A/N: Here is your Chapter!
Grammatical Errors are mine. Enjoy it.
Chapter 2: The Secrets Revealed
At Boston University campus, Emma focused in her studies in Professor Mills before she took her test today and felt exhausted in few hours. She knew that she noticed few symptoms on her chemotherapy. She sighed and rubbed her bald head. Yes, her blonde hair fell apart in few days ago, and she decided to shave her hair for good. Luckily for her, she was in her dorm room and had few minutes to get ready for her morning class with her professor. She crossed her fingers that she hoped Professor Regina wouldn't notice her state of a well-being person.
After few minutes later, Emma got dressed in her blue jeans, a black r-shirt with a rolled sleeves flannel top and leather boots. She grabbed her favorite gray beanie and put a blonde wig on her head then covered it with her beanie. She checked on her appearance and went satisfied. Lastly, Emma brought her backpack and grabbed her keys then left her dorm to the class. She hadn't eaten her breakfast and hadn't been hungry lately.
When the blonde woman arrived in the classroom early before the bell rang for their classes. She sat down in the back of the row without being noticed by her professor. Regina came in with her smile and started with her teaching lesson on Cybersecurity then handed it out with the test. The students groaned when they saw Professor Mills's hand with the tests and went to dug their minds out to write it down with their answers. Emma was ready when she saw her test papers and went to answer these questions quickly. Until, the students finished their tests and left the classroom early. The blonde woman was the last person with two redhead boys who were struggling to answer the last question. Regina checked out on her students then noticed Emma's pale face and kept an eye on her. The brunette woman looked away at her paperwork. The redhead boys finished their test and handed it to her then almost left the classroom until they heard a thud on the ground and a yell from their professor. Emma was getting up, feeling dizzy and walking to her professor's desk. The blonde woman nearly arrived at the desk and fell to the ground.
Regina decided to put a smile on her face when looking up at the blonde woman arriving at her desk then went panicked when she saw her falling on the ground. She immediately ran around to catch her but failed until she found a weak pulse on the blonde woman.
"Call 911! Hurry up!" One redhead man nodded and grabbed his phone from his back pocket then dialed right away. Other redhead man strode to the ladies on the ground and helped Professor Mills to carry Emma out from the classroom then looked away at his professor's voice.
"Let me get my things packed and lock it up. You better go outside and wait for the ambulance."
"Ok. Professor Mills." He nodded and ran with carrying Emma out in the hallway. Other redhead guy explained right away while following him out. Regina gathered her paperwork in her briefcase and grabbed Emma's backpack then left to lock her classroom and ran toward the front door. The ambulance finally arrived when Regina got there with her three students. The paramedics brought the gurney; the redhead guy lifted Emma on it and walked backward to let them do their things. The students were running to see what happened on the scene. Other professors moved to block their students while Regina reached inside the ambulance with Emma. They left the campus to the hospital in 5 minutes away.
Arriving at the hospital, the paramedics brought Emma out on their way to the emergency room. Dr. Lucas was paging by one of the nurses who were seeing Emma on the way to ER. Professor Mills walked to the nurses' station and filled it up in the forms for Emma but didn't know about her very well. She informed the nurses that Emma didn't have her family or friends who are in her kin. The nurses understood and advised her that she is Emma's friend on the list then let her go in the waiting room.
Regina was nervous, wondered why Emma was pale and waited to see if the nurse or doctor came to talk to her about the blonde woman on the hospital bed. She spotted the coffee in the waiting room and walked to get some. She immediately remembered about her eleven o'clock class in the morning, decided to send the email to her students to not come to her class and cancel her rest of the day. Then she decided to call her mother and dialed right away.
"Hello?" Cora replied.
"Hi. This is Regina." The brunette woman spoke in a broken voice. The oldest woman went concerned by her daughter's voice and continued.
"Is everything ok?"
"Yes and No."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm in the hospital. One of my students is in ER. She had no family or friends, and she is all alone." Regina retorted.
"Oh no. Want me to come over and keep you company?" Cora asked with a sad voice.
