Things Change
Chapter 1
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I do not own FF8 or its characters.
======
"Zell, are you all right?" Selphie asked as she looked at her pale friend, eyes filled with
concern.
"I'm fine. Its just some flu bug."
"Maybe you should see Dr. Kadowaki about this..." Selphie watched as Zell stopped to
rest by one of the reflecting pools in the hall.
"Yeah, I did. I accidentally fell asleep in one of my classes and Cid forced me to go
already. Its probably just nothing." Zell ran his hands through his hair.
"What did she tell you?"
"She said she wanted to run some tests and she'd call me back in later."
"Yeah, well, maybe you should go to your dorm and rest or something."
"Nah, I promised I'd help you make the sets for the student produced play. I'm fine.
Really."
Selphie leaned in and looked as he covered his face with his hands. His eyes looked
bloodshot and he seemed too laid back.
"Well..."
"Hey you two what's up?" Irvine asked as he walked up. He looked at Zell. "You get that
flu thing too? You know Xu caught that last week and she's still sick with it."
"Yeah, but I'm fine, really." To emphasize the point he was trying to make he did a short
shadowboxing thing. "See?"
Irvine and Selphie watched but didn't say anything.
"So what are you two up to?"
"We're going to go work on the sets for the student produced play." Selphie said, while
checking her boot soles for any stones, pine needles, or gum.
"Yeah, I promised I'd help with designing and drawing them up." Zell said, leaning back
on the edge of the pool ledge.
"But Zell, this is your lunch right? I just came from there, and they even just made fresh
hot dogs." Irvine said while adjusting his hat.
"I dunno, I guess the flu just made me lose my appetite. That's why I'm helping now."
"Man, you turning down a hot dog, that's like, Squall telling Rinoa he hates her."
"See! That's why I think he should go lay down." Selphie said, looking back and forth
from Zell to Irvine.
"Zell, she may be right..."
"Relax. Besides, I look worse than I feel." Zell looked up at both of them.
"Still..." Irvine tried to argue with him. Selphie stopped him midsentence.
"Wait, okay Zell, lets make a deal. If you have a fever, you go to your room and rest. If
not, we'll let you come and help." Selphie said, walking up and standing next to Zell.
"... Fine..."
Zell looked down at the ground while Selphie put her hand to his forehead. Her eyes
grew wide.
"Zell, you're burning up!"
"I'm sure its not that bad." He said, standing back up.
"Still, you promised her you'd go rest if you had a fever. You do, so go. I'll help her with
the sets." Irvine said.
{[ Bing Bing ]}
["Would Zell Dincht, student ID #127, report to Cid's office. Would Zell Dincht, student
ID #127, report to Cid's office."]
Selphie and Irvine looked at Zell, who was starting to walk away.
"Promise you'll go rest after that!" Selphie called after him.
"Yeah yeah..." Zell said as he walked to the elevator.
~What's the big deal? I mean, its just the flu... Maybe Cid wants to give out some kind of
punishment for falling asleep. That can't be it, he seemed really concerned when I came
in...~
Zell stepped into the elevator and pushed his floor.
~Maybe something happened in Balamb? Or they might just need my advice about
something... Could it be about that GFs test I got a D on? I wish they had some kind of
announcement code... two beeps in the introduction for you're busted for a violation, one
for a mission, three for suspension, four for just come up for a friendly chat...~ He tapped
his foot as the elevator stopped and he waited for the doors to open. As they did he
quickly stepped out into the waiting room outside Cid's office. Xu sat at the secretary's
desk working on some papers, stopping every few seconds to blow her nose.
"Hey Xu. Sup?"
Xu looked up quickly, and then threw away her tissue.
"Hello Zell. Nothing much. At least this cold is almost over. Looks like you caught it
too."
"Yeah. Well, I think at least. Kadowaki's tests haven't come back yet so..."
"Oh, well, if you do, then I advise you to go buy about 25 boxes of Kleenex. I've gone
through at least two boxes today. I feel like Rudolph."
"You don't look that bad."
"Thanks."
"Any clue why they want me here?" Zell had learned from experience that Xu always
knew why anyone was ever called up. And he also knew that if you were kind to her
when you came up she would usually give you a clue ahead of time of what you were up
against.
"Honestly, no. But they did call your mom in. Does that help any?" Xu grabbed a pen and
started writing on one of the documents in front of her.
"Not really, but thanks."
"Okay, I'm gonna buzz and let them know you're here now. Why don't you take a seat, in
case there's a wait."
