Chapter 1, Book 2

I wake up in the morning feeling like... going back to bed. That's most mornings, actually.

It's been really hot for early June. Good day for a car ride. I have a nice car, too. A black Mordox, and the best part is that I built most of its innards.

Thankfully, it's so hot outside that I don't I have to wait long for the engine to warm up. I'm in no mood to have my dad yell at me this early in the morning. It doesn't take that long to get there, and I only almost crashed once. Fifteen minutes maybe? New record.

Once I arrive, I realize that today is gonna suck. My dad wants me to examine at patients and prescribe medicine. For eight hours a day. And then, tonight, I'm on call in the emergency room. I'm probably going to start sprouting grey hairs by the time I'm nineteen. I sure as hell hope that my career doesn't turn out like the ones on those sappy medical dramas. God those make my sick.

First patient ever: Basem Maddox. Came here because of swelling in the armpit. I haven't even seen him, but I'm pretty sure it's only an ingrown hair and he's freaking out about it. But, I have to see him anyway. Sigh. It's not like I have anything else to do.

"Hello mister Maddox," I say to the patient, "I'm doctor Vasik and I will be your physician today. What seems to be the problem?"

"Well," he says. He has an arrogant voice, "I was working out a few days ago and I noticed this lump under my arm," he takes off his shirt and throws it on the floor. I have no choice but to examine him. Thankfully, the bastard is completely hairless. After prodding it and asking some more questions, I send him and his shirt down to the laboratory. Today shouldn't be so bad after all. Unless my next patient is a human carpet. I shudder.

Good news: I didn't have any human carpet patients. Bad news, Maddox has breast cancer. So, now I have to call the guy instead of telling him in person because some stupid other doctor discharged him before the autopsy came back. I have to call a grown man and tell him he has breast cancer. And it's pretty far along, too. I hate life.

I finally get the nerve to call. Sitting at the table in the break room. After eating like six energy bars and drinking half a pot of coffee. The phone rings about four times before he answers.

"Hello?"

"Mister Maddox? This is Hera Vasik," I say, praying to all that my voice doesn't crack.

"Yeah? Have the results of my biopsy come back yet?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid I have some bad news, I think it would be best if you came in t-"

"If it's bad you should just tell me now." I don't want to do this.

"Well," I hesitate, "Mister Maddox, I'm afraid you have... breast cancer." Silence from the other end of the line.

"... I have breast cancer?"

"Sir, this is why I wanted you to come in, there are a lot of treatment options... and I'm going to have to transfer to a great doctor named Zealand Stotch for a second opinion," This is getting incredibly awkward, "And then, depending on what doctor Stotch says, your options will probably be some sort of radiation therapy. Are you still with me?"

"Yeah."

"Do you have any questions?"

"No."

"Would you like to schedule your appointment now?"

"Yeah."

"I'm going to transfer you to an appointment planner, please hold on," I press the transfer button on the phone and wait for the beep. After that, I hang up the phone and lie my head on the table. I can't think of anything worse than having to tell someone they have cancer. Whatever. It's eight o'clock. I have to get to the emergency room for my shift.

This was hard for me to write.

Annie has her own account now. Link will be on my profile soon.

New chapter tomorrow (hopefully),

Johanna