Ch. 2: Together Forever
Maria could feel her heart pounding quickly. She sat on the chair with her eyes wide open, waiting for the Doctor to speak.
"We got the X-rays of Georg's brain back today," he told her as he displayed the pictures in front of Maria. Maria gazed at the photos, hoping that nothing was wrong. He pointed to a black spot in his brain to direct attention to it. Her eyes followed and gazed at the black spot anxiously.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Maria asked tensely.
"There seems to be a tumor in Georg's brain, Baroness," he replied gently. Maria stared blankly; it took a moment for the information to register completely. She realized that she had been taking everything for granted. With the sudden uncertainty of her husband's future, Maria realized how lucky she had been for twenty years. She exhaled and elected to think positively; maybe nothing would be wrong at all.
"I…I…can't believe this. Will it hurt him? Can he get treatment?" she asked hopefully.
"Baroness, there is no treatment," he told her gently.
"Why not?" She asked.
"I'm afraid it's not just a tumor it's…" He began.
"Yes?" Maria answered. He glanced at Maria's hopeful eyes painfully.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm afraid it's not only a tumor, but a cancerous one," he finished.
"Then, there is nothing that can be done?" Maria asked. The doctor stared at her dumbly. "Is there anything? There has to be some sort of medicine, or surgery or…" her voice trailed off when she saw the look on his face.
"There is no cure…" he whispered. "I would say the Captain has about a month to live, two if he is lucky," he whispered finally.
"But, we can't just let him die like that! There has to be something we can do," she protested.
"I would say the only thing that might work now is prayers. I will go and send for someone to collect the Baron's things so you can take him home. Baroness, I would recommend that you continue to be positive around him, if you're not, he might give up too soon."
"You mean I shouldn't even tell him he is going to die?" Maria asked, incredulously. "I can't lie to him, Doctor. He is my husband, my soul mate, I have never lied to him."
"I understand. Please, Baroness just don't give up too soon. There have been bigger miracles in this world." Maria nodded as the Doctor bid her goodbye and walked off to see another patient. As he closed the door, Maria couldn't help but let the hot tears fall from her blue eyes. She didn't know how she could face Georg after the news. Maria closed her eyes and prayed for guidance; she had no idea how she would tell Georg.
A few hours later Maria walked back down to Georg's room. She was ready to leave New York and didn't wish to come back any time soon.
"Maria, we get to go home!" Georg exclaimed joyfully.
"Yes, It's wonderful isn't it?" Maria said quietly. She sensed Georg's joy and wanted him to remain in high spirits. She walked over to Georg's bed and gave him a big hug, but couldn't keep the tears from falling down her cheeks.
Georg sensed something was wrong, but decided to overlook it for the time being. He continued,
"Maria, it will be exactly the way it was before. You, the children and I all at home in Stowe! After the tour is over it will be just like it always should've been!"
Maria looked at him with sadness. He really looked fine, not at all like a patient who was going to die in less than two months. The Doctor had even said that he should be able to walk, talk and do all the things he normally did for a few weeks. Maria smiled at him and gently rested her hand on his.
"Well then, I guess we should try to catch the next train, hmm?" Georg nodded as she helped him get out of bed. A while later they walked to the train station. While they walked and boarded their train, Georg talked incessantly about his experience in New York. Maria made sure to listen well enough to smile and nod in the right places, but she barely said anything to him.
For once in her life, something had silenced her completely. Usually, she always had a solution, or at least was able to say what she was thinking, but at that moment, she felt completely lost.
'How are you supposed to go about telling someone they are going to die?' Maria thought to herself. 'Especially the someone you love more than yourself?' Sighing deeply, she looked at Georg's eyes. He brought her quickly back into reality with his visible concern.
"Maria?" he asked. "Are you all right, darling? You barely said a word this entire time; usually it's you who does most of the talking." Georg smiled, as he looked down at Maria who was lying on his shoulder. Tears again began to fill Maria's eyes. Instantly, Georg sat her up and put his arm around her.
"What's going on?" he asked. Georg suddenly thought of what could be troubling his wife. "What did those doctors tell you?" Maria sat in silence.
"Nothing, Georg, nothing. I'm just a little tired; that's all." Maria told him unconfidently, "You know, it was a long trip to New York this morning.
"I know you're keeping something from me," he told her, looking straight into her eyes. "You're not a very good liar."
"It's really nothing…"
"Maria, marriage is based on truthfulness. For twenty-five years, we have always been honest with each other. We probably know every single secret about each other; so why start now?" Georg asked. Tears began to trickle down Maria's face. Sobbing, she put her head on Georg's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I should really be the strong one here. I just can't stand losing you," Maria stammered. Georg looked at her, wanting to know what the Doctor had told her, knowing it had something to do with his health. Maria knew he was waiting anxiously for the news so she blurted it out amid her sobs.
"You're sick, Georg. Really sick," Maria began, before tears consumed her once more and she couldn't continue. Georg took her in his arms and hugged her tightly.
"What's wrong?" he asked without hesitation.
"You have a tumor in your brain. They said it's inoperable and you have a month, if you're lucky, to live."
Georg grasped her hand tighter as he looked ahead of him. He could not believe the news, even though he had suspected something might be wrong. It broke his heart that his wife was going through such pain because of him.
"Why are they letting me go home then?" he asked her, still not looking into her eyes. Maria turned towards him.
"The Doctors told me it would be better if you were at home, in the mountains…for your last days. I'll take care of you," Maria answered.
"You don't have to do that, Maria. It might be better to keep me in the hospital," he told her as he pulled her into another hug. Maria's tears stopped and she sat up straighter.
"Why?" she asked. "You want to stay?"
"No, it just might be to big of a trouble for you," he replied. "I don't want to see you going through anything that would hurt you."
"Darling, I'm staying with you until the end," Maria told him softly. "I'm never going to leave you," a tear rolled down Georg's cheek and Maria wiped it away; bending down to kiss him.