Chap. 10:

Elise's POV

It had been months since I had first begun losing my hair and even I was beginning to realize that this wasn't a battle that I was going to win. I was all bone now because I could barely eat anything. Embry and my dad had taken to spoon feeding me applesauce and occasionally forcing bananas and crackers into me. My hair was totally gone too, but thanks to Embry I had plenty of hats.

Embry, at night when I was all alone in my room, when I could feel my defeat, it was him who kept me going. I had to live for Embry. I had to live for him. Embry and my dad were taking my health pretty hard to. They were both thinner, and my dad had more worry lines and gray hairs than he had ever had before. Embry had sort of sunk into himself, really only opening himself up to me.

He visited nearly every day after school, collecting and dropping off homework for me to do. It was ironic, I thought a lot, that even with cancer I was a High Honors student…figures.

I finally realized how desperate my situation was when I heard Dr. Cullen talking to my dad.

"We're doing almost everything we can do," he told my dad, "It's just not working."

"You said almost!" my dad exclaimed, "Is there something else?"

"Well, the cancer has spread to both lungs so there's no way we could operate, but we could put her on radiation therapy in addition to the chemo," Dr. Cullen began, "But I honestly don't know if she's strong enough to handle it."

"We've gotta try it," my dad began to cry, "I just can't lose her…she's my baby Dr. Cullen!"

Dr. Cullen and my dad walked into my room then.

"Elise," Dr. Cullen began, in his serious doctor's voice, "There is one other thing that we could try. It's going to be just as difficult as the chemo, but the combination of the two could work. We at least might be able to keep it from spreading even more…I'm sorry Elise, you're a very sweet girl, but you deserved to know the truth about your situation.

I nodded, I felt scared but something else. It was as if I could just let go right now and I would know that I had tried my best. But as was usual when I thought of surrendering Embry's face came to mind…and I knew that I had to keep going for him. Embry still came to visit me, but as I got worse I began to notice how much each visit was hurting him.

Embry's POV

Carlisle explained to me that Elise was getting worse, but they still had one treatment they had yet to try.

"Her dad is all for it," he told me, "I'm just not sure if Elise can handle it."

I nodded, "What can I do?" I was desperate to do something to help Elise.

"Just stick with her son," Carlisle told me, "She needs the support."

"I am!" I shouted at him, angry that he would even consider me leaving Elise, "If there was some way that I could stay with her all the time and ditch school, you know I'd do it! But I have to stay in school!" I was shaking now, "I love Elise more than this world, I would never just leave because she's dying!" Carlisle looked a little stunned. "Come on, you can't think I've missed it. She's completely washed out. There isn't really anything left of her to fight this. And it's already getting harder for her to breathe…" I broke off as I began crying.

"I understand how scary this is for you Embry, but imagine what it's like for her," Carlisle patiently explained, "She's scared too, but sometimes I can see her determination falter just a bit. You need to help her keep fighting."

I understood, Carlisle was really a nice guy. He actually made sense about Elise, I could sometimes see her surrender too. This was happening more and more often now as she got worse. I hated it and wanted to help, I had to make her happy again.

"Hey, doc!" I called to Carlisle, "Would it be alright if I had a party for Elise here, we could do like a mini prom and have other teens from the hospital come too…I'd bring the guys to help…I think it might help?"

Carlisle laughed, "As much as I worry about having a room full of young werewolves and fatally ill kids, I think you might be right. That prom might be a good idea for all of them." He walked off, and began speaking softly to a nurse, looking at the pile of transcripts in his hands. I picked up my backpack that had fallen on the floor during our argument and walked to Elise's room.

She was sleeping, but it was no longer a peaceful sleep. Her entire body shook as if each breath she took was a struggle in itself. She wheezed and coughed and moaned. It was absolutely horrible to watch. Her shiny, bald head was covered by a bandana that one of the nurses had shown her how to tie. Piles of craft supplies lay next to her bed that she and some of the younger cancer patients were making. Already the doctors and nurses had a surplus of pot holders, pipe cleaner flowers, foam frames, beaded necklaces and nearly everything else under the sun. I noticed that today they had been making something from construction paper. Crowns, I realized, when I saw the pink princess crown sitting on her lap.

"Embry?" Elise croaked.

I handed her a glass of water, "Thanks," she whispered.

"Homework call!" I said, faking cheerfulness, "And an 'A' on your English essay."

She tried to laugh, but ended up choking. I patted her back until she was breathing semi-easily again.

"Did you hear about my new treatments?" she asked quietly, looking up at me.

"Yeah," I said and saw how relieved she looked, "Car-Dr. Cullen explained it to me so that I'll be able to help out."

She nodded again, "I-I think I need to tell you something."

"Anything," I answered, "You know that."

"I just wanted you to know that, no matter what happens, I kept fighting for you-" she broke off to cough, "Whenever I feel like giving up, I keep going for you."

"I know," I whispered. For the first time, I bent down and gently kissed her lips. I turned around so she wouldn't see me wipe the tears from my eyes. "I know."