"I'm sorry," said the doctor, his face fallen and full of sympathy, "your daughter has leukaemia."
Harmony sat still, staring wide eyed at the doctor, non comprehending.
"Are you sure?" her mother asked desperately, slowly meeting the doctor's eyes with her timid, tear filled gaze.
"I'm sorry," the doctor said again, "but luckily, we've caught it early. I think chemotherapy would be her best option." Harmony's mother nodded slowly, taking everything in.
"Mummy," Harmony spoke up finally, her little voice barely a whisper. "What's going on?"
Her mother's face softened at her daughter's words and she knelt in front of her, gently resting her hands on her daughter's knees and looking into her eyes. "You're sick Sweetie, she said, struggling to keep her voice even, "very sick."
"I don't feel sick," said Harmony, "just tired."
"I know Baby," her mother reached up, brushing the hair from her daughter's face. "But the Doctor, he's going to try and make you better."
Harmony's eyes turned to look at he doctor, watching them from his desk. He nodded solemnly when the young girl's eyes reached him. "You might feel a little more sick when we're trying to make you better, but it'll be worth it. Ok?"
Still not completely sure of what was going on, Harmony nodded slowly.