Victim to Victor: The rise to Love

Chapter Two

It was deep into the icy winter when the joyous occasion arrived. Helena's final wish was granted. After hours of heavy contractions, crushing Scott's hand, and the final aching push, their little girl was brought into the world. The snow storm that had recently passed and many nights snuggled close and wrapped in love, they named the beautiful plump baby after those fond memories. Storm Aria Haven, and wasn't she just a bundle of sunshine! One by one family members came to meet little Storm. After many laughs and congratulations, Helena and Scott were finally left alone to enjoy the new life they had created.

Scott vowed at that moment to further grant all his beautiful daughter's wishes, for as long as he lived.

As Storm transitioned from baby to toddler, Helena's heart was tinged with jealousy. She felt as though Scott's love for her had faded and his love for their daughter had taken over his heart. Storm was now 3 years old, she was the perfect combination of her parents. She had raven hair, and soft pouty lips, like her mother. Soft caramel skin and beautiful hazel-coloured eyes, like her father. The family like Scott, were all but smitten with the young child. They went on many more adventures and journeys, making many firsts for Storm, and many magical memories.

Through the years Storm was treated like a princess by all. By 12 years old, she was not only a beautiful child but also a brilliant mind. Following in her parent's footsteps of being top of her class. Kind was her heart, loving everything and everyone that crossed her path. One wouldn't expect less being raised in a bubble of love and affection. Storm had many friends at school, never really belonging to a specific group of friends, she flowed freely from group to group. Befriending anyone easily. Storm had a soft spot for the loners and misfits. She made it her goal to do little things for them or with them every day. Whether it was sharing sweets or writing inspirational notes, Storm just wanted everyone to feel the love that her heart held.

Upon arriving home one day, Storm was greeted by an ambulance in the driveway. Rushing into her house, she called.

“Mom! Dad! What's going on?! Why is the ambulance here?”

Storm was answered by silence. Running from room to room, Storm searched the whole house.

“Nobody...” Whispered a defeated Storm.

Suddenly a noise from out back caught her attention, after her first few steps Storm froze. Men carrying a stretcher crashed through the back door, Storm's heart clenched tight as she got a glimpse of her father on the stretcher hooked up to a bag of fluids. Helena followed suit, grabbing Storm's wrist as she continued towards the door.

“Your father just collapsed, he was tending to the garden one moment and the next he was just lying there. Paramedics say the heat probably got the best of him, but we need to go to the hospital, so they can run some tests and make sure your fathers fine.” Helena's words came fast and blunt.

In a daze, Storm nodded her head. The next thing Storm registered, they were sitting in a waiting area in the hospital. A doctor and her mother talking in a distance. Barely audible from where Storm was seated, she listened in.

“Ran some tests... blood... cancer.”

Bits and pieces picked up from what the doctor said. Helena's face turned pale, many emotions came and flooded her facial expressions.

“He doesn't even smoke! How?? ... paramedics... heat... this can't be true!” Came Helena's heated response.

Storm saw her mother begin to sob, and then her mother's eyes met hers. Helena's expression turned to anger when she looked at Storm's worried face.

“First she takes his heart and now? Was cancer going to take the life of the man she loved? The one person her world revolved around.” Helena whispered to herself.

Confused at who her mother's anger was aimed at and afraid of what awaited her father, Storm pulled her legs up cradling them, hiding her face from the world. Storm prayed for mercy, her father was a loving man, faithful and honest, hardworking and brilliant. She stayed like that for a long time, until sleep took her in.

Storm woke to a hard nudge.

“Here, Eat and have something to drink.” Helena spewed with hatred dripping in her voice.

“Thank you, how's da...” Storm was cut short as Helena continued.

“Eat! We've been here for hours and I don't know anything other than they picked up some sort of lung cancer while running tests! I don't know! I haven't seen.... *sniff* I just don't know, ok?! Just eat something and go to sleep. We will only know more in the morning.”

Storm hung her head, not understanding the harshness of her mother's tone, the anger. Was it something she'd done? Taking a few bites of the sandwich her mother brought and setting the rest aside, Storm's emotions were ripping at her insides. She felt her world was falling apart. That's what uncertainty did... it ate and ate, until fully consuming your every thought. Growing, bringing dread, doubt, and other horrible feelings in until finally you're just numb. Storm slowly slipped into the darkness behind her heavy eyelids. This was a lot for a 12-year-old to understand, to process with bare minimum information and the icy contributions from her mother. The next Storm woke, alone amongst strangers. It was morning, her mother was nowhere to be seen.