"Thanks Xu." He walked over to one of the red leather sofas in the room. Xu spun around
in her chair and pressed the intercom.
"Mr. Kramer? Zell Dincht is here."
["Thank you Xu. Send him in right away. And also, hold all my calls and send away all
other visitors."]
"All right Mr. Kramer." Zell looked up as Xu walked up to him. "Mr. Kramer will see
you now."
"Thanks Xu. Take it easy." Zell hopped up and walked up to the huge doors.
~Do they really need these? I mean, people are freaked out enough when they get called
up, do they need monster doors to intimidate us too? And my Ma's here too...~ He pushed
them open and walked in. Cid sat at his desk, and Dr. Kadowaki was standing beside his
desk. Edea also was there, looking out of one of the many rooms. Zell looked for his
mother and saw her, sitting in one of the armchairs facing Cid's desk, with her head
buried in her hands. She was shaking.
~Is she crying?~ Zell walked over slowly. His mother had always been a strong woman.
He had only seen her cry twice before, once when his father died and again when his
grandfather died. He walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Ma? You okay?"
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
"...oh... my baby...." She stood up and threw her arms around him, still sobbing.
"Ma? Come on, what's wrong?" He slowly pulled back from her embrace. He looked at
Cid and the doctor. "Hello Dr. Kadowaki, Mr. Kramer. Mrs. Kramer." Edea slowly
looked at him and gave him a very faint smile, then looked down and back out the
window. Cid avoided Zell's gaze and played with some pens on his desk. Dr. Kadowaki
kind of coughed, then nudged Cid.
"Oh yes, right. Zell, would you please have a seat?"
"Sure. Fine." Zell helped his mother back to her chair and pulled another up. He looked
up at the two authority figures in front of him. "So what's going on? Is this about those
tests? I mean, its just the flu..."
"No... no Zell. It isn't." Dr. Kadowaki looked down at the desk. "I wish I didn't have to
break this to you..."
"Break what to me?" Zell got up from his chair. He looked around the room at all the
people in the room. None would meet his gaze. "What the hell's going on? Why are all of
you acting like this? If it has to do with me I think I have a right to know!" Zell walked
up to the desk and leaned forward on it.
"Zell, you have adult acute myeloid leukemia."
Zell stood there stunned as Dr. Kadowaki's words sunk in.
~Cancer?~
"There must be some mistake. I mean, you only hear about little kids getting Leukemia.
I'm 18 now! I'm an adult! Besides, I've only felt sick for like, a day! Day and a half at the
most!"
"Zell, I double checked this..."
"Don't worry son, you are welcome to stay during your treatments. Garden is your home.
And there's a very very good chance that you can beat this. That's what you said, right
Dr., Kadowaki?"
~It can't be...~ Zell started to back up, panic on his face.
"Yes. There is a very good chance since we caught it fairly early. And depending on what
kind of treatment he chooses, he can remain here in Garden the entire time. The furthest I
can see him having to even move because of this is back home to Balamb. And even then
he could still commute to Garden for classes if he chooses."
"YOU'RE ALL MAKING A MISTAKE!" Zell hunched over and assumed a fighting
position. "Xu's been sick longer than I have! Ask anyone! And I mean, I'm one of the
strongest guys in Garden! I've beaten a sorceress! I've fought the strongest monsters!" He
turned and ran out of the office. His mother turned around in her seat.
"Zell! Wait!"
"Let him go... he needs time to think." Edea said, walking back to the group. The first
words she had spoken since Dr. Kadowaki had told all of them the news.
Zell pulled open the doors and ran out.
Mrs. Dincht looked at the doctor. "I've heard hot-dogs cause Leukemia. Did they cause
it?"
"No, if they did, half the students in Garden would be sick."
"Zell? What's wrong?" Xu called as Zell ran past her desk.
Those were the last words Zell heard, as he ran into the elevators.
======
A/N: This will most likely end up as a semi-depressing story. But I think there should be
at least one revolving around this issue. Cancer is a major disease in our society. (I
personally have lost one uncle and both my grandmothers to cancer, and I have one
friend who has Leukemia that is in remission.) At first Quistis or Selphie was the one
who was going to contract the disease, but after I was talking to Alan Smithee about
doing this story, he told me that hot dogs were once thought to cause Leukemia and gave
me the idea of using Zell. A lot of my research started at the St. Jude's hospital site and
from information my friend "S" gave me when she was telling about her experiences with
Leukemia.
