Tickled Pink
Chapter Seven
No more lies
She looked at the sleeping figure next to her, it was light but still very early and she just couldn't sleep. She sat on the end of the bed for a while drawing circles around her knees with her fingers; her body was at a sort of limbo. It was free from the hospital medication but the disease still sat within her. On the way to the kitchen she looked at the various pictures scattered along her wall; family and friends filled every frame and the smiles beamed down upon her. Pulling the blinds up she looked out onto her small garden, it could have been bigger but it satisfied her as she was hardly ever there. She poured the hot water into a mug and sat down at the table, taking a sip she flicked through a magazine that rested on top of the pile in the corner of the table. One page in particular stood out the most, it was an advertisement asking women of all ages to race for breast cancer; it was called the moon walk. Instantaneously she knew that she wanted to do it and tore the page out from its spine. At that time of night she didn't want to do it on her own and so reached for the phone calling the one person who sprung to mind.
The person picked up quicker than she thought they would at this time in the morning, nevertheless their tone was still gravely.
"Hello" they said in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Hey Gina it's me" Kerry said slightly apprehensive of Gina's reaction to the call this early.
"What are you doing up this early" she asked, Kerry could hear her taking a puff of a cigarette in the background.
"I can't sleep and I was just going to ask you something," She said while biting her lip.
Before finishing what she had to say Smithy's voice called out from the bottom of the stairs; Kerry's face shrivelled up appearing to be embarrassed.
"And what would Mr Smith be doing in your house at this ludicrous hour" Gina asked while taking a drag from her cigarette.
Flushing hot Kerry could not find an adequate reason apart from the fact that he had stayed and as much as she trusted Gina now there were something's she wanted to keep a secret and that was one of them. Letting Gina work it out for herself she just gave a slight chuckle and carried on the conversation as if the interruption had never happened.
Luckily Gina had agreed to do it after much arm twisting, writing down the web address onto a post it note Kerry sat back into the wooden kitchen chair. She could hear footsteps behind her and smiled, the next thing she felt were Smithy's lips trailing kisses down her neck.
"Mornin'" He said to her in a croaky voice.
"Morning" She replied while getting up from the chair and pouring the remaining tea into the sink.
"I have to go back to the hospital today Smithy do you need a lift in to work on the way?" She asked in a more serious tone as the smile started to dissolve from her face.
"Nothing to serious I hope?" He asked while brushing past her. Kerry noticed that he seemed to brush himself against her very closely noting that there was no need for it. Laughing to herself about Smithy's flirting tactics broke the cruel atmosphere about the day.
Remembering that Smithy had asked a question she quickly replied bringing her back down to earth with a thud.
"Erm… no its just a check-up to see how my blood sugar level is"
Again the lies couldn't stop coming out, she kidded herself it was only for Smithy's benefit but this wasn't true and she knew it.
"Ok" he said, pecking her on the cheek.
"Is it ok if I have a shower" Smithy asked as he stood in the doorframe of the kitchen.
"Sure" Kerry replied as she washed up the mug she had just used.
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Smithy waved goodbye as he got out of the passenger seat and walked towards the station. Before starting the car to drive to St Hughes Kerry looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was becoming patchy due to the fact that she was so flustered. She inhaled a shaky breath and waved her hands up and down to attempt to calm her.
At the hospital Kerry sat in the corridor, early for her appointment she sat there glancing at the different posters on the wall; stop smoking, wear sunscreen and obesity. None of them highlighted the fact that cancer wasn't just for the over 50's as she presumed and maybe because of this misconception it may be too late.
After half an hour of waiting Kerry was called in to a side room. A smart man in a suit sat behind a desk as a nurse was busily preparing something in the connecting room. He sat forward in his seat and clasped his hands together on the desk, Kerry noted this shift on body language and prepared herself for the worst.
"Miss Young, after receiving your test results we've found that the tumour is to progressed to be solely operated on and im afraid you will need a course of chemotherapy." His tone as serious as his gestures.
Kerry simply acknowledged his statement, too afraid to talk, unaware of how she would take it.
"I'm not going to lie to you, it's a draining process but there is a chance that you will make a full recovery and that what we need to take into consideration.
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Smithy poked his head around Gina's door and she ushered him in by waving her index finger erratically.
"What were you doing at PC Young's this morning?" She enquired.
Smithy gave the same reply as Kerry did; a simple chuckle.
"She has to go back today to have a check up" He said hoping to change the subject.
"You know why she was in hospital?" Gina asked, being careful where she trod.
"Yeah" Smithy replied, he was beginning to wonder why Gina looked so surprised.
"It's not like she wasn't going to tell me" He carried on.
"And you understand that she needs support?" Gina questioned, she appeared confused as to how well Smithy was taking it.
Then it clicked it place for Smithy,
"Were not talking about the same thing are we? She hasn't got low blood sugar, why did she really collapse?" He pressed, looking straight at her.
"Smithy its not my place if you don't know" She replied, realising what she had just done.
"Gina" Smithy scowled attempting to press the issue even further.
"Kerry has cancer Smithy".
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I haven't written this in a while and I'm hoping to alternate between this and Saviour for a while, as they both should be finished by Christmas.
Please review,
Love you lots
Lauz
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