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Layla’s hand wrapped around mine. I took my eyes off her car’s dash and looked at her.

She was with me. She heard it too.

“Hannah, I’m-”

“Don’t say it.” I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear it again. Okay, breathe Hannah. Breathe.

“You have to tell your parents.” Layla’s voice was soft. “You have breast cancer, Hannah. You can’t lie to them.”

“I’m not telling them.” I made that decision as soon as I got the news. I was not telling Mum and Dad. I wasn’t telling Tyson. And I sure as hell wasn’t telling Eve.

“You can’t face this by yourself.”

“I sure as hell can.” I wiped the tears off my cheeks. “I won’t let this bring my family down. I can face it on my own.” I was strong enough. I could do it. I didn’t need anyone. “I won’t let this ruin anyone else’s life.” It was already ruining mine.

Layla squeezed my hand. “You aren’t facing it by yourself. I’m right here and I’ll be coming to your first radiation appointment next week.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I’ll be taking you and sitting in the waiting room.”

“Layla, you don’t have to.”

“I’m going to be right beside you every step of the way, Hannah. Don’t fight me on it.” Layla started the car up. “You sure you don’t want to tell your family? Not even Tyson?”

“No. I don’t want anyone knowing.” I turned to face her. “Please tell me you won’t tell anyone?” I knew I was asking a lot of her. Keeping a secret like this was a big deal. I saw the look on her face.

“Tyson should know.”

“I don’t want him to know. I don’t want anyone to know!” I would beg her if I had to. “Please, Layla. Please don’t tell anyone.”

“If I keep my mouth shut, will you tell me every detail?”

I nodded my head.

“And at the end of the round of radiation, you tell your parents.”

I shook my head.

Layla sighed. “Well, when will you tell them?”

“Never.” I scoffed. I knew how my parents would react. I didn’t need pity. Dad didn’t do weaknesses and your daughter having cancer, well, that was a weakness. I was a weakness.

“I’ll keep my silence on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“You tell them if the radiation doesn’t work.”

I groaned. “But they said it might not work and I might have to have it removed!” She was setting me up for telling them.

“Exactly, and if that happens, you are telling your family. In the meantime, I will take you to every radiation appointment. So, do we have an agreement?” She looked really torn about it. Like it wasn’t what she really wanted. She wanted me to tell my family. She wanted me to tell Mum and Dad.

“Okay. If it doesn’t work, I’ll tell them.” I ran my hands through my hair. “So, you won’t mention it to my brother?”

“Why would I tell Tyson?” She was defensive automatically.

“I saw you talking to him.”

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