Chapter 1
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I do not own FF8 or its characters.
======
"Zell, are you all right?" Selphie asked as she looked at her pale friend, eyes filled with
concern.
"I'm fine. Its just some flu bug."
"Maybe you should see Dr. Kadowaki about this..." Selphie watched as Zell stopped to
rest by one of the reflecting pools in the hall.
"Yeah, I did. I accidentally fell asleep in one of my classes and Cid forced me to go
already. Its probably just nothing." Zell ran his hands through his hair.
"What did she tell you?"
"She said she wanted to run some tests and she'd call me back in later."
"Yeah, well, maybe you should go to your dorm and rest or something."
"Nah, I promised I'd help you make the sets for the student produced play. I'm fine.
Really."
Selphie leaned in and looked as he covered his face with his hands. His eyes looked
bloodshot and he seemed too laid back.
"Well..."
"Hey you two what's up?" Irvine asked as he walked up. He looked at Zell. "You get that
flu thing too? You know Xu caught that last week and she's still sick with it."
"Yeah, but I'm fine, really." To emphasize the point he was trying to make he did a short
shadowboxing thing. "See?"
Irvine and Selphie watched but didn't say anything.
"So what are you two up to?"
"We're going to go work on the sets for the student produced play." Selphie said, while
checking her boot soles for any stones, pine needles, or gum.
"Yeah, I promised I'd help with designing and drawing them up." Zell said, leaning back
on the edge of the pool ledge.
"But Zell, this is your lunch right? I just came from there, and they even just made fresh
hot dogs." Irvine said while adjusting his hat.
"I dunno, I guess the flu just made me lose my appetite. That's why I'm helping now."
"Man, you turning down a hot dog, that's like, Squall telling Rinoa he hates her."
"See! That's why I think he should go lay down." Selphie said, looking back and forth
from Zell to Irvine.
"Zell, she may be right..."
"Relax. Besides, I look worse than I feel." Zell looked up at both of them.
"Still..." Irvine tried to argue with him. Selphie stopped him midsentence.
"Wait, okay Zell, lets make a deal. If you have a fever, you go to your room and rest. If
not, we'll let you come and help." Selphie said, walking up and standing next to Zell.
"... Fine..."
Zell looked down at the ground while Selphie put her hand to his forehead. Her eyes
grew wide.
"Zell, you're burning up!"
"I'm sure its not that bad." He said, standing back up.
"Still, you promised her you'd go rest if you had a fever. You do, so go. I'll help her with
the sets." Irvine said.
{[ Bing Bing ]}
["Would Zell Dincht, student ID #127, report to Cid's office. Would Zell Dincht, student
ID #127, report to Cid's office."]
Selphie and Irvine looked at Zell, who was starting to walk away.
"Promise you'll go rest after that!" Selphie called after him.
"Yeah yeah..." Zell said as he walked to the elevator.
~What's the big deal? I mean, its just the flu... Maybe Cid wants to give out some kind of
punishment for falling asleep. That can't be it, he seemed really concerned when I came
in...~
Zell stepped into the elevator and pushed his floor.
~Maybe something happened in Balamb? Or they might just need my advice about
something... Could it be about that GFs test I got a D on? I wish they had some kind of
announcement code... two beeps in the introduction for you're busted for a violation, one
for a mission, three for suspension, four for just come up for a friendly chat...~ He tapped
his foot as the elevator stopped and he waited for the doors to open. As they did he
quickly stepped out into the waiting room outside Cid's office. Xu sat at the secretary's
desk working on some papers, stopping every few seconds to blow her nose.
"Hey Xu. Sup?"
Xu looked up quickly, and then threw away her tissue.
"Hello Zell. Nothing much. At least this cold is almost over. Looks like you caught it
too."
"Yeah. Well, I think at least. Kadowaki's tests haven't come back yet so..."
"Oh, well, if you do, then I advise you to go buy about 25 boxes of Kleenex. I've gone
through at least two boxes today. I feel like Rudolph."
"You don't look that bad."
"Thanks."
"Any clue why they want me here?" Zell had learned from experience that Xu always
knew why anyone was ever called up. And he also knew that if you were kind to her
when you came up she would usually give you a clue ahead of time of what you were up
against.
"Honestly, no. But they did call your mom in. Does that help any?" Xu grabbed a pen and
started writing on one of the documents in front of her.
"Not really, but thanks."
"Okay, I'm gonna buzz and let them know you're here now. Why don't you take a seat, in
case there's a wait."
