It felt as if the floor had dropped out form under Joanne. Maureen squeezed her hand with all her might as if she was going to slip away at any given second.
"I'm terribly sorry," Dr. Estevez said.
"What can be done?" Joanne asked in a tense voice.
"Your name will be added to the national transplant list. In the mean time, you will need to see a specialist and start dialysis soon."
"How long until she's able to get a transplant?" Maureen asked.
"I'm not a specialist, but it usually takes some time. Of course, if you know of someone you could be a match, it would bump you up to the top of the list."
"What do you have to do to test someone to be a match?" Maureen demanded. Joanne immediately realized what Maureen was going with this.
"Mo, you don't have to-"
"No, I'm doing this for you." Maureen fixated her determined gaze on Dr. Estevez. "What do you need to do to get me tested?"
Outside the doctor's office, on the busy street, Maureen held Joanne as close as possible. Joanne nuzzled Maureen's neck.
"Don't worry, we'll get through this," she assured.
"What do we tell everyone else?"
"Let's wait to find out if you're a match before we tell anyone." Maureen nodded. A silent tear slid down her cheek. Without Joanne, she was lost.
Late that night, Maureen and Joanne were curled up bed together. Joanne was so into watching the news that she didn't notice Maureen's hand cautiously drift up her chest. Suddenly, Maureen grabbed Joanne's breast. Joanne nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Maureen!" she exclaimed. Maureen was simply lying in bed with her eyes closed. There was a sly smile creeping across her face. "Fine, two can play at that game." With that, Joanne grabbed Maureen's ass…hard. Maureen let out a small squeak. She slid her arm around Joanne's neck.
"Night Pookie," she mumbled contently. Joanne rolled her eyes. She'd never fully understand Maureen.
Twelve o'clock midnight. The red numbers glared at Joanne as if mocking her. Joanne buried her face in Maureen's hair which was fanned out across her chest. The dam broke, and she began to cry softly. Her very own body was turning against itself. She was dying.
A/N: Short chapter, I know…sorry!!
Tina101