"What? After 6 years, it's what? Oh, Gabi!" John shrieked.
He parked the car once more and pulled the light girl into his arms, as he stroked the top of her head. He felt her completely fall limp and began trembling in his arms. He rocked her gently, trying to comfort her any way he could, but the reality was, he had no idea what she was going through, what her thoughts or feelings were. How could he? The only thing he could do now is what he had done before; be a friend, support her every decision and stand beside her in any way she needed him to be.
"John, I don't know what to do. What if the treatments don't work this time? How could it come back after 6 years? What if this is...it?" she asked, looking up at him as the fear set in her already trembling body.
"Hey... Gab, don't talk like that. This isn't it, alright! Alright? You're going to be fine. You're going to make it through this." he said, startled at her questions. He did the only thing he knew at that moment, and that was to hold her closer and try soothing her pain away.
It had been an upsetting day after telling the new to her single mother and the rest of her family, which consisted of her grandmother and a couple aunts and uncles. As she lay in her bed after her much needed shower, she turned her little bedside lamp off and curled up under the blankets.
She figured sleep would come hard that night, but after the large dinner her mother had served, her vitamins and the long shower she had taken beforehand, she feel asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow...
"Where the hell am I?" she asked, as she looked around the large building. She saw that a door was open nearby. Her curiosity got the best of her, as she pushed the door open further and slipped inside. She saw her name on a chart on the desk and seeing as no one was around, she picked it up and began reading about her medical history. She leafed through some more pages before settling on a file dated 2 years in the future.
"What the..." she asked, as she read word-for-word what the file stated. It was when her eyes fell on the words near the bottom that her heart nearly stopped beating in her chest.
"Incurable Leukemia/Not responding to treatments"
She threw the chart on the desk as if it were hot, molten lava and stepped back from the desk. With her mind racing, she felt the tears fall from her eyes. She ran from the room not sure of where her feet were taking her. She knew she had to get out of this building and fast.
As she opened another door, she felt the cold winter air hit her face as it ripped through her thin nightgown and pierced her body covered underneath. She shivered from the cold as she began treading through the mounds of snow that was covering the sidewalks and streets. The blistering cold tore through her unprotected feet as the numbing set in, causing her to slow down in the process.
Not being able to take it anymore, she stopped as her feet and knees gave way, causing her to fall on the snow-covered pavement below. The tears feel freely now, as her breathing became more and more rapid, hurting her chest and every fiber of her being. She tried her breathing exercises, but nothing worked. She felt as if the life was being sucked from her very lungs and into the below freezing atmosphere around her.
As she felt the last bit of air releasing from her lungs, she fell backwards on the cold ground and closed her eyes, letting the coldness sink in. She felt her lungs burning for more air, and as she struggled to find the power to breath in, she couldn't and let the darkness succumb her, as she slipped into a peaceful, eternal sleep.
She sprung from the bed as the cold sweat took over her body and trickled down her forehead. Her breathing was very labored as she grabbed her chest. The dream had felt so real, until she awoke and realized she was at home, in bed.
She did the only thing she knew at the moment. She rolled her feet from under the covers and slipped her night shoes on that were positioned at the side of her bed. She walked to the door and grabbing her robe, she slipped it on as she tip-toed down the stairs towards the phone.
As she picked the receiver up, she dialed the number she knew so very well, like it was written and etched in her memory. She tapped her finger nervously on the nightstand as she waited for him to pick up.
"Hello?" came the groggy voice on the other end of the phone.
"John, it's me. I need you to meet me somewhere. Please!"