(No One's POV)
It was a normal day in Coal Valley, the sun was shining and everybody was up to something. Elizabeth Thatcher was teaching the children in the saloon, when she started to get a headache. She had a cold and it wasn't going away. It had been longer than a week and it was getting worse.
"All right children, please get out your science books and we'll began learning about the-" Elizabeth was interrupted by a sneeze and then a coughing fit that came upon her.
"Ms. Thatcher, are you alright?" Gabe asked as Elizabeth put a hand to her chest- which was dry and hurting now.
"Yes Gabe, I'm fine. It gets stuffy in here, that's all. Thank you." She smiled and continued the lesson, while her headache worsened.
The days passed and Elizabeth's headache got much worse. Abigail suggested that she see the doctor. "It's just a little cold, I'm fine," Elizabeth would say and she would continue on, stopping every now and then to endure a coughing spasm.
Right before she was about to head out the door for school, Elizabeth's stomach began to toss and turn. She ran to the sink and began to throw up until there was nothing left. Abigail sent Elizabeth back upstairs as she cleaned up and sent for the Company Doctor.
Shortly before the doctor was to arrive, Elizabeth got bloody nose that wouldn't stop. She pinched her nose, tilted her head back, put a cold rag on the back of her neck, but nothing worked. Once the Company Doctor arrived, he was able to stop it. He checked Elizabeth's temperature, heartbeat, blood pressure, and even drew some blood for testing back at the office. But unfortunately, no medicine could help with what was wrong.
"It's a very rare disease called 'cancer'. There's no cure and there's not much known about it right now…"
"What does that mean exactly?" Abigail asked, as she sat with Elizabeth upstairs on her bed.
The Company Doctor shook his head. "She doesn't have much longer."
Elizabeth was in shock. "So… I'm going to die?"
"I'm afraid so, nobody has ever survived having this illness before. I recommend that you take it easy. As long as you don't…" Elizabeth started to zone out. Her world was crashing down. Cancer? Dying? How could this be happening? She was the school teacher at Coal Valley! Plus, what would happen to Jack? Oh, Jack. She couldn't think about him. Elizabeth's mind was swirling. This couldn't be happening to her…
The rest of the day was a blur. Abigail showed the doctor out the door and told Elizabeth it would be alright. Elizabeth allowed herself to lie in bed and cry. Elizabeth was going to die and no one could save her.