The Loud family tried their very best to dry their eyes and wipe away their tears before going in to see Luan. They felt they owed it to the member of their family who always tried looking on the bright side and trying to make them smile and laugh during hard times to try and return the favor for her.
Unfortunately, the task was far more difficult than Luan ever made it look.
"I-I'M SORRY DUDE!" Luna wailed as soon as she entered the room, engrossing her sister in a hug tighter than she had ever given anyone.
"For what? It's not like you made me feel all under the weather!" Luan teased, "if you had that type of power, you and Lucy would have to battle for darkest sibling!"
The whole family released a laugh that was clearly forced and far more boisterous than the quip deserved.
"Okay…what do you guys know that I don't know?" Luan finally asked, clear that someone in this hospital knew more about what was going on her body than her and it was frustrating.
The whole family avoided eye contact with the girl, clearly having no earthly idea where or how to start explaining the situation.
Finally, little Lisa stepped forward. What good was being the family genius if not to explain difficult concepts to those who are of lesser intelligence and scientific understanding.
"….You see fourth eldest sibling…Doctors have discovered….have uncovered a….PLEASE DON'T GO!" She sobbed as she threw her arms around Luan and sobbed like the four year old child that people so often forgot that she was.
Luan looked more confused than ever as she began to process that whatever was wrong with her was very, very, serious.
She still tried to keep up a lighthearted and easy-going attitude, for the sake of her beloved family.
"Gee guys, I'm sorry that the Doctor has obviously given you guys some terrible news, ut look on the bright side! It's not like I'm dying or anything!"
The whole family burst into a dam of tears at her joke.
Lincoln was the first one to find his nerve to finally let Luan in on the terrible situation.
"But…But you are Luan!" Lincoln explained heartbroken.
"W-What?" Luan finally managed.
"I'm afraid your brother is right," the doctor explained as he entered the crowded hospital room.
The doctor went on to explain the tumor to Luan.
"And…there's nothing anyone can do? No treatment or surgery or-"
"Treatments can prolong your life by a few months, but it can't save it…I'm truly sorry,"
Luan was tempted beyond measure to ask if this whole thing was some elaborate prank or something, but looking at the tears streaming down the faces of each member of her family was plenty to convince her that it wasn't a prank. As heartless as some of her gags may be, tears were always a sure sign that things had gone too far.
She knew now more than ever that her family needed her lighthearted and happy-go-lucky nature to help them through this crisis.
But how does a fourteen year old girl face something like impending death and doom?