What's Left of Me
Page 50
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I’m giving him hope that I’ll be there, and I can’t help but wish for it myself. It’s kind of sad that I’m hoping my blood counts are still low so I can go. When did I get to the point of wishing to stay sick to spend more time with a guy, rather than getting better to spend more time with him?
He sets his sub down. Turning, he looks at me with fire in his eyes. “I love a good treasure hunt, Aundrea.”
Bringing my hand up, I cup the side of his face. Touching my lips to his, I give him a chaste kiss. “I’ll try to make it. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse takes blood samples, then ushers them off to the lab. I’m instructed to wait with my friend—the blue chair—until they get the results and word from Dr. Olson. The nurses are the ones who administer the drugs under the doctor’s order. There are doctors around, but because Dr. Olson mainly works at the university, they call her for orders.
“Are you okay?” Genna asks.
“Yeah. I just want to get this over with.”
We sit in silence. Genna is flipping through a magazine while I spend my time looking around. The place is packed today. Men and women of different ages are seated throughout. Some are alone; some are with people, talking and laughing. It’s always interesting who you can see when people watching, especially in a place like this. There are those who keep to themselves and those who chat away with anyone and everyone.
Across from me is a little girl sitting with a couple that I assume are her parents. She can’t be more than ten. She’s so tiny, but beautiful, even with no hair. Her big brown eyes look up at her mom as she reads to her. Her dad is talking with the nurses and I overhear that it’s her fifth treatment. She looks over at me and flashes the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. It breaks my heart knowing she probably goes through the same things I do, but is so much younger. As I’m returning her smile, the nurse returns.
“Okay, my dear. I’ve spoken with Dr. Olson. Your white cells are better, but they’re still lower than she’d like. She doesn’t want to put chemo off another week, but doesn’t want to do it today.”
“What does that mean?” Genna asks.
“Well, she wants to give Aundrea a little more time for the Neulasta to work and do her next chemo in five days. That should help bring the numbers up. We’ll check again on Monday, and if the numbers are higher, we’ll administer the drugs then.”
“I’m okay with that.” I start to stand up, but Genna pushes me back down.
“Wait,” she says, not looking at me, but at the nurse. “What does this mean for her cancer? Isn’t putting this off further going to set her back? I want her to be healthy enough for treatments, but I’m thinking long term.”
Sighing, I wait for the nurse to answer. I know I should care, but I don’t. Just hearing I get to have the weekend with Parker is all that’s on my mind.
“Her markers are doing really well. She’s responded well with the first two rounds. We’re hopeful the last two will be all she needs, but we need her body to be able to handle it, or else it won’t work. Right now, it’s better for Aundrea’s body to prepare itself for what’s to come.”
What’s to come. I don’t like the sound of that.
I call Jean on the way home to let her know I’m coming to visit.
“You’re going to come here?” Jean’s voice carries through the other line.
“Don’t act so surprised.”
“Sorry, I’m not. Well, just a little. What about chemo?”
“It’s on hold until Monday. Counts were low, again. But, on the bright side, I get to go to the Halloween benefit with Parker.”
Genna’s lips curl up slightly when she hears me say his name.
“That’s awesome! Well, not about the treatment, but that you get to go.”
“Yeah! I’m excited. I need your help though.”
I explain about the dress and makeup I need for my costume. She tells me not to worry about buying anything because she’s sure her sorority sisters have exactly what I need.
I pack quickly and send Parker a quick message to let him know I have to go out of town for a couple days, and I’m sorry about the benefit. I want to surprise him, so I make sure that Genna tells Jason not to spill the beans.
He seemed a little upset that I said I couldn’t go.
I’ll just have to make it up to him.
Chapter Fourteen
I make my way through the hotel lobby and down the long hallway leading to the double doors of the ballroom. The lighting fills the hall with an orange glow. The textured tan walls are lined with white and gray cotton spider webs with black plastic spiders, letting me know I’m heading in the right direction.
When I make my way through the double doors, my breath catches. For a Halloween themed event this place is strikingly beautiful. There is a large, sheer white ceiling cover that drapes across the entire ceiling and flows down the walls and doorways. Orange and white lights twinkle throughout the fabric, giving off a dim glow. Black tablecloths cover the high top tables, displaying tall vases filled with different assortments of flowers in whites and oranges. Small round candles circle the vases.
To my left are multiple round tables covered in white linen with black and orange chair covers and the same flower centerpieces, where I assume the dinner will be served. I am amazed at the venue and all that went into this event.
