Saying Goodbye

Chapter 7

This was probably the worst part of your treatment. You hated being alone in the sterile room, secured to a table while a machine buzzed and whirred around you. The doctor had a radio in the room to help by giving you something other than the machine to listen to, but days like this were not fun. Normally they tried to make sure you were as comfortable as possible before securint you with tape and specially molded pieces of foam that fit under your back, hips, legs and arms. Today, there was no getting comfortable. You were in tears by the time you were in place, and you would have to remain until the treatment was done, immobile.

"You're doing a great job, sweetheart. Almost done, I promise."

The doctor's voice was always kind, fatherly. He spoke through a speaker during your treatments, always having something to say when you became anxious or when you were obviously not feeling well. He had to add on extra time today, since they had found three more tumors at the last check. You kept listening to the music and trying to be still, waiting.

"Are they in the waiting room?"

The question felt silly to be asked. You knew they were, but you wanted some reminder that there were people waiting for you just through a couple doors. You could imagine what was going on in there. Sans was not there today, having stayed home after you and your parents had insisted that he needed to take some time to himself to rest. Asgore would be sitting quietly, more than a little awkward in the chairs that were never quite large enough for him, while Toriel would be talking to the nurse that came in to give updates.

"Yep, they should be ready once we are done here. Which should be just about... now"

The machine powered down and you gave a sigh of relief. Now all you had to do was get up and get dressed...

You look over to the door as a nurse came in, holding a bag that held your clothes, smiling as she crossed over to you.

"We have a few students today. Would it be alright if we had them in and help you?"

You nodded and waited a moment before three new people came in. Two humans and a monster. Your throat tightened when you saw that bright green flame. It was Grillby's daughter. You smile at her as best you can and ask how her father is doing, trying to be nonchalant as she gingerly lifts your arm and pulls the foam from under you. One of the students, a small woman with blonde hair and chilly eyes, pulls your hip up a little too roughly and you yelp in sudden pain.

"I'm sorry, did that hurt?"

You felt yourself get angry. You knew it was not intentional and she was still learning, but your nerves were already frayed.

"I don't know, why don't we tie you down here and let your body eat itself while we dump radiation on you and see how you feel?"

That was not fair, and you knew it, but part of you didn't particularly care.

Grillby's daughter, you could not remember her name right then, shot her a look and started telling you about how her father's business was going, then stepped back and let the third student, a large man with thick glasses, gently sit you up on the edge of the table. He looked a little unsure as you tugged at the strings that held the thin cloth gown closed. You smiled at the nurse as she put a restraining hand on his arm, bidding him to wait until you asked for help. You were grateful. You know there are a lot of things you can't do at this point, but you could still at least get yourself mostly dressed alone.

You listen to her explaining the redness of your skin and possible effects that the radiation would have on you as you peeled the gown off, your eyes lingering on the way that the bones stuck out through your skin. You had never been slender, soft and rounded was a good way to describe you before all this, so there were some places where the skin hung off you like a sheet hung on a pole. Your hands and feet were so boney that you were surprised some days that they functioned at all.

When it came time for your pants, you had to wait while they gently stood you up and keep you steady until you could get them up and secured. You said a quiet goodbye to the doctor and the students as the nurse took your elbow and helped you hobble out to the waiting room, delivering you safely to the hands of your mother and father. Asgore lifted you in his massive hands and smiled at you, promising you tea when you got home, saying they were going to have you at their home for a few more hours to let you rest a little before taking you to your apartment.

You nod, tearing up again as more pain threaded through you. You would have to take your pain killers when you got there, cursing yourself for leaving your bag in the car. The longer you put it off, the longer it would take to work and the higher the chance that it would not be able to work properly at all.

Once home, you were placed on the armchair that Asgore usually used and covered up with the quilt that your mother had made for you. Honestly, it was one of the ugliest things you had ever seen, but it was soft and warm and served as a reminder of how much she loved you. You pretended to watch tv while your parents talked in the kitchen, knowing that they were talking about the latest discoveries. You wondered if the tumors could be able to be killed before they made more of themselves to grow in other places, then sighed.

You woke up suddenly when you heard a door opening. The skeleton brothers walking into the house as quietly as possible, probably having been told by Toriel that you were asleep. Seeing Papyrus quiet was still something interesting to see, knowing how he was the way you did. You looked at Sans and were glad to see that it seemed like he had gotten some sleep while you were away. He flashed you a smile and came to sit with you, asking how everything had gone and listening to your explanation to Papyrus about how cancers could move around the body. When he asked how you can get rid of something that won't stand still, you just shrugged and sighed.

Suddenly, you don't feel like talking anymore.