Before Us

Chapter 1

The day of my appointment to a specialist. I dont even want to know what sickness I have- if i have one.

Sitting while holding a number that is printed on a paper, sticked in a small cardboard that said 6. The doctor's receptionist peek at the door and called my number. I tugged my shirt and slicked my hair back with my fingers then I took a few steps and slowly exhaled. It is now or never, I said quietly to myself.

When I entered the room I saw the receptionist's desk and there was her name engraved on a wooden name plate that says Miss Ann Reyes. "Good morning" I said giving her a big smile despite the fear I felt inside me "Good morning" she answered back, searching through a paper with list of names "and you would be Lewis Scott?" pointing at my name on a paper and looks up to me.

"That would be me", "You can proceed to Dr. Wilson's clinic"

I knocked twice when Dr. Wilson told me to come in. I opened the door and let myself in. The room was quite big. The wall was painted with a dirty white color with the doctor's photos and certificates in a frame, hanging. A small gray couch. "Lewis. Lewis Scott" introducing myself, handing the paper to Dr. Wilson. I expected him to look a bit older, around 50 - 55 but he is younger than I thought. He looked at me "Take a seat" and examined the paper I gave him. "You've been experiencing fatigue lately?" "Yes" "And pain every night when you're resting?" "Yes." I answered again "I lost a lot of weight" I added. He clicked his pen and starts to write a medical prescription.

People walking and cars passing by, I waited for a bus to ride for me to head home. A bit frustating to wait but I dont have any choice left, my sister borrowed my car because she has somewhere important to go. So here I am waiting and a lot of thoughts enters my head. "Your next appointment is on February 8th, Monday" Dr. Wilson's voice echoes in my mind "You're experiencing a bone cancer symptoms. You'll comeback here and we're gonna have some test for it to make sure." Interrupting my thoughts, a big red bus stops and people are racing to go in first, lucky for me there is a vacant seat left near the window. I sat down and the fabric bus seat touches my jeans and cotton shirt, I leaned back and my brain keeps repeating what the doctor has diagnosed me.

I felt a light weight on my shoulder when I look, it was the passenger's head beside me. I didn't mind to wake her up, maybe she's just exhausted. I shifted my gaze and looked through the window as the bus stopped on red light, that is when I saw Maureen. Her beautiful black hair is slightly covering her rosy red face because of the wind. Her beautiful face reminded me of someone, it's like I've known her somewhere. God knows for how long I've been mesmerized by her. When her eyes met mine I immediately looked away from embarassment. I can feel her sweet smile under her breath. Minutes later the traffic light changed its color to green. I look at her like it was the last time the I will be seeing her.

Finally, I arrived at my mom's house. I opened the door and entered as I immediately sat on the couch to relax myself from exhaustion and from what the doctor has said. Mom with a soft voice said "Hey. I didn't heard you came in" as she opens the fridge and search for a food to eat. "Hi, Mom. I'm sorry. I'm just too tired" "Well, how did it go?" I just look at her with a neutral

face and responded "It was fine" nothing more, nothing less. I don't want her to worry so I'll gonna keep this to myself for a while, when if it's confirmed that's when I'll tell her. She looked at me as if she didn't believed the words I've said. "Don't worry about me, mom. It'll be fine"

The couch was too small for me so I went to my room and flopped myself onto the bed. I can't help but to think again about what the doctor has said. I can't sleep, all night I just tossed and turned. I layed my back flat facing the ceiling then a thought entered my mind, I remembered the letter my mom found in the mail two days ago when we went back here from Canada. At the age of 16 we moved to Vancouver because mom found a stable job there. Since she is raising us all by herself, she has no other choice but to move and start a new life there.

I shifted my gaze on a small working table in my room beside the window. There, a tanned color envelope. I sat and opened the envelope gently as I took the letter out, letting a small sigh out.

I don't know how to write a letter to someone and this is the first time I wrote. If you remember I was the clumsy girl who you saved from a car the day before yesterday. I wanted to thank you personally yesterday but the house seems empty, so I went home and decided to write you one. If you weren't there that time I would have been at the hospital right now. You don't know how grateful I am. I may sound too much but I just write what's inside my thoughts. So this is where it ends, maybe?

- Maureen

Folding and putting the letter back, I haven't noticed that I was smiling all the time when I was reading Maureen's letter, somehow it made me feel better. I recalled the time that it happened, I remembered everything but not Maureen's face. Suddenly my eyes felt heavy. I checked the time and it said eleven thirty. I go back to my bed placing my right arm under my head and let myself rest.