“Maybe she went to the cafeteria again? Or the restroom? Her mother wouldn't simply leave her here, would she?” Storm thought out loud.

Storm's questioning thoughts were interrupted when a doctor approached her.

“Hi sweetie, I'm Doctor Nelson. Is your name Storm?” The doctor smiled politely, awaiting Storm's response.

She managed another nod confirming that she was Storm.

“Well Storm, a handsome man is asking to see his little princess. Would you like to follow me?” The kind doctor asked.

Finally, like a breath of fresh air, she answered

“Yes, please,” Storm said smiling for the first time in what felt like forever.

The doctor took her hand and led the way, as they stopped in front of a door Storm heard her mother's voice.

“She went to see Dad without me?” Were her first words.

Her mother was always distant and icy, compared to her father and his unconditional love. Storm, however, could never understand why. Her heart fluttered as her father's voice followed. Storm thanked the doctor for her help and entered the room. A look of rage covered her mother's face as Storm entered, Helena got up, nearly knocking Storm over on her way out.

“Dad, is everything ok? I only heard bits and don't understand... mom looks so angry and hurt...” Asked Storm.

Finally, breaking down into tears, Storm ran into her father's now open arms. Crying like only a child can, Storm just buried herself in the safety of her father's arms. Scott soothed his little princess as best he could.

“It's ok princess, Dad's here. Everything is going to be ok. Shh... shh... look at me Storm, Dad needs to explain everything to you.” Scott said smiling warmly at Storm.

Looking up at her father, her hero, Storm spoke. “Can we sit like this *sniff* a bit *sniff* longer, please? I *sniff* missed you so, so much!” Tears fell freely from Storm's face. The comfort of her father's embrace made her feel safe once more.

A small eternity passed in her father's arms when Storm looked into her father's eyes, searching for answers.

“I'm ready” Storm finally said.

Scott cleared his throat, steadying his voice, attempting to be calm and reassuring, and he finally spoke.

“Doctor Nelson, the nice doctor that brought you here?”

Storm nodded and Scott continued,

“Well she's a very good doctor, she found some weird-looking cells in my blood when running tests. She says that it looks like I have cancer and that I've had it for quite some time.” Storm looked confused,

“You didn't look like you were sick, dad?” she confessed.

Scott cleared his throat once more, then his eyes glazed over, tears brimming and threatening to spill. He took a deep breath as he continued to explain.

“That's the thing though princess, cancer is very sneaky. It doesn't make you feel sick until it has spread. Like eating candy... one is delicious but when you have many it makes your tummy hurt.”

Scott forced another smile as Storm listened, processing the new information.

“The thing is, there's medicine that can help slow the spread and treatment made to kill the cancer cells. Doctor Nelson says it's going to be a bumpy road and that I'm going to be very sick before I get better. I told Doctor Nelson that I am a fighter, I'm not ready to leave my little princess just yet...”

Storm's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets now.

“What do you mean leave?! Why would you leave...” Storm's last words turned into a whisper after cutting her father off.

Scott hugged Storm closer and spoke once more,

“Unfortunately some people don't always win the fight against cancer Storm, they leave this world as brave warriors but in the end, we don't have a choice. We accept and fight through what we can. It takes a lot out of you... imagine this big bully beating you up every day, you get scared and tired and discouraged, but you never stop standing your ground because you know that the bully is wrong.”

Scott sighs softly.

“I just want you to understand that I'm sick, I'm going to do everything manly possible to be better again. I need you to understand that what's coming is not pretty. I'll lose weight and be tired and have bad days, but never will I love you less, and never will I give up.”

By now Storm was crying again and Scott joined in. “I love you so much, Dad! I never want you to leave! I'll be strong for the both of us...” Storm said to her father as she gave him a hug containing all the love in her heart.

“I believe you princess, I love you too.”

After speaking to Dr Nelson a few more times and Helena's return. The family soon headed home. Arrangements and appointments were made and all that was left was the battle ahead.