Page 42 of While I’m Still Here

Apparently, I wanted him to respect my boundaries while simultaneously ignoring them and extracting the truth through some sort of advanced interrogation technique.

This seems entirely reasonable.

I spend the next hour annoyed with him for doing exactly what I wanted.

At eleven thirty-seven, my phone vibrates for the ninth time in less than five minutes.

I finally look.

There are several things in life you never want to discover unexpectedly.

A spider in your shoe, a parking ticket, a strange lump and a new WhatsApp group created by your mother.

BEA'S SUPPORT SQUAD

I stare at the screen.

No.

There are fourteen members.

Fourteen.

I don't even like fourteen people.

Mum has somehow assembled what appears to be the Cancer Avengers: everyone we’ve spoken to since 2008, my cousin Sophie, two people whose numbers I don’t recognise and, inexplicably, someone called Carol. Carol has already sent three hearts and said,

Carol

We’ve got you, sweetheart.

Lovely. Thank you, Carol. Whoever the fuck you are.

MUM

Thought this would be easier so everyone can support Bea together

AUNTIE LINDA

Sending you so much love, sweetheart xxxx

SOPHIE

Love you, Bea,

CAROL

Thinking of you, darling. Stay positive. You've got this!!

Who the fuck is Carol?

Another message from Carol arrives. It’s a photograph of soup… just

soup. I stare at it for several seconds, then scroll.

MUM

We need to surround her with positivity right now.