"No thanks. I canceled my classes today and is it selfish for me to do that because of one student?" Regina confirmed at her words and went worried while she was looking away at the nurses in the hallways.
"Well. Don't think that way. You are here for her and help her that's all you can do as a friend."
"Thank you, mom. The doctor's coming. So talk to you later." The brunette woman spoke lightly when she saw the doctor talking one of the nurses then a nurse pointed to her and the oldest woman looked away at her. They smiled at each other then parted their way. Regina was confused and straightened her body. Cora replied back with her concerned tone.
"Ok be safe."
Regina hung up on the call when Dr. Lucas came in the waiting room and the oldest woman smiled at her when she sat down beside her. The brunette woman went worried and waited. Dr. Lucas looked away at the people who were passing through and back to her then continued.
"Thank you for bringing Emma here. I'm glad."
"You are welcome. So, is she ok?" The brunette woman nodded with a small smile then asked with a concerned tone.
"Yes, she is stable. But did you notice anything from her?" The oldest woman sighed and spoke in a doctor mode.
"She has been pale since last night. I believed so. I came to the café, saw her alone at her table and went to have a talk with her. She said that she had a stomach ache." The brunette woman narrowed her eyes and remembered from the café then continued.
"Well. It is not a stomachache. I think that Emma is protecting her secret away from everyone at campus or outside." Dr. Lucas widened her eyes and shook her head.
"I don't understand. You said that she is ok, but I heard the word, 'secret'. What's going on?"
"I think that you have to see her right away and let her speak for herself. Come with me." The oldest woman sighed deeply. She gestured her to get out from the waiting room and followed her while she was speaking to the brunette lady.
Regina nodded, got her things and left with Dr. Lucas on the way to Emma's room. In few minutes later, they entered the blonde woman's room, the brunette woman gasped when she saw Emma in a pale look and the blonde woman slowly widened her eyes at her. Dr. Lucas closed the door behind her and walked around Emma's left side then continued.
"Emma, you have to tell her. She would like to know what's going on with you."
"Yes dear, I'm worried. You fainted in my classroom after you turned in your test." Regina scolded. The oldest woman raised her eyebrows and looked away at the blonde woman then saw her painful look and knew that Emma hid her secret from her professor and others. She understood how she felt about having no family and friends.
"Professor Mills, firstly, I thank you for bringing me here to the hospital. Secondly, I didn't eat breakfast this morning, and that's why I get fainted in your classroom. Thirdly, Dr. Lucas, what is my condition?"
"Your results came back today before you woke up. Do you want Professor Mills leave while we have a private conversation?"
"No. Professor Mills would like to know what's going on with me. I give my permission to let her stay."
"Very well, Emma. So please sit down Professor Mills."
"Please call me Regina. You can call me outside of the campus. Both of you."
Dr. Lucas nodded and looked away at Emma then continued with her neutral tone. The ladies looked away at her and waited for the results.
"Emma, I'm sorry. Your cancer is growing. Your blood is low. You just mentioned that you haven't eaten breakfast this morning. It is causing you to faint. Do you have any symptoms since you fainted?"
"Nauseous and Dizziness," Emma replied.
"Wait a minute, Cancer?" Regina asked while she was in shock. The blonde woman looked away at her and went broken to speak in a soft tone.
"I have a breast cancer."
"She admitted third time after receiving the tumor."
"Oh my god. How long did you have it?"
"Few weeks ago." Emma retorted while locking her emerald eyes with the brunette woman's eyes.
"That's why you stormed away from my class, isn't it?"
"Yes." The blonde woman looked away and whispered. Dr. Lucas was feeling sad for the blonde woman to tell everything and informed them that Emma have to stay for more tests. The ladies nodded and let her doctor leave in the room. Regina didn't know what to say, but she was speechless when she heard that her student have a breast cancer. She sighed deeply. Emma looked away at her professor for a while and sat up then removed her wig off and put it away on the nightstand table. The brunette woman looked away at her and gasped when she saw Emma's baldhead.
