Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
A flash of fear cut down my spine. What if Junebug’s results weren’t good? What if mine were and hers weren’t?
My throat clogged up just at the thought. June must have felt me watching her, as she turned to me. Her eyebrows pulled down, just as the sound of Cherry leaving the doc’s office sailed into the room from down the hallway. We all stilled. You could have heard a pin drop—we were that quiet. Cherry’s mama’s cries came next, and my heart began to beat faster.
Was that a good cry or a bad one?
We didn’t have to wait long to find out though because Cherry came in, a wide smile on her face and said, “It’s working.” She seemed to be in complete disbelief.
I exhaled a breath I hadn’t even known I was holding. Mr. and Mrs. Scott came into the room and went straight across to congratulate Cherry and her parents.
“It’s working,” Emma said in disbelief.
I think, deep down, we had all been too scared to truly believe it could.
“It’s fucking working!” Chris said loudly, excitedly, and practically jumped on me in celebration. “Did you hear that?!”
“I did.” Excitement took hold of me. “I fucking did!”
“Jesse, can we do without the F-bombs, please?” Neenee said, but I saw even she was grinning.
“Anything for you, Neenee,” I said, and she shook her head at my cheekiness.
“Chris, you’re up.” Chris went with his parents, smiling and confident in his steps. Cherry sat with Silas, Kate, and Toby, full of life. Her happiness was infectious.
“I’m so happy for her,” June said. Emma echoed the sentiment. We were actively watching people’s dreams coming true.
One by one, people saw the doc—Emma, Silas, Toby, Kate—until it was my turn. All with positive results. I took hold of June. I didn’t want her to be last, but she rubbed my arms in excitement.
“I’ll be here when you’re done,” she said.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott came over. Mr. Scott put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Do you need anyone in with you, son? I’d be happy to come with you.” The way my throat closed in appreciation was instant.
I cleared my throat but said, “No thank you, sir. We’re video calling my mom. But I really appreciate the offer.”
Mr. Scott nodded, then tapped my arm in support. Mrs. Scott gave me a tight hug, and June blew me a kiss. I followed Neenee into the doc’s office in a daze. I quickly video called my mom. Her face came on the screen, and I could see the worry in her eyes.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Dr. Duncan said, looking at his computer. Every muscle in my body stilled. “I’m happy to say that your blood and scans are showing that the new chemo and targeted drug therapy are having a positive effect on your AML.” I blinked and blinked again as I heard my mom begin to cry in relief. “These are still early days, and we have more to come, but I am very pleased with your initial results.”
Dr. Duncan nodded, and I looked down to my phone. “Jesse…” my mom said, searching for words. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said, voice barely there from shock. Since I’d been diagnosed, there hadn’t been one bit of good news. This felt foreign. It felt… I didn’t even know.
“Call me later, Sunshine,” Mama said, and I walked like a zombie into the rec room. June and her folks were the first people I saw, and June jumped to her feet, brown eyes wide.
“It’s working,” I said, and caught another triumphant whoop from Chris somewhere in the room. June’s happiness engulfed her face, and she ran to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. She was petite, but it felt like her embrace swallowed my six-foot-two frame.
I held her back, needing her to get the same news.
“June,” Neenee called.
June broke away from me.
“Group two for the win,” I rasped, fist held out.
“Group two for the win,” she said back and bumped my fist. I cupped her face and kissed her lips, then watched her walk to the doc’s room with her mama and daddy flanking her side.
“You wanna sit?” Emma said and patted the seat between her and Chris on the couch. I shook my head. My body was a live wire, waiting for June to be told what all of us in this room had.
“She’s got this, you know?” Chris said, but I didn’t look to my friend. I kept my eyes locked on that door, hearing nothing but white noise as I stayed suspended in time, ready for when my girl came back through.
I didn’t know how many minutes had passed when June left the office and came down the hallway. I held my breath, heartbeat slamming in my ears. But then she turned my way, and a euphoric smile etched on her lips. I didn’t wait for her to enter the room. Instead, I ran right into the hallway and picked her up. I held her tightly, her feet dangling off the floor. “It’s working?” I asked, pulling back enough to see her face.