She's not sure how it all began.

They say there are warning signs. Gut feelings. A shiver down your back and across your neck as you connect the dots. For Clare Edwards, it was nothing more than a simple observation that led her to this cold doctor's office, swinging her bare feet back and forth on the exam table. She tried to catch her parents' eyes but they were carefully looking around the room, their eyes trained on the various degrees this Dr. Martin had earned over the years. He looked impressive. If there was actually something wrong with her, then Clare would probably be feeling pretty safe right now.

But in all honesty, she just felt bored. And impatient. And a little cold. She knew that they kept these rooms at such low temperatures as a health procedure, but it wouldn't kill them to offer heavier hospital gowns. She tugged at the flimsy material that was slipping off her shoulders and then the door opened, revealing a young man with short brown hair and a warm smile. He slipped off his stethoscope and sat down on a stool. He oozed confidence and kindness and Clare could feel herself visibly relaxing, not even realizing she had been starting to tense up with every second that passed.

"Hello Clare," he shook her hand in greeting and exchanged short pleasantries with her parents. Clare sat up straighter and smiled, letting out a small laugh. He seemed like he came with good news; that her parents had simply overreacted. It was just a small fever; the bruises were normal. Clare had always been a clutz, running into doors and tripping over things in her path. She couldn't remember how she had gotten that bruise on her leg but she was pretty sure it was just from sleepwalking and running into the counter.

"So what is it, Dr. Martin? The flu? Sensitive skin?" Clare offered cheerfully, already extending her toes to push her sneakers back towards her feet. This would take about two minutes, tops. Then they could pick up some medicine from the pharmacy, her parents would let her have some McDonalds for dinner, and she'd call Eli and let him tease her about being a worrywart.

Then the world stopped. Maybe Dr. Martin assumed she wouldn't see. Maybe he thought he was good at acting. But Clare saw it; that little glimmer of pity in his eyes. The drop of the smile he had plastered on his face. The small look he shot her parents, and her mom visibly shrinking back from the loaded gaze. No.

"Leukemia," he started out carefully, and Clare couldn't breathe. "Is cancer that starts in the tissue that forms blood. Now to understand cancer, you need to know how normal blood cells form..."

His voice faded out, until Clare could only hear the pounding of her own heart. This was all some sort of misunderstanding. They had read her blood tests wrong; they had the wrong girl. There was another Clare Edwards in this hospital, recieving the good news and tearfully embracing her parents after hearing she was cancer free. Clare felt the world swim underneath her and she stood up, picking up her sneakers, and running out of the room. She could hear shouts behind her but she just kept running until she was out of the hospital, past the parking lot and her parents car, past the bus stop that took you one way to the hospital and one way to the high school. Past The Dot, where she could see her classmates laughing over milkshakes and burgers. Tears burned her eyes and then it was burning her chest and she hunched over in the grass, taking in deep breaths and burying her face in her hands.

Clare Edwards had cancer.

A/N: I know. I KNOW. It's so angsty. Sorry, loves. It's what I do best. I know I never finished my other story - maybe when inspiration hits again, I'll restart it. But for now, I'm focusing on this. And I'd love to hear your feedback! So drop me a review. :)