Chapter 45

 

The next day, Elyssa went through more tests, some of which were uncomfortable, but none as painful as the bone marrow test.   Dr. Sanford scheduled a meeting with Elyssa for late that afternoon to discuss the results and what they meant.

 

When it came around time for the doctor to arrive, Elyssa summoned the others to her room.   She wanted them to be there to hear her diagnosis. 

 

As they waited for the doctor’s arrival, Elyssa grew more and more anxious. 

 

“You okay, sweetie?” AJ asked, from the chair next to Elyssa’s bed. 

 

“I’m scared,” she admitted, looking at him with wide blue eyes.  “AJ, what if it’s something horrible?”

 

“It won’t be,” AJ insisted, shaking his head.  “You’ll be fine.”

 

Elyssa nodded, but she knew she couldn’t accept his words as the truth.  It could be a lot worse than that, and she knew it. 

 

“You want me to turn on the TV, Lyssa?” Kevin asked.

 

Elyssa shrugged.  “Sure, go ahead,” she replied.

 

He nodded and turned on the TV, but none of them really paid attention to what was on.   They sat in silence, just waiting. 

 

Finally, Dr. Sanford entered the room.

 

“Hi, everyone,” he greeted.  “Sorry I’m late, but I got caught up with an emergency.”

 

“That’s okay,” Elyssa replied, sitting up straighter in her bed.  “So, you have the results of the tests?”

 

“That’s right,” Dr. Sanford said, sitting down in a chair at the foot of her bed.  “And I have a diagnosis for you too.”

 

Elyssa nodded, swallowing hard.

 

“So, what is it?” AJ asked anxiously.

 

Dr. Sanford’s expression became very solemn and serious as he began to speak.  “Elyssa, I’m sorry, but you have acute lymphocytic leukemia.”

 

Ashalyn was the first one to gasp.  Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, and for a moment, she felt light-headed.   Leukemia.   One of her best friends had leukemia.  It was nearly unbelievable, but it was true.

 

In her bed, Elyssa struggled to hold back her tears as she realized what her doctor had just told her.  She had leukemia, cancer. 

 

Suddenly, AJ’s arms came around her, pulling her close to him.   Numbly, she wrapped her arms around him, laying her head lightly against his chest.   She could feel his body trembling and realized he was crying. 

 

That was enough to set her off.  No longer able to hold back her tears, she made no attempt to blink them back, as they filled her eyes and overflowed down her cheeks.

 

“How about I give you all some time alone?” Dr. Sanford suggested, glancing at the others, who sat in shock.  “I’ll be back to answer your questions later.”

 

Kevin nodded at him, and he left the room. 

 

The attention of the stricken group was turned to AJ and Elyssa, who sat on the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, and crying.

 

Jenna leaned against Nick, her face white once again, tears rolling slowly down her cheeks. 

 

Howie had his arm around Serena and was comforting her as she sobbed against his chest, while Brian did the same with Ashalyn. 

 

Kevin watched the weeping couples around him and felt his own eyes fill with tears.   He might not have been as close to these girls as his bandmates were, but they were all friends to him, and what had happened to Elyssa was too horrible to imagine.   But it was definitely not imaginary.  It was real.

 

***

 

 

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