Palindrome

Fifty-Two

Ahem so. I'm probably way off in terms of being medically correct for whatever's about to unfold for the sake of the plot. So for any of you pre-med or med folks out there I apologize in advance. On that note-

Chapter 52 

Aarohi 

"A meningiomas brain tumor." 

My blood chills to ice at those words. Now I may not be an aspiring med student, but I have my wits about me to know that it was something serious. How could it not after everything I had witnessed less than two hours ago. As his legal guardian for the trip, Ms. Edison thankfully got us all to the hospital they brought him to. While the rest are waiting downstairs in the common area, I snuck up here to get anything I could on him. 

The tears stopped a while back, but my eyes feel soaked in acid from the earlier spilt ones. My heels dig into the soles of my feet and waves of tiredness wash over me again and again. I ignore it all, my body might be fighting for me to go away but I need to be here. I need to know he's okay before I can breathe properly again. 

Removing my hand draped over my eyes I glance up in surprise. A woman sits beside me, her light brown hair falling out of her bun. She brushes a piece away from her face in irritation, exhaustion etched against all her features. Her stormy eyes bore into mine and I realize why she looks so imminently familiar.

Ella's hair, Alice's eyes, Paxton's facial structure. 

Laura Enjelical. 

"Girlfriend?" she asks sounding exhausted. 

Clearing my throat, I sit up slipping on my blazer that I had shrugged off. "It's complicated." 

She smiles fondly, though it doesn't reach her eyes. "Always is with my son." 

"How long?" I ask running a hand through my hair in an attempt to stop my hands from trembling again. 

"Four months," she responds somberly. 

Four months. The duration I've know him for. From the very beginning, he knew. He knew and he didn't tell me after everything else we had confessed so quickly to one another. 

But I'm not resentful or angry. 

Just sad. 

Sad because he had to hold onto this, convinced that he needed to put on a brave front for me. It's all my fault at the end of the day, all those signs that I couldn't see past. For someone who allegedly cares about him so much, I should have done better. 

You should have been better. 

I know.

"Is he okay?" I question meekly.

That's all I need. I've been living in this nightmare for far too long to know that's it real. Just one word, one word to let me know that he's here.

Ms. Enjelical sighs, her worry lines clear in the fluorescent hospital light. "He's in a stable condition for now." 

For now.

She doesn't bother masking the uncertainty and fear in her voice. From the way her eyes are shut I can tell she's trying desperately to hold back tears. Hesitantly I place a hand on her folded ones and her eyes shoot open to inspect me. Her stare is so much like Paxton's, both of their eyes soaking in every inch of you. 

After a beat of silence, she questions, "Does he make you happy?" 

"He does," I answer without needing to think about it.