.

"But if it's making you sicker then you have to stop" insisted Abby.
"I can't. Anomalies are my life, and I wouldn't give them up, even for a long and happy life" replied E.
"So, the anomalies are killing you?" Questioned Connor.
E sighed, "I don't like to think of it like that. But technically yes".
"What about me? Am I O.K? Me, Charlotte and Ethan travelled through loads of anomalies while we were lost in time. Do I have high levels of radiation in me too?" Asked Emily.
"No. You might have a little more than the rest of the team, but it's nothing you need to concern yourself with. You could go through 200 anomalies and still have absolutely no side effects. You're nowhere near my level, so you don't need to worry" reassured E.

"You can't have really gone through thousands of anomalies" stated Becker.
"I didn't go through that many when I was younger. But once me and Helen figured out how to create anomalies, everything changed. I can go through a dozen a day. There really is no limit for me" admitted E.
"But the levels of radiation just seem far too high. Even I'm struggling to believe that you picked up all this, just by travelling through them" replied Connor.
"Well, there is more to the story than I've told you. Helen was going through anomalies while she was pregnant with me. The effect that anomalies have on a foetus is unknown. But if I'm anything to go by, then the effects aren't great" revealed E.

"So this is all Helen's fault, for being so irresponsible" said Lester.
"I don't like to blame her, since I don't think that she knew she was pregnant when she left my father. But whatever is wrong with me, is usually her fault, and I don't think this is any different" admitted E.
"So, this radiation is going to kill you?" Jess asked quietly.
"Not the radiation itself, but the changes it is doing to my body, will kill me eventually. I've known about my fate for quite some time, and I've come to terms with it. So I don't want you all feeling sorry for me" insisted E.

"We will find a cure. We will work day and night until we come up with a solution" promised Connor.
"No, you have far too much work to be dealing with already. Just let me deal with this" begged E.
"But you can't just expect us to sit by while you get sicker"
"I expect you to do as I say. This is my concern, and not yours. I don't want any of you getting involved. I will deal with it how I see fit".
"I thought you'd finally accepted that no man is an island. You can't do everything by yourself" reminded Matt.
"I don't intend to. If I need help, I will come to you, I promise. But this, this is something I need to work through by myself. It's my mortality I have to accept, not yours. So I don't want you butting your noses in where they aren't wanted" replied E.

E pushed herself into a sitting position, despite the pain that it caused her.
"Look at me, don't let this seizure, or the fact that I'm dying, change how you think about me. I am still the strong, independent, brave girl that you knew this morning. And I don't ever plan to change" announced E.
"No, I don't think that you ever will" smiled Matt.
"Neither do I... Can I come home with you today?" Asked E quietly.
"Well, I expect the medical staff want you to stay in over night, so that they can monitor you. But I have a feeling that you aren't going to want that"
"You read my mind"
"Then I'd love for you to come home with me and Emily"
"I take it that I'm still welcome there with you?"
"You will always have a home there with us. I promise".

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That is the end of book 2. I hope you enjoyed it.
Stay tuned for the third and final book, which I will release at some point in the future.

In the meantime, feel free to check out some of my other work, while you wait. And have a good day.