From Mountains to Lone Stars

With tears still pouring down my face, I turned to look at Matt. We were still waiting for the doctors to come back for the biopsy. I imagined they were prepping for the surgery. Matt was sitting back in the chair, looking at me like I was so fragile.

"Matt, you can go home," I said, sniffing my snot back into my nose. "You really don't have to stay with me. I think I'll be here all night."

Matt sat up and shot me a glance. "I'm staying, Alexis. Now, I'm going to step out to make some phone calls on your behalf. I doubt you're going to school tomorrow, and I need to let Miranda know where we are."

I nodded and watched him leave. The second my door closed, I finally let the tears fall for real. They ran down my face, leaving dirty tracks and making my nose all runny and gross. I was entering that stage where I started to hiccup and sob. My chest was heaving, trying to keep up the breaths I was letting out.

"Hey, Mav..." Matt trailed off when he saw the sight of me. Those were some damn short phone calls. I hated for people to see me cry; it made me feel weak. "Jesus."

Matt rushed over to me and pulled me in for another hug. He gave amazing hugs. I can't believe that's what I was thinking about when my body was about to be operated on again. But he gave such good hugs. Ugh, this crush needed to go away.

"I'm okay, Matt." I rubbed my nose, putting snot all over my hand. "Really." I wiped the snot down the blanket of the hospital bed. It wasn't doing much to keep me warm anyway. Now I was crying and cold.

"No, you're not. Stop trying to be brave, Alexis. It's scary, okay?" Matt sat back down and grabbed my hand, holding it tightly. I think the large man was just as scared as me.

A knock sounded on the door and in walked a team of doctors and what appeared to be interns. The same doctor who had run out demanding I needed a biopsy came over to me bed.

"Miss Stewart, I know this isn't the most exciting situation, but I hope you don't mind that I've brought along some interns to see what's going on. When you're ready, we'll give you the anesthetic."

I looked the doctor up and down and then shot Matt a frightened look. He could probably see the panic all over my face. "I'm ready as I'll ever be," I said and squeezed Matt's hand.

Another doctor came over to me and set up all these devices. I imagined this would be the anesthetic. All my other surgeries had been in Reno, so this was a whole new feeling for me. It was kind of weird, but I could feel it hit me immediately.
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I woke up to Matt hovering over me. He smiled brightly and those gorgeous dimples popped out. I think the drugs they came me were still affecting me because I saw my finger reach up and poke his dimples. I giggled when they got deeper.

"How are you feeling, Mav?" Matt grabbed my finger.

"I don't know... do I have a cool scar?"

Matt laughed. "No, you don't. Doctor is supposed to come in soon."

I nodded and reached for his hand. Whatever they told me, I wanted Matt to be there and make it a little better. I hoped the doctor came in soon.

His ears must have been ringing because he walked right in and shut the door. He shot a glance at Matt, and then his eyes met mine. I didn't like what I saw in them. I didn't like that look at all.

"Miss Stewart, the biopsy shows that you have ovarian and uterian cancer."

Notes

Oh boy.