CHAPTER 2: SPREAD

Mary and Monica were at the doctor's office. Monica had just had a mammogram on her remaining breast, as she had already had a mastectomy. Both were understandably nervous and hoped for the best. As Doctor Horowitz came back in, both stood up. The look on his face didn't look good.

"Monica, you and Mary may want to sit back down," he said, sadly.

"What's happening, doctor?" asked a concerned Monica.

"I'm afraid the cancer has spread to your other breast," Doctor Horowitz responded. "And it's taken up most of your breast tissue. A radical mastectomy is needed. In all my years as a doctor, I've never seen anything like this!"

"Oh, Monica!" wept Mary, hugging her girlfriend. Monica was in shock. She couldn't believe that the cancer hadn't gotten better, but worse and spread to her other breast.

"We will have to do another mastectomy, but fast," Doctor Horowitz said. "I wouldn't wait no longer than a week."

"Mary, I'll do this only for you," said a tearful Monica. "If you don't want me to do it, I won't."

"It hasn't spread anywhere else, as it, doc?" asked a still crying Mary.

"Not that we know of, so far," said Doctor Horowitz. "We're still waiting on the results of Monica's bloodwork. Just the other breast and lymph nodes are affected, as far as we know." Mary nodded to Monica.

"Give us a week, doctor," said Monica, regaining some composure. "I'll be ready for the mastectomy."

"Okay, Monica," said the doctor. "We will pause all chemo for the surgery." And they got up to leave. Once outside, Monica broke down.

"I can't believe this bullshit!" she wept, angrily. "We take two steps ahead, only to take four back!"

"It's going to be okay, Mon," said Mary, trying to comfort her. "We will get through this."

"I'm tired, Mare," said Monica, spent from the treatment and the pent-up emotions. "If this doesn't work, I'm done. I'm sorry, but I can't keep doing this. It's not fair to you or to our friends."

"Whatever you decide, Monica, I will support, and I will never leave your side," cried Mary.

"I know you'll be there, baby," said Monica, kissing her. "I love you so much!"

"I love you too," sobbed Mary. And they tearfully hugged each other, wondering what would happen next. Across the street, Violet was walking by running some errands when she saw Mary and Monica outside the doctor's office. She was shocked to see Monica with all her hair gone and she and Mary were in tears.

"What the hell happened to Monica?" she wondered. She hadn't seen or talked to them since getting out of prison, and had no idea about Monica's cancer battle. Violet decided to leave them alone, as they seem to have more on their plate and her presence is what they didn't need at the time. She would ask Lucy about it the next time she saw her.

At Shermy's place, he was getting his back massaged by Patty. He felt a lot of pain from moving some of Mary Jo's belongings the day before. Patty also agreed with Charlie about him getting more exercise in.

"It can do you some good, Shermy," she told him. "Charlie said even Linus is getting on board."

"Yeah, it's like I relied on my bouncers to do the physical stuff for a long time," agreed Shermy.

"It would help that the owner of the Bronze Beagle would be as physical as his bouncers."

"You're right, babe. Charlie said he was free on the weekends, and that we could join him at the gym.

"I'll probably join Pat, as well. She works out regularly, especially now, as she's trying to lose all the postpartum weight she gained from her pregnancy."

"Looks like we're going to exercise, Patty." And Patty continued to massage Shermy's back, as he groaned from the pain he was in.

NEXT CHAPTER: CAN FINALLY RELAX