Chapter 5 beauty in everything

Hope you're all having a great day. For illustrations you can go to evilregalsq7 on wattpad.

^December 9th 2016^

"Treatment for a teen, with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is based on the size and stage of the tumor, where the tumor is located in the body, and whether or not the tumor has spread to other parts of the body. So we will need to get some scans done, find out exactly how big this tumor is, how far it's spread, and see what our treatment options are." Dr. M explained to Blanche, who was now the only one listening as Pearl sat, staring into space. Blanche could feel the tears falling down her face but she refused to acknowledge them.

"We should get an MRI of the thigh and surrounding area, get an idea of just how big this tumor is, and discuss the surgical options" Dr M said then looked up to see the blank stares she was receiving.

"I am so sorry Pearl..." She said with a sad look on her face. Then she turned to Blanche and handed her a card with her phone number and information on it saying, "you call me and let me know when you want to schedule the appointments, but the sooner the better, we should try to get ahead of this while we can."

Blanche nodded taking the card, standing, putting her coat back on and walking to Pearls side.

Pearl looked up briefly when her mother walked to stand in front of her, hands outstretched. That seemed to snap her out of it, she stood up quickly, looking past her mother at the doctor.

"You can fix it right? You can treat it and I can keep dancing? This is my whole life! This - this can't be the end of that..." She nearly shouted.

"We will do everything we can for you Pearl."

"Well let's just do it now, the MRI or whatever, so we can figure it out and I can go to school tomorrow."

Blanche looked at her daughter stunned, then back to the Doctor.

"I could make some calls and see if I can't get the machines open in a few minutes, it may take a little while" she said as she picked up her phone.

"We will just step outside then" Blanche said, practically dragging Pearl into the hall.

"I-" she stated but Pearl just shook her head.

"I'm gonna be fine mom, they're gonna see that it's not that big, they'll take it out and I'll dance again by spring season." She stayed so sure of herself.

Blanche just nodded, "did you want to call Rose, or... anyone?"

"No. Not until I know what's going on, no need to freak anyone else out..." She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm her frazzled nerves. I'm gonna be fine.


Pearl sat in the MRI machine for what seemed like hours to her, they took scans of her right thigh and the surrounding areas. They told her a bunch of medical things that she did not understand.

They waited back in Dr. M's office while she looked at the scans and came to her conclusion.

"I've looked the scans over" She said as she walked in with the scans in her hand and put them up on the board, pointing to a white blob that was spread up the inside of her thigh around to the outer hip area.

"This is your tumor," she said, and Pearls mouth hung open.

"It's-its huge," Blanche said, dumbfound.

"It is quite large yes, now it's in a very dangerous position here," she said pointing, "it's not touching now, but it very close to your femoral artery, so surgery would be very risky..."

Pearl looked depleted but nodded along.

"And here," she pointed to her hip joint, "is where the tumor ends, now because it is a skeletal muscle tumor, the likely hood of a hip replacement being needed it very low-"

"Hip replacement!? I'm not even eighteen yet!" The skinny girl shouted, standing quickly and grimacing in pain.

"Does it hurt now?" The doctor asked, concern painted on her face.

"It's fine.. this is what it always feels like..." Pearl mumbled.

"'Always?' How long as this been going on Pearl!?" Blanche asked turning to meet her daughters eyes.

"Whatever ok... it's fine let's just fix it." She mumbled back.

"No! Not okay! You need to tell us how long this has been going on!" The older woman shouted.

Pearls face crumbled then, the weight of all that was happening finally hitting her, tears poured from her wide blue eyes.

Blanche rushed to her side and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Am I gonna die?" She whispered after a few minutes of crying.

"Pearl you are not going to die. I am going to do everything in my power to keep you well, and get you dancing again." The graying doctor said.


When they finally left the doctor it was dark, not having noticed the time Pearl pulled out her phone and looked at the time, 8:59.

She had thirteen unread messages from Amethyst, three missed calls from Rose, and five unread messages from Sky. Pearl just shoved her phone back in her pocket, she couldn't deal with them right now. She pulled herself into the huge white SUV wincing slightly at the pull on her muscle.

"Are you alright Pearl?" Her mother asked quietly, turning the key to start the car but not pulling away.

"I-" she started but stopped, not really knowing that today. How was she feeling? She didn't even know, lost, scared, alone, all of the above? "I'm scared mom" she agreed on finally.

"I'm scared to..." She whispered back, reaching for Pearls hand and holding it tightly the whole drive home.

Half way back to the mansion Pearl decided that she should start answering people, they'd just be worried, she left school after getting called to the front, didn't go to dance and didn't tell anyone where she was going.

€Amethyst€

2:27 meet you in the dance hall?

€Amethyst€

3:03 - Hey where'd you go?

€Amethyst€

3:49 - Pearlllll?

€Amethyst€

5:16 - Dude you missed dance...?

€Amethyst€

5:30 - Seriously where are you

€Amethyst€

5:47 - Are you ok?

€Amethyst€

6:01 - Still alive?

€Amethyst€

7:06 - Ya know if I did this to you, you would be so pissed

€Amethyst€

7:10 - god pearl if you don't answer me I'm gonna have to tell rose you went MIA

7:20 1 missed call from, Rose My Love

Sky

7:36 - Ame is like freaking everyone out looking for you, I tried to tell her it's only been a couple of hours but she's not listening, so like, text someone back will ya?

€Amethyst€

7:38 - if you don't answer me by 8 im callin ur mom.

€Amethyst€

7:53 - ok maybe not cuz she scares me and I don't know her #

7:58 - 1 Missed call from, Rose My Love

Sky

8:18 - Answer someone Pearl.

Sky

8:50 - I'm pretty sure Ame went to your house

€Amethyst€

8:51 - Pearl are you at your house?

€Amethyst€

8:54 - look are you mad at me or something?

1 missed call from, Rose My Love

Sky

8:55 - lemme know when you're home

Sky

8:57- my mom talked to yours, text me if you want to talk about whatever happened at the doctor.

"You told Aunt Blue what happened?" Pearl looked at her mother as they pulled onto their road.

"No." She said simply.

"Yes you did, Sky just told me that you talked to her mom!"

"I spoke to my sister because everyone had no idea where we were, I told her we were at the Doctors office, nothing else." She explained calmly, "and if I had told her that would be up to me because I am your mother, not the other way around pearl."

Pearl grumbled but just settled into her seat.


When they pulled into the large white houses drive way she saw a figure shoot up from sitting on the steps and bolt toward them.

"Pearl!" Ames voice shouted as the blob she now recognized at Amethyst neared her.

"Hey..." she said back quietly as she opened her door and pulled her back over her shoulder.

"Where have you been!? I've been texting you I thought you like died or something!" The shorter girl shouted as she pulled Pearl into a crushing hug, lifting the tiny dancer off of the ground.

"It's only been a few hours Ame." Pearl whispered, not having the energy to even speak at a normal level anymore.

"But I-" and started, only to be interrupted by Blanche who came walking around the car.

"Amethyst, would you do me a favor and take Pearls things up to her room for her, she's very tired and I don't want her to fall. Pearl, give Ame your things and go up to your room with her." Blanche said and Pearl nodded softly.

"Uh sure..." Ame said, taking Pearls backpack and grabbing her waist pulling the skinny girl toward her.

Amethyst led pearl up the stairs and to her bedroom, before she even placed the bag next to the closet, Pearl was fast asleep in her bed, shoes still on, sideways.