I make my way toward the closest vacant table and set my purple clutch down, trying to find Jason and Genna. Genna insisted she and Jason match, so they went as a God and Goddess; their togas make them easy to spot in the crowd.
He sets his sub down. Turning, he looks at me with fire in his eyes. “I love a good treasure hunt, Aundrea.”
Bringing my hand up, I cup the side of his face. Touching my lips to his, I give him a chaste kiss. “I’ll try to make it. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse takes blood samples, then ushers them off to the lab. I’m instructed to wait with my friend—the blue chair—until they get the results and word from Dr. Olson. The nurses are the ones who administer the drugs under the doctor’s order. There are doctors around, but because Dr. Olson mainly works at the university, they call her for orders.
“Are you okay?” Genna asks.
“Yeah. I just want to get this over with.”
We sit in silence. Genna is flipping through a magazine while I spend my time looking around. The place is packed today. Men and women of different ages are seated throughout. Some are alone; some are with people, talking and laughing. It’s always interesting who you can see when people watching, especially in a place like this. There are those who keep to themselves and those who chat away with anyone and everyone.
Across from me is a little girl sitting with a couple that I assume are her parents. She can’t be more than ten. She’s so tiny, but beautiful, even with no hair. Her big brown eyes look up at her mom as she reads to her. Her dad is talking with the nurses and I overhear that it’s her fifth treatment. She looks over at me and flashes the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. It breaks my heart knowing she probably goes through the same things I do, but is so much younger. As I’m returning her smile, the nurse returns.
“Okay, my dear. I’ve spoken with Dr. Olson. Your white cells are better, but they’re still lower than she’d like. She doesn’t want to put chemo off another week, but doesn’t want to do it today.”
“What does that mean?” Genna asks.
“Well, she wants to give Aundrea a little more time for the Neulasta to work and do her next chemo in five days. That should help bring the numbers up. We’ll check again on Monday, and if the numbers are higher, we’ll administer the drugs then.”
“I’m okay with that.” I start to stand up, but Genna pushes me back down.
“Wait,” she says, not looking at me, but at the nurse. “What does this mean for her cancer? Isn’t putting this off further going to set her back? I want her to be healthy enough for treatments, but I’m thinking long term.”
Sighing, I wait for the nurse to answer. I know I should care, but I don’t. Just hearing I get to have the weekend with Parker is all that’s on my mind.
“Her markers are doing really well. She’s responded well with the first two rounds. We’re hopeful the last two will be all she needs, but we need her body to be able to handle it, or else it won’t work. Right now, it’s better for Aundrea’s body to prepare itself for what’s to come.”
What’s to come. I don’t like the sound of that.
I call Jean on the way home to let her know I’m coming to visit.
“You’re going to come here?” Jean’s voice carries through the other line.
“Don’t act so surprised.”
“Sorry, I’m not. Well, just a little. What about chemo?”
“It’s on hold until Monday. Counts were low, again. But, on the bright side, I get to go to the Halloween benefit with Parker.”
Genna’s lips curl up slightly when she hears me say his name.
“That’s awesome! Well, not about the treatment, but that you get to go.”
“Yeah! I’m excited. I need your help though.”
I explain about the dress and makeup I need for my costume. She tells me not to worry about buying anything because she’s sure her sorority sisters have exactly what I need.
I pack quickly and send Parker a quick message to let him know I have to go out of town for a couple days, and I’m sorry about the benefit. I want to surprise him, so I make sure that Genna tells Jason not to spill the beans.
He seemed a little upset that I said I couldn’t go.
I’ll just have to make it up to him.
Chapter Fourteen
I make my way through the hotel lobby and down the long hallway leading to the double doors of the ballroom. The lighting fills the hall with an orange glow. The textured tan walls are lined with white and gray cotton spider webs with black plastic spiders, letting me know I’m heading in the right direction.
When I make my way through the double doors, my breath catches. For a Halloween themed event this place is strikingly beautiful. There is a large, sheer white ceiling cover that drapes across the entire ceiling and flows down the walls and doorways. Orange and white lights twinkle throughout the fabric, giving off a dim glow. Black tablecloths cover the high top tables, displaying tall vases filled with different assortments of flowers in whites and oranges. Small round candles circle the vases.
To my left are multiple round tables covered in white linen with black and orange chair covers and the same flower centerpieces, where I assume the dinner will be served. I am amazed at the venue and all that went into this event.
I make my way toward the closest vacant table and set my purple clutch down, trying to find Jason and Genna. Genna insisted she and Jason match, so they went as a God and Goddess; their togas make them easy to spot in the crowd.