"Thanks Xu." He walked over to one of the red leather sofas in the room. Xu spun around
in her chair and pressed the intercom.
"Mr. Kramer? Zell Dincht is here."
["Thank you Xu. Send him in right away. And also, hold all my calls and send away all
other visitors."]
"All right Mr. Kramer." Zell looked up as Xu walked up to him. "Mr. Kramer will see
you now."
"Thanks Xu. Take it easy." Zell hopped up and walked up to the huge doors.
~Do they really need these? I mean, people are freaked out enough when they get called
up, do they need monster doors to intimidate us too? And my Ma's here too...~ He pushed
them open and walked in. Cid sat at his desk, and Dr. Kadowaki was standing beside his
desk. Edea also was there, looking out of one of the many rooms. Zell looked for his
mother and saw her, sitting in one of the armchairs facing Cid's desk, with her head
buried in her hands. She was shaking.
~Is she crying?~ Zell walked over slowly. His mother had always been a strong woman.
He had only seen her cry twice before, once when his father died and again when his
grandfather died. He walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Ma? You okay?"
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
"...oh... my baby...." She stood up and threw her arms around him, still sobbing.
"Ma? Come on, what's wrong?" He slowly pulled back from her embrace. He looked at
Cid and the doctor. "Hello Dr. Kadowaki, Mr. Kramer. Mrs. Kramer." Edea slowly
looked at him and gave him a very faint smile, then looked down and back out the
window. Cid avoided Zell's gaze and played with some pens on his desk. Dr. Kadowaki
kind of coughed, then nudged Cid.
"Oh yes, right. Zell, would you please have a seat?"
"Sure. Fine." Zell helped his mother back to her chair and pulled another up. He looked
up at the two authority figures in front of him. "So what's going on? Is this about those
tests? I mean, its just the flu..."
"No... no Zell. It isn't." Dr. Kadowaki looked down at the desk. "I wish I didn't have to
break this to you..."
"Break what to me?" Zell got up from his chair. He looked around the room at all the
people in the room. None would meet his gaze. "What the hell's going on? Why are all of
you acting like this? If it has to do with me I think I have a right to know!" Zell walked
up to the desk and leaned forward on it.
"Zell, you have adult acute myeloid leukemia."
Zell stood there stunned as Dr. Kadowaki's words sunk in.
~Cancer?~
"There must be some mistake. I mean, you only hear about little kids getting Leukemia.
I'm 18 now! I'm an adult! Besides, I've only felt sick for like, a day! Day and a half at the
most!"
"Zell, I double checked this..."
"Don't worry son, you are welcome to stay during your treatments. Garden is your home.
And there's a very very good chance that you can beat this. That's what you said, right
Dr., Kadowaki?"
~It can't be...~ Zell started to back up, panic on his face.
"Yes. There is a very good chance since we caught it fairly early. And depending on what
kind of treatment he chooses, he can remain here in Garden the entire time. The furthest I
can see him having to even move because of this is back home to Balamb. And even then
he could still commute to Garden for classes if he chooses."
"YOU'RE ALL MAKING A MISTAKE!" Zell hunched over and assumed a fighting
position. "Xu's been sick longer than I have! Ask anyone! And I mean, I'm one of the
strongest guys in Garden! I've beaten a sorceress! I've fought the strongest monsters!" He
turned and ran out of the office. His mother turned around in her seat.
"Zell! Wait!"
"Let him go... he needs time to think." Edea said, walking back to the group. The first
words she had spoken since Dr. Kadowaki had told all of them the news.
Zell pulled open the doors and ran out.
Mrs. Dincht looked at the doctor. "I've heard hot-dogs cause Leukemia. Did they cause
it?"
"No, if they did, half the students in Garden would be sick."
"Zell? What's wrong?" Xu called as Zell ran past her desk.
Those were the last words Zell heard, as he ran into the elevators.
======
A/N: This will most likely end up as a semi-depressing story. But I think there should be
at least one revolving around this issue. Cancer is a major disease in our society. (I
personally have lost one uncle and both my grandmothers to cancer, and I have one
friend who has Leukemia that is in remission.) At first Quistis or Selphie was the one
who was going to contract the disease, but after I was talking to Alan Smithee about
doing this story, he told me that hot dogs were once thought to cause Leukemia and gave
me the idea of using Zell. A lot of my research started at the St. Jude's hospital site and
from information my friend "S" gave me when she was telling about her experiences with
Leukemia.