In the silence, the ladies looked at each other and had nothing to say in their words. In their thoughts, they wondered how it happened today with them, and they still worried themselves with the million things in their heads. The blonde woman sighed and continued.
"Are you surprised that I told you about breast cancer?"
"Yes, I'm surprised but shocked at the same time."
"The understatement of the year," Emma muttered under her breath. Regina shook her head and knitted her brows then spoke lightly.
"How old were you when you got it for the first time?"
"I was 24. It was a tiny one. It went passed after I became 25. I moved into remission for two years until the age of 27. I had breast surgery on both of my breasts. In 6 months later, I went into remission again. From few weeks ago, I got it again, and now I'm here." Emma continued with a straight face. Regina sighed and pinched her nose.
"Now, you are admitting the third time. Wow. You surprised me. Why didn't you inform your professors including me about your medical attention? We could be resourceful if you need one of us to be there for you." The brunette woman spoke lightly.
"No. I don't want someone to take pity on me." The blonde woman shook her head and whispered.
"It's not true. The professors and I are very cherished about our students' well-being included you. We are not like their parents but as friends, it is part of our responsibilities to make sure that our students are healthy and okay." Regina rolled her eyes and said. Emma pointed out on her defenses to speak in a neutral tone.
"Are you going to pity me?"
"No. I won't. I'm here as your friend. I'm supporting you, and I wanted to make sure that you're ok. That's all I need to know."
"Thank you." The blonde woman blushed at Regina's words and nodded.
"You are welcome. Now, tell me your story about your experiences with breast cancer. I would like to hear some stories about you. Is it okay with you?"
"It's fine with me. Long version or short version?" Emma asked with a smirk. Regina rolled her eyes and scoffed then continued with a flirty tone.
"Long version. I just canceled my classes for the rest of day."
"No! You have to go back!" The blonde woman was giggling then widened her eyes when she heard that Professor Mills canceled her class because of her and yelled at her. Regina glared at her and warned her with a fierce tone.
"No. I am staying because you need me as your friend. I am willing to give up my time. They can have fun on their off day today without me. Because I worked them off on my strict lessons."
"Why?" Emma whined. The brunette woman shushed her with her words to shut the blonde woman to drop it in their conversation.
"Because I said so. As for your question, I would like a long version."
"Ok." Emma shifted her position, looked away at the brunette woman with her frowned look and sighed deeply. Regina tilted her head at her and rested her chin on her left hand. The blonde woman stared at her and continued with her extended version.
"When I was 24, I was planning to do my graduate studies and I moved to apply it then I saw the medical information. I made an appointment for a checkup with Dr. Lucas. Two weeks later, I went here to get my checkup exam, and it went past two hours. She came to me in the examination room and informed me that I have a tumor. I found out that I have a breast cancer. Of course, I was crying and thought that my dreams would be gone. Dr. Lucas gave me options, and I went to get chemotherapy for three weeks. It was a small tumor in my right breast. It was not bad. I was on the stage 0. Then three weeks later, it was gone, and I went into a remission. I was happy that I was cancer-free. At the same day, I got an acceptance letter from Boston University for my graduate studies. So, I became 25 in December, and I went to apply everything for the fall semester. During the six months, I worked to earn my money to save money for college debts, and I was still happy with my cancer-free."
"What happened to your age of 27?" Regina asked with her curiosity. Emma sighed and rubbed her forehead then looked away at the window and spoke in a sad tone.
"It was a tough year for me. After I finished my second year of graduate studies and I went on the internship with Boston Police Department. My remission lasted two years since I became 25. One evening, I was out with the police officers that I worked for summer, and I fainted in the middle of the dance floor around the cops. Someone brought me here and took a test then I got another tumor in both breasts. Dr. Lucas removed my breasts, and I went into the chemotherapy for 3-6 months. I changed my class schedule and internship to reduce the hours. Everything went underway since I was on the chemotherapy. Until, I got cancer free few months ago after the school started in my third year."
"Afterward, you became 27?" The brunette woman figured it out in her head and narrowed her eyes.
