From Mountains to Lone Stars

The liquid that killed and healed at the same time poured into my veins. It was a kind of weird sensation to have something so deadly flow through you. And it made you feel really fucking strange. I understood now why cancer patients looked how we did. Just sitting here with the medicine pumping into you was exhausting... and this was only my third round.

"Are you new?" a young girl asked me. If I had to guess, she was probably around thirteen or fourteen. Granted, I often looked like I was still a teenager, so I could be totally wrong about that.

"Yeah, this is my third time. How long have you been in chemo?" I turned my chair so I could better face. Her appearance gave me some indication to how long she'd been here. Her hair was cut very short to her head and there were very large, dark bags under her eyes.

"I'm in my third month," she said, handing me a book. "You get used to it. I'm Erica, by the way."

I looked down at the book she had handed me. It was a very worn copy of the fourth Harry Potter. It was my least favorite of the books, but I smiled at the fact that she had given me. "Thank you! I'm Maverick. It's nice to meet you."

Erica sent me a strange look. It was the look people usually sent me when I told them my name. "Maverick? Like from Top Gun?"

"Yeah." I laughed. "Kind of like Top Gun. I have yet to find my Goose though."

Her eyes crinkled from her smile. Maybe she was older than I thought. "I'm sure you'll find them soon enough. Is someone here with you?"

"My boyfriend dropped me off and will be back to pick me up. How about you?"

"Boyfriend, huh? I'm here with my brother. We go to UNT."

"Hey!" I smiled at me. "I do too. I work at Legends. I'm a resident assistant there."

Erica smiled again. "Ah that's wicked cool! My brother lives in Legends. His name is James. I live in McConnell."

I shot her a look. Suddenly her young appearance made sense. She was a TAMS kid... a ridiculously smart high school kid who attends college classes in the STEM field. "I know James, I think. I'm sure I'll recognize him. What kind of cancer do you have?"

When you have cancer, you don't care what you talk about. The people who have cancer don't care either. Most people are really open about their stage and type. The only cancer people I know who are even remotely nervous are those with skin cancer. I know the few I've met feel guilty because they get their cancer burned off while the rest of us sit and slowly die just to live.

"I've got stage three stomach cancer. The good news is the chemo is killing it off really nicely. My doctor says I just need surgery." Erica flicked open her copy of the fifth Harry Potter. "They caught it a little late, but at least, they caught it."

I nodded at her and opened up the book she had given me. "This is my first round of chemo. They did surgery on stage two ovary cancer. Removed some of my uterus and an ovary. It came back and metastasized better badly."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Erica patted my hand. "Reading will help. And you know, you look like a strong lady, you've got this."
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A nurse came over and unhooked me from the IV. This was my least favorite part about the therapy because I always became immediately nauseous. I was hoping the nurse had a trash can this time because I felt so bad when I barfed on the floor.

My stomach lurched and the bile started to rise up my throat. My eyes met the nurse and I could tell she knew what was coming. She reached behind her and handed me a trash can. I threw up, clutching the can to my stomach.

"Mav, are you okay?" Matt was somehow next to me. His hand was rubbing my back and gently coaxing the rest of the vomit and bile out of me. "I didn't know you got this nauseous. Do you want me to carry you out?"

I nodded, unable to talk. Once the rest of the puke was out of my system, Matt picked me up and held me to his chest. He smelled so good, so calming. I leaned in to him, taking in his scent. I was far too lucky to have him in my life. And as my eyes drifted close, all I could think was that Matt was too good to last.

Notes

It's a filler and kind of short, but I needed to get something out. I've got a new story coming out!