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)
“We can’t think like that,” Emma said, but I heard the concern in her voice.
“We have to go in and see how he is,” Chris said, holding out his hand. I felt like if I took his hand that would make all this real. And if I didn’t, this would just be a bad dream that I would wake up from. “June,” he said again, only ripping me from my fear when he said, “he needs you. Jesse needs you.”
My feet began to move then, and the sound of the hospital engulfed us. Chris spoke to a receptionist, and I briefly heard him mention my name, but I just held onto Emma, trying to keep it together.
“We need to have a seat while they find out what’s happening,” Chris said, and led us to a nearby couch. “I’ll get us coffee,” he said, and walked away to a vending machine.
“Are you okay?” Emma said. When I shook my head, she put her arm around me and just stared at the doors that seemed to lead deeper into the hospital.
Chris came back with coffee, but I let mine go cold in my hand. It felt like we waited forever before a man in a white coat came toward us. My eyes widened when I saw it was Dr. Duncan.
He headed straight for us. “Chris, Emma, June,” he greeted.
“Is he okay?” I whispered.
Dr. Duncan regarded me silently, then said, “Please come this way.” My heart beat so fast, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Then it hit me: Dr. Duncan was here—it had come back. Jesse’s cancer had come back.
I didn’t realize I had stopped until Dr. Duncan turned around and said, “Please, come this way, Miss Scott.”
My palms were sweaty as I followed him down a hallway. It took so long it felt like a marathon until we arrived at a door. Dr. Duncan walked inside, and a sob tore from my throat when I found Jesse in a bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He was no longer in his football uniform; instead, he had on a hospital gown and an IV of fluids in his arm.
At my cry, Jesse’s gaze snapped to me, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Junebug,” he rasped, and I ran to him, throwing myself over where he lay. I looped my arms around his neck and vowed to never let go. He wrapped me up in his strong arms and held me back. I felt wetness on my neck and pulled back to see he was crying too.
“Jesse?” I said, a question in my tone.
Jesse nodded, and I collapsed against on his chest, holding him again.
It was back. The cancer was back.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t lose him. We were just getting started. And, oh God, I had forced us into a break; I had wasted precious time not being by his side.
“June,” Jesse said, and rubbed my back. I lifted off him, and Jesse motioned with his head to the foot of the bed.
Dr. Duncan stood there with a file.
Jesse clasped my hand and squeezed. He was nervous. Of course he was.
“Miss. Scott,” Dr. Duncan said. My heart was in my throat as I waited for what he would say next. “Jesse and I have already discussed this, but unfortunately, his blood work and scans have shown that his acute myeloid leukemia has returned.”
Dr. Duncan’s words circled my head, playing on a constant loop, breaking my heart into tiny fragments. I turned to Jesse. His back was straight, and he nodded. He was so strong. So perfect and brave.
I kissed Jesse’s hand, as Dr. Duncan said, “The good news is, we believe we have caught it early.”
“What happens now, Doc?” Jesse asked.
Dr. Duncan continued to study the file. “The same treatment as before. It worked the first time, so the chances of it working again are very high.”
I dropped my head to lean it on Jesse’s arm. Chemo—aggressive chemo and immunotherapy again. For the next several months.
Football…he won’t be able to play anymore this year…
“Okay,” Jesse said, his voice calm and unwavering. I looked at him then and he met my eyes. “Then I’ll just have to beat it again. Easy.” He tried for humor, but this time, it didn’t land. My lip wobbled and Jesse grew serious. “I’m not leaving you, Junebug. We have too much life to live together.”
I nodded, but sadness had captured my voice.
“I love you,” he said.
Finding my voice, I said, “I love you too, more than you’ll ever know.”
Jesse lifted his fist, and a wide smile took up his face. “Group two for the win…again.”
A strained laugh did slip from my mouth this time. But I held out my fist and bumped it against his. “Group two for the win again.”
And he had to win. I would entertain no other outcome.