"For goodness sake," Briten muttered, as she picked the monitor up off the floor. "If this
stupid...device falls off one more time, I swear..." she said, almost cursing. She put it back, and
picked up all the papers she had dropped in the hall.
School the following Monday had been terrible. She had broken the news about to her having
Lukemia to her best friend, Brooke Stevens, when they both had their lunch period that
afternoon. She replayed the conversation in her head as she walked slowly to her next class.
"Uh, Brooke...I gotta tell you something," Briten stumbled, not even having a clue how she was
going to say it. Every time she told someone, she got goosebumps up and down her arms and
legs, with fright.
"Whahst?" Brooke asked, through a mouthful of her sandwich. She swallowed and grinned
sheepishly. "Sorry," she apologized. "What?" she asked after taking a swig of her Orange Juice.
"Uh, this isn't the easiest thing for me to say, but..." Briten stopped, trying to figure out the
easiest way to say it.
"What,did you and Jason break up?" Brooke asked, thinking of the worst possible news she
could.
Briten smiled. "No, everything's fine with me and Jason, he's still great, like usual. Um...there's
something wrong..."
"Well, what is it? I don't have forever."
Briten gave a sad smile. "I might not either..."
"Is something wrong with you, Briten? Are you sick?"
"I guess you could say that...Brooke...I've got..." Briten's voice cracked as tears formed in her
eyelids. She spat out the last word in haterid. "Cancer." Her voice was just barely a whisper.
Brooke stopped in mid-chew and dropped her sandwich on her trey. "You've got WHAT?"
"Cancer," Briten said again, letting loose. She bit her lip to stop the tears, but they just kept
coming. Brooke scooted closer to Briten and put her arm around her shoulder.
"I'm sorry Briten," Brooke said.
Briten shrugged. "I'll be fine."
"Do you know that for sure?"
Briten sighed, but shook her head. "No. I don't even know how long I'll live."
Brooke gasped, and gave Briten a hug. "I'm here for you, Briten, don't worry."
Briten shuddered as she recalled her feelings. They were all mixed up in one big jumble of
emotions. One minute she would be fine, the next she was a wreck, but Briten convinced herself
it was the medicine and one of it's many side effects.
Sighing loudly, she slipped into her next class and sat at her desk, like nothing was wrong.
Chapter Five
