From Mountains to Lone Stars

Cancer. It was a word no one wanted to hear. It didn't matter if it was directed at a family member, a friend, or yourself; it was the most dreaded word in the entire universe. Cancer. The word was a disease in and of itself. If you uttered it, it would find you. Cancer. It was a terrible plague on this earth. It was something I once thought the government was hiding a cure for. Cancer. It was something I never thought would find me. It had already had a go at my dad, and my mom, and my grandmother. It had taken my aunt, the woman I was named after. Cancer. It was almost like the more I thought about it, the likelier it was to go away. I could will away a disease right? Cancer. Why had it found me? I already had enough health issues, I didn't need this on top of it. Cancer. Did this mean I had to go back to a city and state I hated? What did this mean for school? Cancer. Was I going to die? Would I be able to have kids? Did I need chemo? Cancer. How would this affect my life? What was I supposed to tell my mom? Cancer. How the hell was I going to get through this? How was I supposed to be a good resident assistant if I was dealing with an illness? Cancer. Cancer. Cancer.

"Maverick, did you hear what the doctor said?" It was Matt's voice that got me out of the cycle of thinking of cancer. It was his voice that anchored me to the real world. Without thought, I reached out for his hand. I needed an anchor now more than ever.

"He said I have cancer." It was a whisper. Maybe if I said it quietly enough, it wouldn't be true. "What does that mean?"

The doctor sat down next to me. "The good news is we got it early which means that surgery should get it all out. After surgery, we will reassess the situation. Now, there's a great oncologist at this hospital. Should I schedule an appointment?"

I shook my head. "I need to call my mother. I have out-of-state insurance."

The doctor nodded. "I'll give you some time. I'll check back in about five minutes." He left and closed the door quietly behind me.

I looked at Matt, tears in my eyes. He made me feel okay, but I wished my mom was here with me. "I can't tell her, Matt."

"I'll do it, if you want." He pulled out my phone. "Are you sure you don't wanna be the one?"

I sobbed loudly. I never cried in front of another person. "How does a child tell their parent that they have cancer? My dad almost died from it. I can't make her go through it again; it'll kill her."

Matt stroked my cheek, placing my hair behind my ear. "Put it on speaker. I'll be right here. Tomorrow, we'll get a hold of the school and Housing, okay? Put all other worries out of your head."

Nodding, I sniffed and dialed my mom's number. The phone rang for a bit before she answered. Her voice was groggy. I forgot how late it was there because it was basically one in the morning here.

"Mommy... the doctor said I have ovarian and uterine cancer."

I heard a gasp on the other line and then what sounded like a phone dropping. "I'm coming to you."

Notes

Short update. I needed to get the story moving, so the next chapter will be a very long one.