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I angle my body to hers, uncurling her tight fingers so I can hold both hands. “It’s going to be okay.”
Holding her breath and a painful well of emotions captive in her red-rimmed eyes, she nods.
“I mean it. No matter what news we’re given, our family will be okay. You and Astrid will be okay.Iwill be okay.”
Her nodding turns into head shaking. “How can you say that? What if you’re not okay?” She barely gets the words out.
“Because every single second of every single day is a gift. And I know this. I will be okay, no matter what we find out.”
A tear makes its way down her cheek, and she wipes it just as the doctor enters the room—a balding man with a halo of gray hair, a clean-shaven face, and a polite smile.
“I’m Doctor Wills. Dr. Faber will be joining us in a bit. She’s still on a call.” He offers his hand.
“Price. And this is my wife, Amelia.” We both shake his hand just before he pulls his desk chair closer to us.
Although I know he’s not here to deliver good news, I’m still unprepared.
Unprepared to wrap my head around the word “cancer” as he says it.
My brain slows, capturing only the bad stuff.
Amelia’s hand trembles as she reaches for me.
Dr. Wills’s lips move, but I no longer want to hear him.
Cancer.
Biopsy.
Metastatic.
I go completely numb when Dr. Faber, the oncologist, joins us.
Stage four.
Chemotherapy.
Control symptoms.
Palliative.
“What questions can we answer for you?” Dr. Faber asks, brushing her thin brown hair away from her eyes. She looks about our age and can surely put herself in our shoes.
Questions? I’ve got nothing.
“How long?” Amelia asks.
“Until we confirm with a biopsy?—”
“HOW LONG?”
“Sweetheart,” I say, squeezing her leg gently.
Dr. Faber doesn’t flinch. With a practiced expression that shows just the right amount of compassion and professionalism, she says, “There’s a one percent five-year survival rate.”
Amelia clears her throat, teeth clenched. “That’s not what I’m asking.”
Dr. Faber folds her delicate hands in her lap. “Maybe six months to a year with treatment. Three months without.”
