The sound of the ear piercing alarm of Arielle's clock next to her bed went off. She swung her arm, not caring where it lands, and hits the snooze button to try and get a few more minutes of sleep. Of course, that didn't happen.
"Arielle, you had better be getting up," her mother's drowned out voice behind the door stated firmly. Arielle groaned.
Arielle slowly unraveled the covers off her and stretched as her mind was waking up from a deep nights sleep. For once, she was grateful for it. She turned her head and saw the red lights on her alarm clock: 7:00 am. She groaned again.
"I hate mornings, especially early ones," she stated groggily to herself as she got up and got around for her doctor's appointment.
By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could already smell breakfast wafting in the air. Smells like bacon, Arielle thought as she made her way to the kitchen. She couldn't wait to eat.
"Just in time to eat," her mother said as she loaded up hers and Arielle's plate with pancakes and maple syrup, bacon, and a small dish of fruit on the side.
Arielle sat on the stool in front of the ledge as her mother placed her breakfast in front of her, then she took a seat right next to her. It was quiet while they ate their food, normally it wasn't, but today had put both their nerves into chaos.
"So, I was thinking we should go into town and do something fun," her mother spoke up after a few minutes of silence, Arielle felt relieved that she spoke first and brought up something besides her up coming appointment. "Since I was able to push my work schedule to later."
"Into town? What do you have planned?" Arielle asked.
"I was thinking of a little shopping, just you and me, and then we can grab something quick to eat before I go to work at three. What do you say?" her mother looked at Arielle with a bright smile and Arielle couldn't help but smile back. They haven't done anything since they moved into this cabin and it excited her like a child would be.
"That sounds great!" Arielle stated excitedly. Her mother smiled even more at her happiness.
They were soon back to finishing their breakfast and before Arielle knew it, it was time to leave. Once they got into her mothers car and drove to the hospital, that exciting feeling was quickly replaced with fear. Arielle kept thinking of all the possibilities that could go wrong.
The Plainsville Hospital building wasn't anything to grand, nothing like the buildings in major cities. But with it being a quant little town it didn't need to be very large. They pulled into the parking lot, got out of the car, and walked across the parking lot to the doors of the hospital. Arielle had to restrain her hands from fidgeting, the nerves getting worse as they approached the door. Arielle's mother noticed without a second glance. She turned in front of Arielle, surprising her, and grasped her arms.
"Mom?" She questioned, confused.
"No matter what happens in there, lets pull through it together," her mother stated sternly, with confidence.
"I know I haven't been a good role model to you, with me drinking and all, but I am trying hard," Arielle noticed her mother's eyes were starting to glow with tears, she had to restrain herself from crying too.
"I know you are trying hard too and struggling with every step you take, but I'll always be there for you, even when I don't show it," then she suddenly wrapped Arielle into a tight hug and Arielle responded by wrapping her arms around her. She can't remember the last time her mother has hugged her, but it was very welcoming.
Once they separated, they walked right through the doors and into the building, hoping that something positive will happen.
The wait in the waiting room was torturous as they both sat on the cushioned chairs, waiting to be called. Seeing many people, also waiting in their chairs, trying to keep themselves or others entertained. After an half an hour they were finally called into the dreaded small room. An assistant to the doctor came in and asked questions, in which Arielle answered some basic health questions as the assistant typed it on her computer. The assistant told Arielle to wait and the doctor would be in.
It was quiet in the room as they both waited, no words to exchange, just settled glances to reassure each other that everything would go fine. They will have an answer, hopefully today. The door creaked open and they both looked up to see the doctor.
"Good morning Miss Arielle, Ms. Kingsley," the doctor greeted with a warm and polite smile.
"Mr. White, good morning to you too," Arielle's mother smiled back at him, trying to keep her composure for both her and Arielle's sake.
"How are you feeling, Arielle?" Mr. White asked as he set up his computer on the small table.
"Pretty well, I didn't have my coughing fits today," Arielle answered as she looked at his computer. There was a lot of data on her and her illness, it depressed her to know so little is being revealed about her illness with all the information that's been given.
"How often are you having your coughing fits?" He asked.
"It depends, some days I won't have it, other days from one to two," Arielle answered as she recalled her memories.
"Out of 1 to 10, how sever are the coughs?" Mr. White pulled out a chart from his folder that was tucked in his computer case. It showed the numbers and the description of the severity for each number. As she looked she chosen the number.
"7, huh," Mr. White stated as he typed on his computer, then he turned to her.
"Last time you chose the number 4, what caused the increase?" He asked as he looked at her. He could tell Arielle was stressed about the ordeal, but he needed answers as he was coming close to finding the final conclusion of what is wrong.
"There are times when my lungs feel constricted, like I'm losing air," she shuddered as she told Mr. White. The thought of it happening again horrified her.
"What else?" He asked.
"I struggle to get to my pills cause I collapse from the sudden loss of air," she answered. When she looked at her mother her face contorted into fear as well as shock. Arielle didn't tell her mother, because she didn't want to burden her. Her mother was already going through enough with her job and bills.
