Things to do in Salem When You're Dead
Chapter Two
I can't even remember how I got here. It's such a blur. I vaguely recall walking out of the hospital, having just gotten the shock of my life. Craig's voice plays over and over like a skipping record. "You have Leukemia." All I know is that I had to come here.
I watch the floor levels on the elevator light up as I pass them on my way to the Basic Black offices on the top floor. I have come to see Brady. I don't know why – I don't even know what I'm going to say. I'm like a robot programmed to go to him whenever I'm damaged. It's always been that way.
I step out of the elevator into the nicely furnished lobby. I'm still impressed every time I see this place. I remember when it was just a bare, vacant space, last summer. I remember something else from last summer. Brady singing to me, for me, opening up himself in song before me. It was such a magical moment and it made me feel…
I shake away my train of thought when I see John. He smiles warmly at me, with just a hint of a smirk on his face. He does that a lot lately, especially when Brady and I are together. Like he knows some kind of secret. Come to think of it, I've seen that look on a lot of faces: Belle, Shawn, Craig, Marlena, even Brady's old nanny Caprice. Do they know something I don't?
"Hello, Mr. Black. Is Brady in?"
Again with the smirk, what is going on?
"Yes, Chloe. Go right on in." As I leave to enter Brady's office, I can feel John's laughing smile on my back.
I knock softly on Brady's door and slowly walk in. He has such a nice office! I quietly wait for him to finish his phone conversation while I look around. He sees me and his blue eyes light up and I can see the boy within. For one second, he resembles a child on Christmas morning. I never noticed that look on his face before. Maybe, I've been too self- absorbed to notice before. I clear my head and try to hide my anxious thoughts from Brady. I still don't know how I'm going to tell him, or even if I'm going to tell him.
He hangs up the phone and smiles warmly at me. I love that smile. It makes me feel special, like I'm the most important person in the world to him. He comes around his desk to give me one of his bear hugs.
It was a mistake to let him hug me. The moment I feel his arms wrap around me, my defensive walls come crashing down. I melt into his embrace as my shock wears off. Tears slide out of the corners of my eyes and I begin to tremble.
It has just hit me. I have cancer. Oh my God. I have cancer. I can't breathe as sudden panic sets in. People die from cancer. All my happy plans for the future flash before me and I realize that it will never happen.
I can feel Brady's concern for me. "Chloe, what's wrong?" I can hear it in his voice. I can't answer, I'm too afraid. I cling desperately to him, shaking within his strong arms.
"Chloe tell me what's wrong. Is it Phillip? Dammit, what has he done now? I swear I'm going to kill him." He mutters angrily under his voice and I can't help but laugh at the thought of Brady beating up Phillip.
I reluctantly pull out of his arms and dry my eyes. "No," I sigh, "It's not Phillip. I meant it when I said that I was through with him. I'm not going to give him another chance to hurt me."
"Then Chloe, what is it?" Brady reaches out and gently caresses my cheek. His thumb wipes away a stray tear. His ice blue eyes flicker over my face and I can tell he's studying my appearance. He takes in my tired eyes and the dark circles under them that contrast my unusually pale skin.
I give him a small smile. "Can we go somewhere and talk?"
He grows serious, his face a stone mask. "Sure" he answers cautiously. "Just let me tell my Dad." He buzzes his father over the desk intercom and tells him he's taking a lunch break, and then we head out the door.
We're silent on the drive to his loft. I know he's very worried about me, but I'm still trying to find the words to say. I step into his loft and look around. I love this place. It's so…Brady. From the comfy worn couch to the Hulk figurine on the mantel; everything here just fits him perfectly.
It's also very peaceful here. I feel safe here, like someone's watching over me. I can't describe it. It feels like home.
Brady is staring at me now, his blue eyes wide with fear. He can tell that there is something very wrong. I have to tell him. How will he take it?
I'm racking my brain, trying to figure out what I'm going to say, when I see her picture. Isabella, Brady's mother who died shortly after he was born. She had cancer too. Oh God, I can't do this to him. How can I remind him of his pain, of everything he's lost? Absentmindedly, I reach toward her face and pray for her strength.
"Chloe?" he gently prods.
I drop my hand and turn to face him. I settle on the couch and he sits down beside me. Our hands find their way to each other and our fingers intertwine. I look down and marvel at our joined hands, they fit together so perfectly, like joined halves.
He gently cups my chin and looks in my eyes. I return his gaze and squeeze his hand.
"I got some bad news today, Brady."
His face hardens and I can tell he's preparing himself for bad news. He swallows down the lump in his throat. "Okay."
"My last blood count was very low, so Colin and Craig ran some other tests." I blink back the sudden tears burning my eyes. This is going to hurt Brady so much.
"I have leukemia, Brady. I have cancer."
