Chapter 2


“What’s that smell?” Mrs. Brown asked as she grabbed a tissue to dry her tears. “Oh no, something is burning!” She yelled as she jumped up. She just remembered the chicken she had left in the oven for dinner before hearing the tragic news. She thought, for sure it was burned to a crisp but to her surprise it was just perfect, not burnt at all.

“Samantha, honey, dinner is ready,” She yelled up the stairs.

“I’ll be right there mom,” Sam replied as she stumbled into the bathroom. She took a look in the mirror and she didn’t recognize the person staring back at her. She had lost over 30 pounds in three weeks and was looking sicklier every day. Her vision was foggy and she didn’t have very good balance. She had convinced herself, and her mom it was only a virus that was taking a little longer to get out of her system. She grabbed for her hairbrush and everything turned black.

* * *

Sam woke up the wetness of water on her face. “Mom, are you there?” Sam said in confusion.

“Honey, I’m right here. What happened?” Her mom asked as Sam slowly opened her eyes.

“I don’t know. Everything just went black, it don’t remember,” She replied in a daze. “Mom, what’s wrong with me? This kind of stuff has never happened to me before and I am scared.”

“Honey, we need to talk. Let’s get you back in bed,” Mrs. Brown said as she wrapped Sam’s arm around her shoulder and propped her up again the sink. They worked together and finally got into Sam’s room.

“So what are you not telling me mom?” Sam asked as she slowly lowered herself into her bed shivering.

“Dear, I just got off the phone with the doctor and she said that you have some complications,” Her mom barely made out as her hands shook.

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

“You… you… You have cancer,” Her mom said falling to her knees beside Sam’s bed and burying her head in the blanket. Sam closed her eyes and there was a moment of silence. This dead air was very uncomfortable for Mrs. Brown and she was thinking of something to say.

“What, I can’t, it’s just a little virus, it’s not serious like cancer, I mean, I don’t feel like I have cancer, what?” Sam blurted, breaking the silence.

Her mom was so angry with herself. She blamed herself for the development of her daughter’s disease. ‘All those warning signs were there. How couldn’t I have seen it? I’m so stupid. How could I let this happen to her?’ she thought all at once. “It’s all my fault honey, I should have seen it coming,” She said.

“Mom, this is in no way your fault. I should have let you and the doctor know how I felt earlier. I didn’t want to worry you with it while you were busy and work and with the divorce. I thought it was nothing big and that it would blow over,” Sam said sobbing into her pillow.

“Honey, I understand. It’s ok, we can’t change it now,” Her mom replied.

“Mom, I’m scared,” Sam whispered.

“So am I sweetie,” Her mom replied clenching her daughters had as she climbed into bed with her. They both closed their eyes and fell into a deep sleep.