Page 54 of Tech

She rounds the counter and cries, “Oh God, Brook!” She hurries toward me.

“I-I think I need to-to go to the E.R,” I murmur, and she nods. The seventy-year-old woman helps me stand. I cry again as more pain hits, and Mrs. Andrews grips my arm tighter, guiding me out of the building.

I blink, looking at the metal steps that lead to my apartment.

How did I get here?

Oh, yes, Mrs. Andrews. She stayed at the hospital with me because I didn’t want to worry my parents. I guess I’ll have to tell them soon.

I blink again, my tears falling.

James…how can I tell him? I can’t, can I?

Sniffling, I force my body to move, taking one step at a time, trying to ignore the pain in my lower stomach. It takes me a little while, but I manage to get through the door, the doctor's words echoing in my mind….

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Summers, but it looks like you could have stomach cancer….”

A sob escapes my tightening throat.

“You should have been having symptoms with how much your stomach has swelled….”

Yeah, symptoms that I ignored, thinking it was stress and my messed up period.

Headache.

Nausea.

Stomach cramps.

I know I should have gotten myself a doctor’s appointment, but I just…. Everything has been so hard lately.

“I want to book you for tests to confirm, then discuss the next steps…”

Next steps like what? Chemo….radiotherapy…drugs….

I can’t tell my parents; this will destroy them.

I can’t tell James, either.

More tears fall as I come to a decision. It looks like we won’t be having that talk.

Shaking my head, I go into my living area and smile at the pups all lying on their momma, despite feeling ready to fall apart. Sammy looks up from where he’s laying, which is on Shadow's head, and I furrow my brows.

I get it, people say you can’t understand how an animal feels, but I call bullshit. They have certain facial expressions, and right now, Sammy looks heartbroken.

I walk over to the bunch of dogs and pause a few feet away, my eyes taking in Shadow and her still form, and I know….

She’s dead.

The dam breaks, and I fall to my knees, tears coating my cheeks as I look at my girl, my best friend.

“Hey, Petal, I thought I saw you come back. Was that Mrs. Andrews I saw driving away?” my daddy says as he walks into my apartment. I don’t answer him, my eyes staying on Shadow, my best friend since I was fourteen. When I don’t answer him, my daddy whispers, “Brooky?”

I shake my head and sob. “She’s dead….”

It’s all I can say before I stand and rush past my father, heading for the door, my shell finally breaking.

I can’t be here; I need to leave, to run.

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