CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 17: THE TEST RESULTS
The call came on a Tuesday morning.
I almost didn't answer.
It was my father.
"They found it."
My heart sank.
"Found what?"
A long silence.
"Cancer."
The word seemed to change the air around me.
I sat down slowly.
"What kind?"
"They're still doing more tests."
I closed my eyes.
"And Mom?"
"She's pretending she's fine."
That sounded exactly like her.
"When did she find out?"
"Yesterday."
I didn't know what to say.
My father sounded older than usual.
"I think she's scared."
I looked out the kitchen window.
For years I had imagined my mother as unbreakable.
Now she was sick.
Human.
Fragile.
"I'll come by later," I finally said.
When I arrived at the hospital, she looked up in surprise.
"You came back."
I nodded.
She smiled softly.
"You always did have a kind heart."
I almost laughed.
That wasn't how I remembered myself.
We talked for an hour.
Mostly about ordinary things.
Then she suddenly said:
"I'm sorry."
I froze.
For a moment, I thought I had imagined it.
"I know that doesn't fix anything," she continued. "But I'm sorry."
I looked at her.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
"I spent my whole life trying to control everything."
She swallowed.
"And I lost the very people I wanted to keep."
I couldn't speak.
"I don't expect forgiveness."
The same words my father had once said.
Maybe regret sounds the same in everyone.
She looked away.
"I just wanted you to hear it."
I sat there for a long time.
Finally, I said:
"Thank you."
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was something.
As I left, she called my name.
I turned.
"Tell Ella I'm fighting."
May you like
I nodded.
"I will."
