Chapter 16

Maggie's Day

She woke up in pain. She wished that she could remember a day that she didn't wake up in pain. The problem was she was just too tired to care. She looked to her left and saw her mom sleeping in the fold out chair. She turned her head to the bed stand. There was her picture. Other kids had stuffed animals that they held on to. Not her. She had her picture and it was with her every step of the way. She told it all of her worries, all of her dreams and all of her fears of dying.

Her fears of dying. That was something she hadn't thought about in awhile. That's where her friends had helped. Yes, she had to admit that she had friends at home that she was close with, but they didn't come close to the three she was the closest to now. She was an only child. All she could do was pretend what it was like to have brothers and sisters. Dolls and stuffed animals really didn't help. You had to think for them and they couldn't do anything for you. That was until she came out here for the first time. That's when she met them. Her brother and her sisters. They had done exactly what she thought a brother or sister would do. They helped her when she was lost and when she was sick. There was not one day that went by that she didn't hear from them. They sent special gifts and called on special days. They even came out to visit a few times. They meant the world to her and she would miss them as much as she would miss her parents. If missing someone was something you could do after you were dead. Of the three of them she knew it would be the hardest on her as she looked at her picture. She had never gotten over her mother's death. Her death would just make things worse for her. Besides that, she didn't want to leave just yet. She had her life and she wanted to keep it for as long as possible. She reached over and took the picture and looked at it. It wasn't a picture of her friend but it was her alter ego. Yes. She was her superhero. And she had called her sister.

"I see you're a wake Maggie." Sara greeted her daughter.

Maggie put her picture of Hannah back on the bed stand.

"I was thinking, Mom. It's like that saying today."

"What saying is that?"

"Today is the first day of the rest of my life."

"Yes it is sweet heart. Yes it is."

The rest of the morning was spent running tests to be sure that Maggie had no infections. Once they were happy that Maggie's blood was free from infections, they started to get her ready for treatment.

-------------------------------------------------

Robbie, Carey, Zack, Cody and Maddie came to the hospital around noon. The kids stayed with Maggie as Robbie took the girls out to lunch.

"That's a nice picture of Hannah you have there. How long have you known Miley and the others?" Maddie asked to make conversation.

"About six months I think. But it seems like forever."

"They do seem to bring out the best in people."

"Tell me Maddie, do you ever think about dying?"

"Yes and no. I mean I have thought about it. But can't think about it like you can though. But after this is all over, you won't have to worry about it again."

"I wish I felt the same way."

"You will. But I can tell just by looking at you that you're really nervous."

"It shows?"

"Who wouldn't be?"

"Is Miley going to come over or call when she gets home from school?"

"If you haven't had your treatment by then, she'll stop by."

"I hope she makes it here first. Is it okay if I sleep for a little bit?"

Maddie took Maggie's hand, smiled and nodded. Maggie squeezed Maddie's hand and held on to it until she fell asleep.

About thirty minutes after Maggie had fallen asleep Robbie and the girls came back to the room. Robbie and Carey packed things in the room up for the move to the sterile room that Maggie would be staying in for the rest of her time in the hospital. Robbie went out to the nurses' station to find out where that room was. The nurse gave him the directions to get there. Robbie then went back to Maggie's room and had the twins help him carry the bags up to the other room. The other room was really two rooms in one. On entering the room, there was a glass wall with a door cutting the room in half. To the right, against the wall, was a clean room so anyone going into the other side can get sterile before entering. The bed on the other side of the wall was by the glass wall. In the glass wall by the bed were two holes. In the holes where fitted arm length gloves. The purpose for this was obvious. On the side of the room where Sara would be staying were a bed, table and chairs, and some chairs. In the wall across from the glass wall was a closet. Robbie and the twins put the bags in the closet and went back down to Maggie's room.

-------------------------------------------------

Everyone met at Lilly's locker again. It was decided that Miley would go to the hospital and everyone else would hit the donation trail. Jake got Miley's attention and took her aside.

"I just want you to know, I really want to be your friend and hopefully someday you won't have to guard yourself from me. Tell Maggie I'll be thinking about her okay?"

"Thanks, Jake, I will. And maybe someday."

Miley turned and walked towards the front of the school. Jake stood there and watched her go. Was that a limo she just got into? Something else to add to the 'need to know file'.

"Hey, Jake? Are you coming?" yelled Oliver.

"Coming." Jake yelled back.

-------------------------------------------------

Cody was at the door to meet Miley when she got to the hospital.

"Has she gone for her treatment yet?" Miley asked.

"She came out of treatment an hour ago," answered Cody.

"How's she doing?"

"She's very sick."

Miley grabbed Cody's arm as they waited for the elevator. They got on the elevator and Cody hit the button for Maggie's floor. Miley took it all in for later use.

"I still need to use that arm Miley."

"What?"

"Relax and don't cut off the circulation to my arm please."

"Sorry." Miley switched to holding his hand with both of hers. She was shaking.

They got off the elevator and Cody led the way to Maggie's room. Miley stopped at the door. She turned and hugged Cody. Cody held her tight until Miley let go. He took Miley by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"Miley. It's okay to fall apart when you're not in the room with Maggie, but you have to hold everything together for Maggie."

Miley nodded her head. She wasn't ready to talk.

"Okay?"

Another nod. Cody took her hand and led her into Maggie's room.