AllFreeNovel
Share Us
12
Danielle
“Lori, what are you doing back? I thought you guys were going to be gone for two weeks,” I said, opening my door to her.
I could see that she’d been crying and hoped my worst fears weren’t coming true. Had they fought and broke up?
“We…had to come back early. I need to talk to you. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” she asked.
“No. Why?”
“Because you’re all dressed up like you’re going out somewhere,” she said.
“No. Just tired of wearing jeans,” I lied. “Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee?”
“Whisky?” she said.
I didn’t know she drank. “I have wine and beer. Will either of those do?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I’m not really thirsty. How about…water.”
“Go sit on the couch and I’ll grab us some,” I said.
I left her in the living and as soon as I got into the kitchen I sent a quick text to Robert. I know he was probably on his way, but I needed to stop him. If he showed up, I know Lori would leave and whatever was bothering her, she needed me right now.
ROBERT. SOMETHING CAME UP. I NEED TO CANCEL TONIGHT. SORRY. I’LL CALL YOU LATER.
I put my phone on silent so his response wouldn’t disturb us. Then I grabbed two bottles of water and returned to the living room. She took one and I asked, “Want to talk about it?”
“No, but I have to. Not talking isn’t going to change anything,” she said.
“Did you and Ellen have a fight?” I asked, when Lori never started talking.
She shook her head. “No. But I know we will have one. That’s why I’m here. I need your help. I don’t know how to tell her. She’s going to be …devastated, and there is nothing I can do to prevent it.”
“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on and I’ll see if I can think of anything to help you two. I know she loves you so much and I’m sure whatever you have to say, she’ll understand,” I stated.
“How can she? I don’t even understand myself,” Lori said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
I reached out and pulled her into my arms and held her while she sobbed. Right now, all I could do was be there for her and wait until she was ready to talk.
A few moments later, when she calmed down, I handed her a tissue and said, “Lori, do you think you can tell me what happened now?”
She was looking down at her hands on her lap and nodded. “I went to the doctors a few days before the wedding. I was having some problems and they ran some tests. While we were on the honeymoon, the doctor called and said I needed to come right back. He needed to speak to me. I explained where I was and told him that I’d call him when I returned. He said…he said, that I can’t wait that long.”
My stomach was twisting in knots. I couldn’t bear this. What was wrong with her? “Lori, what did he say?”
“That I have stage four cancer and it is spreading quickly,” she said.
“Can they operate? Chemo? Radiation? Anything?” I asked, trying not to sound panicked.
She shook her head. “No. It’s even spread to my brain. He cannot tell me how long. I could have two months, two weeks, or maybe just a few days.”
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
I reached out and held her hands and said, “Lori, you need to tell Ellen. She needs to know.” And it’s going to break her heart, just like it is doing to me.
“I don’t know how to. We just got married. We are supposed to be spending the rest of our lives together. I never thought that would be so….short,” she sniffed. “I am worried. Not for me, but for her. She’s going to be devastated and so…alone. Do you know how hard it was for us to come out and tell everyone that we were a couple, that we loved each other? She was afraid too and I told her that she never had to be afraid. That I would always be there by her side. And now…I am breaking that promise. I’m leaving her alone.”
