Faith was at home. Nicole came through the door crying. Faith came into the living room.
"Nicole what's wrong?" She asked.
"It's back." She said tearfully.
"The leukemia?"
"Yeah." "What am I gonna do?"
"Oh no." "No." She said starting to cry a little herself. "When do you start treatments?"
"Three days." "I've already told my job."
"What about John?" "You never told him about any of this did you?"
"No." "I don't want to but I have to break up with him."
"What, why?"
"He deserves someone he can have a future with, that's not me anymore."
"You can beat this again."
"I'm going to try my hardest but there's almost no chance."
"Things could change."
"No, I was told by the doctor just now." "There's only a twenty percent chance I'll survive." "Just like what they said would happen if it ever came back." "I don't want John knowing about this."
"Why?"
"I can't let him see what this is going to do to me." "The woman he knows is going away." "If I tell him he'll want to stay, mainly because he feels sorry for me." "I can't let that happen."
"He'll want to stay with you because he loves you."
"That's what he'll say but it won't be the truth." "He doesn't deserve this burden." "It's bad enough I have to put you through it again."
"Nicole, you need to tell him."
"I can't." "I don't want you to either."
"Ok."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
"Thank you."
"So, do we go back to the same living situation as before?"
"I'm gonna rent an apartment in Boston." "I have more then enough saved up."
"What about your place in Manhattan?"
"I'll just have to lose it." "Mom, if the worst should happen, I want us to sit down eventually and talk about my funeral."
"You're not dying."
"I want to be prepared." "I'm flying back to Manhattan to get my things." "I'll be back Thursday."
"What are you going to tell John?"
"I have no idea." She started to cry again. "I don't want to leave him." "I love him."
"I know you do." "You can just tell him."
"No I can't."
While on the plane back to New York Nicole took out a piece of paper and a pen. She started to write.
Dear John,
This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do…
