It had been almost a full week since Craig's funeral. Emma had been feeling a little nauseous so Spike rushed her to the hospital to get her started on treatments.
"EM, you okay?" Spike asked her while sitting in the waiting room, "Scared? Nervous? Excited?"
"Um...nervous, I guess." That was the complete truth. Emma was very very nervous. She didn't know what they would have to do. Just the thought of all the procedures she was about to go through was overwhelming.
"Emma Nelson?" The nurse said. Emma nodded and got up. "Follow me through here please." Emma followed the kindly looking nurse through the door. Emma turned and looked at her mom, dabbing her face with a kleenex, as the door closed.
The next day....
Emma stayed home from school the next day. She was now officially started on chemo along with other treatments that were supposed to help fight her leukemia. The chemo had not really had a chance to take effect yet so Emma's long golden blonde hair still remained. Later that day, Emma's mom came home from the store with a present for her.
"EM, I got you something." Emma walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. "Surprise!" Spike said as she pulled out a wig made of long blonde hair. It was almost identical to Emma's hair.
"Thanks," Emma said unenthusiastically, "it's great mom."
"Honny, I know this is hard, but really, I spent a lot of money on this. It's a real wig. People won't even be able to tell the difference."
"I don't want to wear a wig." Emma replied shortly.
"You want to go bald then?" Spike asked. She tried hard to keep her voice down. She knew that this wasn't Emma's usual behavior.
"No, I don't want to have to deal with any of this! I don't want to be a cancer patient! I just want it all to go away!" Emma shouted.
"Emma," Spike said, "I didn't buy this to upset you, despite what you may think, I did it because I love you honny and even if you don't want to realize it this is happening. Before it can go away your round of chemo has to be done and you will lose your hair, like it or not. So...would you like the wig or should I return it and get my money back?" Spike asked crossly.
"No. I'm going to need it, right? I'm sorry, mom." Emma said, defeated.
"It's alright baby." Spike walked over and gave her only daughter a hug. Just then the door bell rang.
"I'll get it." Emma said while getting to her feet. Emma opened the door; it was Sean.
"Hey..." he said, somewhat cautiously.
"Hey, Sean. Come in." Sean stepped over the threshold. Emma closed the door behind him. Sean looked nervous.
"So...how are yo feeling? I haven't talked to you in awhile." Sean asked, again that cautious tone of voice. Emma laughed on the inside. He sounded like he was afraid that one wrong word and she would bite his head off.
"Sean, don't look so scared. I'm not dead yet." Emma joked.
"Emma..." Sean began.
"Sean calm down! I'm not going to die. I will beat this."
"Promise?" Sean asked her.
"Promise." Emma confirmed.
Sean pulled her into a hug. "I love you." Sean said, choked up, into her ear. Emma loved hearing him say that. She knew that she didn't need to reply; Sean knew how she felt about him. Emma just held him tighter.
Three months later...
The school year had ended and another one was about to begin. Manny had become a loner since Craig's death. She would occasionally talk to Emma, but for the most part she just kept to herself. Sean and Emma had become even closer in-spite of Emma's cancer. Sean became a somewhat worried boyfriend. Everytime Emma had an appointment, Sean would walk to her house while they were away and wait out on the porch until they returned.
Today was the one doctors appointment that both Sean and Emma had to worry about. This would determine Emma's fate, life or death.
Emma was very nervous. She sat by the window, staring off into space until the doctor came in.
"Emma...Spike..." Dr. West said as he entered. Spike stood up quickly. Emma did not even turn her attention to him. He sounded grave...Emma already knew what was coming. She was going to die...there was nothing that they could do to prevent it.
Emma listened hard as she heard this. "She's not responding." Dr. West said, "I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do."
Even though she had been expecting it, just hearing the words pour out of the doctor's mouth hit her hard. She could no longer hear her mother's continuous sobs. Something was blocking her hearing. The room was spinning. Emma fell over off her chair. She saw the fuzzy shape of Dr. West just before she blacked out.