"Why don't we start by introducing ourselves?" said Patrick, after he told them his story of how he survived testicular cancer.
A girl to his left, who was connected to an oxygen tank, spoke briefly. Her name was Hazel. She was 16 and had cancer in her lungs.
After Hazel introduced herself, everyone continued telling the too long, didn't read version of their stories. When they reached Isaac, he explained his eye cancer and how he was worried about possibly losing his eyesight altogether.
The boy next to Isaac stood up when Isaac finished speaking.
"My name is Nick Rollins," he said. "I've been best friends with Isaac since we were kids, like four or five. I actually don't have cancer, but I am HIV Positive. I don't have the biggest support system, so Isaac told me to come here."
"We are glad to have you here, Nick," said Patrick. "Why don't you tell us a little more about you?"
"Well, I was diagnosed when I was 10, after I had a blood transfusion. I was immediately put on antiretrovirals, so the disease was being treated. But then, a year ago, my mother passed away and I was placed into foster care. My dad died when I was a kid, see, and I don't have any other family, so they placed me in foster care. I never thought I'd find myself on my own at age 16, but I made through it okay. Until something happened to me."
"And what was that, if you don't mind my asking," Patrick said.
Nick hesitated and looked at Isaac for reassurance. When his friend nodded at him, he sighed and answered.
"I was sexually assaulted six months ago," Nick said. A collective intake of breath echoed throughout the room. "I was on my way back to the group home where I've been staying when I was grabbed from behind and pulled into an alleyway. He tried to rape me. I managed to get away and alert a bystander, who called the cops, and also somehow subdued the guy. He was arrested and put on trial for what he did to me. They found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
"I was okay at first and then…I've started reliving it. I just feel really jumpy and I can't sleep. And I feel very out of control. And the thing is that I wasn't even raped."
"Nick, you were sexually assaulted," said Patrick in a soft voice.
"He came…so close, and there was nothing that I could do to stop him. He had a gun. And he completely overpowered me. I never should have been walking down that street that late at night. Because I know better than that."
"Rape victims often blame themselves," Patrick said.
"I know, I know," Nick replied. "That's what my therapist has been telling me. And he's told me how misplaced that is and I know that. But now, I…I feel…. I feel like I don't deserve to be here. But I feel like…I feel like he has…. He stole something from me. And…And I need help dealing with it," he finished, completely breaking down.
Isaac stood up next to him and patted him on the back. Nick continued sobbing as Isaac pulled him into a hug and patted him on the back, whispering, "It's okay, Nick. It's okay."
Patrick sighed before he said anything else. "I want you to know, Nick, that you are not alone. We are all here for you, just as Isaac has been. You do deserve to be here. You were sexually assaulted, but you survived the attack. You will survive the recovery. We will all be praying for you."
Nick nodded and sat back down next to Isaac. He seemed to be at a loss for words.