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Esther lay on the narrow plinth underneath the radiation machine. The week before she’d come in to have the meticulous measurements done. Millimetres counted. That day, the doctor had made indelible marks on her skin so that future treatments could home in on the target area.
“Now please keep still,” the technician said. “If you have a problem, raise your hand and I’ll see you through the cameras. This should only take a few minutes.”
The machine overshadowed her. Invisible rays worked their magic without any sensation. The hard edges of the plinth dug into her bottom. Not a place you’d want to spend the night.
The technician returned. “That’s all it is, five days a week. Have you read the instruction booklet?”
“Yes. You don’t want me to shave under my arm. And avoid powders, crea