"This isn't good, if you can't get to your pills, you could pass out or worse," Mr. White stated firmly as he typed into his computer. "I would suggest keeping pills and water on you at all times." Arielle only nodded her head in agreement.
"Is there anything else she can take or do to lessen her cough, there has to be something?" Arielle's mother asked, her tone exasperated.
"I'm going to take her in another room to observed her breathing and also take x-rays," said as he saved his files and closed his computer shut.
"If you can wait five minutes, I'll have everything prepared, It'll take some time, but we are getting down to the business of what is troubling your daughters illness to flare up," said as he opened the door to leave. When he closed the door and silence was deafening once again. Until her mother finally spoke up.
"Why didn't you tell me your coughing as gotten that bad?" Her mother asked, fear dripping in her tone.
"I didn't want you to worry about it, it's not getting better nor going away," Arielle answered as she laid down on the examining bed. She just wanted to go to sleep and forget this ever happened.
"Didn't want me to worry? Are you serious?" Her mother stood as she strode across the room to reach Arielle. Arielle felt a hand on her shoulder that was firm and not letting go.
"I'm your mother, I'm suppose to worry about you!" She yelled. Arielle flinched as she prepared for her mother's lectures, she knew this would happen. Like all the other times when they came to the doctors.
"I know, but I -" she was cut off.
"No, you don't know," her mother yelled again.
That's when the door opened and Mr. White's assistance came in, concern adorned on her face.
"Is everything alright in here?" she asked.
"Yes, is the room ready?" Arielle's mother asked firmly, seriousness burning in her eyes. The assistant shook inside from Ms. Kingsley burning eyes.
"Uh, yes, yes it is, if you could follow me," the assistant opened the door wide and let Arielle and her mother through.
The room was intimidating in itself, with a large body scanner, computers and attachments to it, the small room that is painted in white that made the already cool room feel more chilly. Arielle has been in this room before, and it makes her terrible in fear every time. Especially with the thought of what could be wrong with her.
She was asked to change in the changing room. She finally changed into a light blue robe and the chill of the room intensified as she walked out of the changing room.
She knew the drill when it came to the CT Scans and went to lay her body down on the uncomfortable platform that would move her under the scanners.
"Alright, we are going to send you in and do the scan, it'll take about fifteen to twenty minutes," the assistant to Mr. White stated as she hit the switch to the bed.
Arielle's heart pounded as she went into the scanner. It became dark, the only light showing was a circular strip that went around the inside of the scanner. Moving around and around as the scanning process began. Arielle closed her eyes and was letting her mind fade to keep herself from becoming more scared than she already was. The coolness started to sink into her sink and suddenly she thought of the outdoors, of winter, of…
"Jack," she whispered out quietly. She remembered what he told her yesterday.
"Will you be back soon?" She asked as she felt her cheeks warm up and not because of the cold.
"Would tomorrow night be okay with you?" Jack whispered in her ear.
"Yes," she said and she swore she could feel him grin against her.
"Then tomorrow night!" Jack gave her one last tight hug and released her.
Arielle couldn't help but smile at the thought, and more than anything, she needed him with her after the day is through. She needed his presence to know she is going to be okay. Also, all the things that Jack has done for her to make her life more exciting and fun.
"Alright, we're almost done Arielle," Mr. Whites voice called out. Arielle barely heard him and she was relaxing into her day dream.
Her day dreams were flooding in all at once, things she wanted Jack to show her. Like being introduced to the Guardians, another round of a snowball fight with Jamie and Sofie, maybe fly somewhere she's never been before. Anything, to escape this madding hell that she is currently in. Literally.
Suddenly, she felt the bed move and slowly took her out of the scanner. Breaking her from her peacefully day dream.
"Okay, go ahead and get changed and meet back in the main room," the assistant commanded.
After changing and walking towards the exit of the scanning room, her mother was waiting. She looked like she could break down. A dreadful aura around her.
"What's wrong?" Arielle asked as she walked faster to her mom, feeling her heart speed up again.
"Huh? Oh, nothing, lets head back," she stated, quickly trying to collect her composure, but faltering. Arielle had a bad feeling as she walked down the hall and into the main room.
Once they entered the main room and sat down they were once again drowning in the silence. No one knew what to say at this point. The door creaked open after ten minutes and Mr. White came in.
"Well, we might have lead, though it's still soon to say," he stated to the both of them. He sat down and once again pulled out his laptop and started clicking on the key board. He soon faced the computer so both Arielle and her mother could see the screen. An x-ray image of Arielle's lungs showed up.
"You see these shadows along the lungs here," he pointed out certain sections of the lung where dark spots showed. Both of them nodded their heads, not sure what to think of the spots.
"Miss Arielle and Ms. Kingsley, after viewing other previous scans and seeing the progression of the symptoms, Arielle, you may have lung cancer."