"After I became 27, I finished my third year and right now, I'm in my last year in Boston Univ. You just saw me storming away from your class. That's how my tumor was missing in my underarm, and the doctor overlooked everything. I'm back on the chemotherapy again, and my hair fell apart. Here I am." Emma sighed.
Regina felt sorry for the blonde woman and knew that Emma is fighting the breast cancer. The brunette woman can't place anything on her and tilted her head then shifted into a comfortable position. In her thoughts, she knew that Emma wanted an ordinary life and had a peaceful life. There were the million things to choose her life than death. She shivered under the chills when she thought of death. She sighed deeply. Hearing the voice of the blonde woman, Regina looked away at her and stared into the emerald eyes. Is it that green?
"Regina? Are you okay? You seemed to drift away."
"Oh yes, I was. Sorry. I was thinking about how you survived through your battles with the breast cancer. I was very impressive but shocked at a same time. I never saw someone like you. You are different than I excepted to see in my student. So, I have several questions." The brunette woman retorted with a sad face.
"Sure."
"Why did you keep the secret?" Regina asked with an arched eyebrow. Emma looked away at the window and whispered in a soft tone. The brunette woman can hear every word.
"I'm afraid that someone could take pity on me and ignore me. Remember, I am a foster kid."
"I remember. What made you think of that?" The brunette woman sighed and wanted to know what's going on with Emma then asked her again.
"Because I got used to the foster people who neglected me in my whole life. They abused me, and it caused me to be an independent girl who has a terrible life and could take risks at any time. I'm a survivor."
"Yes, you are a survivor. I'm proud of you. You fought to be alive. You beat breast cancer twice. I'm sorry about your foster life. I understood how you felt. I used to be an abusive girl in my whole life. My uncle was a drunken man who got drunk and beat me to death while I was spending my time with him for summer. No one knew that he abuse the powers to take care of me. It was a long time ago." The brunette woman remembered the memories and said in a plain tone.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Emma frowned.
"No,, the past is the past. So, have any interests in the relationships?" Regina asked with a smirk.
"Yes and no." Emma shook her head and replied. The brunette woman tilted her head and asked.
"Why is that?"
"I once had a girlfriend. She was very sweet and caring person. Her name was Elizabeth. I called her Liz. We had been together for almost three years. I was planning to propose to her on our 3rd years anniversary. One day, I went home after working from the bail bonds, and I found her sacking with a guy. I believed that his name was Neal Cassidy. I was pissed off at them and got them kicked out from my apartment. We ended things quickly. She moved away with Neal, and I never heard from her at all. That was before I got my first time to fight on breast cancer." The blonde woman finished her explanation with a deep sigh. She felt light when the burden weighted off from her chest. Regina nodded and continued.
"Oh my god. That's terrible. I know how you feel about that relationship. I had that similar relationship before. Did I tell you about my son?" The brunette woman was not sure that Emma could take that story from her past.
"Yes, you just mentioned it before." Emma smiled and said with a nod.
"Well, long version or short version?" Regina waggled her brows at her and smirked.
"Long version." They laughed, and the brunette woman smiled at her then spoke lightly.
"When I was 16 years old, I was a scholar in my college. I graduated when I was 15 years old with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Law. So, I was with my long-time boyfriend for five years since our senior year in high school. He was a scholar too and has been good in math and science. He wanted to be a chemist. I was clueless that I was pregnant at that time when I became 16. We've been careful with sex lately until I felt unwell. The first thing in the morning, I went to the doctor and had an exam. I found out that I was pregnant with my ex-boyfriend's baby, and I went crying. After few hours later, I decided to see him at his house. His parents were out in the town. I had a spare key and came in his house then I heard some noise, and I checked out. I found out that my ex-boyfriend fucked 18 years old girl. I went screaming to him, and I told him that I was pregnant. Guess what?"
"What?" Emma replied with a perplexed face. Regina nodded and spoke in a light tone.