Chapter Two
I can't even remember how I got here. It's such a blur. I vaguely recall walking out of the hospital, having just gotten the shock of my life. Craig's voice plays over and over like a skipping record. "You have Leukemia." All I know is that I had to come here.
I watch the floor levels on the elevator light up as I pass them on my way to the Basic Black offices on the top floor. I have come to see Brady. I don't know why – I don't even know what I'm going to say. I'm like a robot programmed to go to him whenever I'm damaged. It's always been that way.
I step out of the elevator into the nicely furnished lobby. I'm still impressed every time I see this place. I remember when it was just a bare, vacant space, last summer. I remember something else from last summer. Brady singing to me, for me, opening up himself in song before me. It was such a magical moment and it made me feel…
I shake away my train of thought when I see John. He smiles warmly at me, with just a hint of a smirk on his face. He does that a lot lately, especially when Brady and I are together. Like he knows some kind of secret. Come to think of it, I've seen that look on a lot of faces: Belle, Shawn, Craig, Marlena, even Brady's old nanny Caprice. Do they know something I don't?
"Hello, Mr. Black. Is Brady in?"
Again with the smirk, what is going on?
"Yes, Chloe. Go right on in." As I leave to enter Brady's office, I can feel John's laughing smile on my back.
I knock softly on Brady's door and slowly walk in. He has such a nice office! I quietly wait for him to finish his phone conversation while I look around. He sees me and his blue eyes light up and I can see the boy within. For one second, he resembles a child on Christmas morning. I never noticed that look on his face before. Maybe, I've been too self- absorbed to notice before. I clear my head and try to hide my anxious thoughts from Brady. I still don't know how I'm going to tell him, or even if I'm going to tell him.
He hangs up the phone and smiles warmly at me. I love that smile. It makes me feel special, like I'm the most important person in the world to him. He comes around his desk to give me one of his bear hugs.
It was a mistake to let him hug me. The moment I feel his arms wrap around me, my defensive walls come crashing down. I melt into his embrace as my shock wears off. Tears slide out of the corners of my eyes and I begin to tremble.
It has just hit me. I have cancer. Oh my God. I have cancer. I can't breathe as sudden panic sets in. People die from cancer. All my happy plans for the future flash before me and I realize that it will never happen.
I can feel Brady's concern for me. "Chloe, what's wrong?" I can hear it in his voice. I can't answer, I'm too afraid. I cling desperately to him, shaking within his strong arms.
"Chloe tell me what's wrong. Is it Phillip? Dammit, what has he done now? I swear I'm going to kill him." He mutters angrily under his voice and I can't help but laugh at the thought of Brady beating up Phillip.
I reluctantly pull out of his arms and dry my eyes. "No," I sigh, "It's not Phillip. I meant it when I said that I was through with him. I'm not going to give him another chance to hurt me."
"Then Chloe, what is it?" Brady reaches out and gently caresses my cheek. His thumb wipes away a stray tear. His ice blue eyes flicker over my face and I can tell he's studying my appearance. He takes in my tired eyes and the dark circles under them that contrast my unusually pale skin.
I give him a small smile. "Can we go somewhere and talk?"
He grows serious, his face a stone mask. "Sure" he answers cautiously. "Just let me tell my Dad." He buzzes his father over the desk intercom and tells him he's taking a lunch break, and then we head out the door.
We're silent on the drive to his loft. I know he's very worried about me, but I'm still trying to find the words to say. I step into his loft and look around. I love this place. It's so…Brady. From the comfy worn couch to the Hulk figurine on the mantel; everything here just fits him perfectly.
It's also very peaceful here. I feel safe here, like someone's watching over me. I can't describe it. It feels like home.
Brady is staring at me now, his blue eyes wide with fear. He can tell that there is something very wrong. I have to tell him. How will he take it?
I'm racking my brain, trying to figure out what I'm going to say, when I see her picture. Isabella, Brady's mother who died shortly after he was born. She had cancer too. Oh God, I can't do this to him. How can I remind him of his pain, of everything he's lost? Absentmindedly, I reach toward her face and pray for her strength.
"Chloe?" he gently prods.
I drop my hand and turn to face him. I settle on the couch and he sits down beside me. Our hands find their way to each other and our fingers intertwine. I look down and marvel at our joined hands, they fit together so perfectly, like joined halves.
He gently cups my chin and looks in my eyes. I return his gaze and squeeze his hand.
"I got some bad news today, Brady."
His face hardens and I can tell he's preparing himself for bad news. He swallows down the lump in his throat. "Okay."
"My last blood count was very low, so Colin and Craig ran some other tests." I blink back the sudden tears burning my eyes. This is going to hurt Brady so much.
"I have leukemia, Brady. I have cancer."
