"Okay, we can go to the doctor. You're right. I don't think you can get me to not go anymore." Arle said.
"That's what I'd like to hear! Okay, let's go. They might be able to diagnose your fainting." Ringo took her hand out, letting Arle grab it. She then helped her get up from the ground.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Come on, let's go."
They then started walking, with Amitie helping Arle stay afloat.
As the 3 walked, it started raining. Amitie took off her hat and made it transform into a large umbrella. She then looked at the other 2 with loving eyes, who gave her the same expression back.
They continued their walk until they reached the doctors' office. As they entered, Arle grew increasingly worried. She started thinking about the many possibilities of what could be the cause of her fainting.
Oh god... I hope it's nothing to worry about... It could just be a cold. No, I'm not feeling sick. Uhm... Maybe it's a stroke? No! I'm too young! Or am I...? Regardless, the worst case scenario that could happen in my book is that I'm dying from... Something. Please don't tell me that I'm dying...! Especially from cancer...!
She started panicking. As she did this, she looked at all the posters of different health problems that were around the waiting room. This only increased her fear, so she looked away from the posters and looked at Ringo, then at Amitie.
Ringo rubbed Arle's back in hopes of comforting her. Amitie hugged her for the same purpose. Arle felt a little better from this, but she was still scared.
The wait took around 15 more minutes. During that time, she fell asleep, forgetting that she was in the waiting room of a doctors' office. That was until...
"Arle Nadja."
Arle rubbed her eyes and got up from the chair. Ringo and Amitie followed her as a nurse led them to a room. When they got there, Arle lied down on the Geri chair.
The nurse then sat down in their own chair, taking out their pen and clipboard. "So Arle. Tell me what was going on with you."
"Well..." Arle sighed. "I've been fainting a lot recently... I've also vomited here and there... And I overall feel so weak..."
"Hmmm... These symptoms could be a lot of things. The vomiting could be an eating disorder. Do you have any history of eating disorders of any kind?"
"No."
The nurse wrote it down. "Your vomiting could be coupled with headaches or the aftermath of fainting. Have you had any headaches in the past 3 days or so?"
"Actually, yes. I get headaches before and after fainting."
"I see." They wrote that down. "I noticed that your hair is white. How long has it been this way?"
"How does my lack of hair color have to do with my symptoms? I've had it for a long time, even before I started fainting."
"Well, the presence of white hair could be a sign of a brain tumor, especially when accompanied with fainting, vomiting, and a weak feeling, like you described."
"It's from stress."
"It could be from stress, you're right. But let's get you an actual doctor, as I'm only a nurse." The nurse got up and left the room, looking for a doctor.
Arle looked at Amitie and Ringo. "Do you think I have a brain tumor...? Because if I do... That means..." She sat up and hugged her knees. "I won't be able to battle anymore... Regardless of whether or not it's cancerous... Because even if it was benign, surgery for the brain is very risky... And very expensive... Oh god..."
She started breathing heavily. She just wanted to scream. She clearly didn't like thinking about it. She really didn't. But alas, she was in a doctor's office, not in her house, or someone else's home. So she knew that she couldn't just scream it out, at least without looking like an escaped mental hospital patient, anyway.
After several more minutes of waiting, the doctor came in. They already had the notes that the nurse had. Now they just needed a more thorough explanation for Arle's symptoms so they can get a proper diagnosis, or at the very least, whether or not they should give her an MRI scan.
"So, you've given the nurse the symptoms. Can you talk about them?"
"I can do that. You see, I've been fainting for about four days or so. The fainting usually goes like this: I do something, get a headache, and my consciousness is gone. It usually lasts around a minute, but it's sometimes longer or shorter. The vomiting is usually paired with the headaches I get before or after fainting. And my white hair has no relevance to this, as it's from stress."
"I see. Well, I think it's best we do an MRI scan, just to be sure of what is going on. These symptoms aren't very broad. Follow me."
Arle did as told, following the doctor.
They eventually reached a room, where the MRI scan machine was. "Okay, I want you to take some deep breaths and lay down."
She lied down.
"Okay, now..." The doctor then pressed a button, which turned on the machine. The scan took about 17 minutes before it was concluded. "Let's see..." They looked at the images. "Yep... As I suspected." The doctor looked at Arle, and Arle looked back at them.
"What is it, doctor...?" Her panic returned, feeling scared. She closed her eyes, praying that it wasn't serious, but judging by their words and tone, it might be.
"Arle, you have..." They looked at the images again.
"Glioblastoma multiforme."
Arle scratched her head. "What's that?"
"It's brain cancer. In your case, you have multiple tumors in the brain. And it's already at stage 4, so now you only have around 4 months to live."
Arle teared up.
Oh god... My worst nightmare. It... It came true... IT CAME TRUE...! NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS...!
After thinking those things, she started sobbing, hugging her knees. The doctor walked over to her and rubbed her back. "I know... Those things are never easy... We can try chemotherapy if you want to, but it likely won't work in the span of the 4 months you were given in life."
Arle looked at them. "...Can I go home please...?"
"Sure you can. Here." They handed her the bill, and then she went home.
It had stopped raining. Ringo and Amitie noticed how sad Arle seemed, so the former decided to ask. "So, how did the MRI go? Was itserious?" She had concern in her tone and eyes.
"It's... Gloiblastoma multiforme. Brain cancer... It's already stage 4... I... I'm dying..."
Ringo covered her mouth in despair. "Oh my god... ARLE...!" The physics expert immediately hugged the apprentice mage. "No... No no no no no NO NO NO...!"
"I'm sorry, Ringo... It's just that I didn't know I had it... I should've gone sooner..."
"No, Arle. It's not your fault. You just let the tumors grow without knowing it is all."
"But wait...! How are you supposed to battle now...?" Amitie looked at Arle. The sorceress had already shed some tears.
"I'll figure out a way. I refuse, and I mean REFUSE to let my cancer interfere with my life. Yes, my body is dying, but what isn't dying is my spirit, and my magic! And of course, our memories!" She wrapped her arms around Ringo and Amitie. "So," she smiled in determination. "What do you say? Shall we keep our memories alive while I'm alive?"
The other two girls looked at each other, then at Arle. "Yeah! Let's do that!" Amitie said.
"Great! Oh yeah, one last question. Actually two. Can you... Please keep my illness a secret? Or at least try to...? It's okay if you accidentally tell others, I just want to at least try to hide it."
"We can try, but there are no promises." Amitie took out her pointer finger.
"Good. And now for the other question. Can at least one of you stay home with me? I think I need someone to take care of me."
"We both have school, but we can call someone to take care of you. And you also have Carbuncle." Ringo said.
"Okay. You call someone. I'll be going home."
"Alright. By the way." Ringo walked over to Arle and hugged her again, and Amitie joined them. "I love you. I love you. I love you..."
Arle held onto the other two, slowly drifting off.
"Come on, let's get you home." Ringo picked Arle up, taking her back to her house, while Amitie fixed the bed for Arle. When the sorceress was the done, the schoolgirl set the apprentice mage in the bed and let her sleep.
Once the 2 were done, they gave Arle kisses on the cheeks before leaving the house.