"He left me and dumped me. I went crying and moved to my parents then I told them everything about pregnancy and my ex-boyfriend. They went supportive on me and let me keep Henry. I moved to take care of myself for nine months before I moved to graduate school in fall. When Henry was born, I moved back to school and studied hard to get my master's degree. Henry was living with me at this time, and my parents took him in while I was at school during the day. Now, here I am, a 36 years old with Master's Degrees in Criminal Justice and Law and a single mother of 20 years old Henry. I raised him for twenty years without him."
"It's been a tough one. May I ask?" The blonde woman raised her eyebrows and inquired.
"Sure." Regina shrugged and said.
"What was his name? I meant your ex-boyfriend." Emma knitted her brows and asked. The brunette woman closed her eyes and growled.
"Daniel Stables."
Emma widened her eyes and went pale when she heard the name. Regina narrowed her eyes and reached her hand to touch on the blonde woman's hand then spoke again with her concerned tone. The blonde woman gulped.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh my god." The blonde woman panicked. The brunette woman was concerned and went curiosity. Emma snatched her hand away and looked away at the window then remembered her days when she was a young teenager who planned to jump overboard from the Brooklyn Bridge. Regina caressed her touches on the blonde woman's forearm and cooed her. The blonde woman started to cry in a sob and spoke in a broken tone.
"I think that you need to hear what I tell you. It's my story about I took an interest in Criminal Justice. Did you remember that you asked me a question?"
"Yes, dear. What about it?" The brunette woman tilted her head to look at her in a full angle and the blonde woman was staring at the window then spoke in a sad tone.
"When I was 18 years old, I walked out from my apartment. I used to live in New York. I'm sure that you know Brooklyn Bridge. I planned to jump over the bridge and drown in the river. But Daniel Stable, your ex-boyfriend who saved me from jumping overboard on the bridge and he was a police officer from NYPD. I didn't know if you knew that he was living there all the time. So, He saved me and let me hang out with him. Until we stopped hanging out, I went to work in Bail Bonds, and I found out that he died in a fire accident. That was not long time ago when I last saw him was before I went to Boston University for my undergraduate years."
"What? Daniel? Did he save you? Impossible." The brunette woman was shocked when she heard the version of Emma's story and spoke in a shaky tone. Emma nodded and asked with curiosity.
"Yes, did you know that Daniel was there in New York?"
"No. No one knew that he left New York. We assumed that he left the city to live in somewhere like Los Angeles." The brunette woman shook her head and mused.
"Oh, shit."
"Indeed, yes dear. Big Shit." Regina narrowed her eyes and growled at the ghost of Daniel Stables.
In the silence, the ladies stopped chatting and stared at each other with their loving gazes. In their thoughts, they knew that Fate must be a bitch. They knew Daniel Stables and never saw that coming. Emma sighed and continued.
"We knew him in our teenage years. Fate must be a bitch."
"It is." Regina nodded while staring at the wall and sighing. The blonde woman frowned and continued with a sad tone.
"So, I guess that we already used our time. I'm feeling tired right away. I think I need to get some rest."
"Oh sure. Before I leave, do you want anything from the dorm? I don't mind to get anything from your room." Regina raised her eyebrows, got up and quipped.
"No thanks." Emma shook her head and mused with a yawn.
"Ok. Thank you for telling me a truth. I hope you feel better." Regina giggled and retorted. The blonde woman smiled and murmured.
"Thank you for bringing me here. You are a savior."
"Anytime. May I come see you after my classes tomorrow?" The brunette woman hopefully asked.
"Sure," Emma said with a nod then fell asleep in few seconds later. Regina smiled, squeezed the blonde woman's hand and whispered.
"See you tomorrow, Emma." The brunette woman finally left with her briefcase and went to her car then drove away to home. Regina thought about Emma in her mind and went obsessed about her story with Daniel Stables. She sighed deeply and focused on the drive to her home in an hour.
A/N: This is a Slow-burn SwanQueen. I just want you to know that.
Next Chapter: Regina's POV. The chapter will be posted on Tuesday night before midnight.
Please review!