Page 7 of Mic Drop

“The cutting-edge doctors are in the City. We both know that.”

“The ones I’m seeing here are just fine.”

I keep my voice steady and repeat, “So when’s your surgery?”

“I’m not having any.”

My eyebrows furrow. From my research, surgery is often suggested. “Didn’t the doctors recommend it?”

“No, they didn’t.”

I sit back in my chair. Her words don’t compute. “I don’t understand. Doctors need to cut the cancer out of your body. You’ll need chemo, which doesn’t have to be such an awful ordeal anymore. I read an article about?—”

Ma places her fork on the table. “No. You don’t understand. The cancer’s too far gone, Sweet Pea. It’s in my lymph nodes and mylungs. They simply can’t take all of the affected areas out, so surgery’s not an option.”

I can’t comprehend what she’s telling me. “Don’t say that. There have been so many advancements in medicine over the past few years. The doctors surely can get it out of you.”

“Jenna.” I stare at my breakfast plate, the large amount of food sitting like a lump in my stomach. “Look at me.”

My gaze meets hers. I’m afraid my eyes are a lot more watery than hers.

“I am following doctor’s orders.”

I leap to my feet. “Ma! There has to be something you can do.” I search the kitchen for what, I don’t know. “There’s plenty of treatment options I’m sure you haven’t considered. I can take you to this specialist in midtown who has had success with patients like you.”

“I’ve been to him.”

“Or what about the one I read about on the Upper West Side, who has been experimenting with a combination of Eastern and Western medicines.”

“Kara took me there.”

“How about a woman on the Upper East Side, who?—”

“Jenna, honey, I’ve seen all I need to see. Kara’s taken me to her friends. Everyone says the same thing—that they don’t have any alternatives left to try. I’m tired of it all. I want to stay in my house, surrounded by my things and the people I love.” Her hand covers mine.

How have I never noticed how frail it seems?

With care, I place mine over hers.

“I can’t give up,” I admit. “You must not have tried every single possibility out there.”

“I have, Sweet Pea.”

I don’t care what she tells me. I won’t stop until I find someone able to make her healthy again. She’s not going to end up like my grandmother.

And Darren.

She can’t.

Chapter 3

Bennett

Ican do this. I’ve done it thousands of times.

I don ripped jeans, toss a blue T-shirt over my head, and add all my hardware: rings and bracelets. The mirror tells me I look as good as ever. Even my scruff is once again the perfect length. My hands twitch to remove the necklace with the UC pendant on it, but the band promised each other we’d never take them off. Doesn’t matter who gave them to us originally. I lower my arms.

Luke meets me in the hallway, craning his neck around me. “Where’s Jenna?”

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