Page 16 of Enchanted

I smiled sadly as I extended my arm, pretending not to notice how her breath hitched at the lie she’d told. At the future that would never be mine. Her job must be hard. Not everyone who passed through her office had a diagnosis as severe as mine, but I had to imagine she’d seen more death than most.

I didn’t call her out on it. Just continued to smile, letting her know everything was okay.

Even if it wasn’t.

This couldn’t be happening.

There was no way.

I was sat opposite the specialist, the familiar disinfectant smell filling my nostrils while the bright overhead lights flickered. My ears were ringing from the information I’d just received. I stared at my ridiculously handsome oncologist, certain I had to be hallucinating. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

Dr. Hall laced his fingers together, expression inscrutable. “Your PET scan shows no evidence of cancer.”

No evidence of cancer.

It wasn’t possible.

When I’d had the call from the hospital the day after my blood tests, I’d believed my worst fears were being confirmed. All they’d said was that there’d been some abnormalities in my blood work, and that Dr. Hall had ordered further tests. It was a terrifying repeat of my first diagnosis.

But this time, I was completely alone. Dave had been too busy to accompany me.

As usual.

All of the tests had led up to this moment. Me, sat opposite the specialist, being told something that should be impossible.

“We don’t understand how this is possible,” Dr. Hall said, echoing my own thoughts, his hands clasped over his chest. Like always, I was struck by his youth. The man looked barely a day over thirty. He had to be older though, given his seniority and experience. “Your previous tests show that, while the chemo was slowing the spread, it wasn’t stopping it.”

“I don’t understand,” I said numbly. The news wasn’t sinking in. “Are you messing with me?”

“No.” Dr. Hall got up from his seat and turned the computer screen towards me. “Here, see for yourself.”

My jaw dropped in shock as my mind reeled. PET scans showed areas of infection and cancer as bright spots of colour. The last one I’d seen had been covered in red.

But the one Dr. Hall was showing me now?

There wasn’t a single spot of colour.

“You must have my results confused with someone else’s,” I said numbly. “This can’t be right.”

“I thought the same at first.” Dr. Hall sat back down, his solemn brown eyes meeting mine across the desk. “But your blood panel and CT scan confirmed the same findings. Somehow, you’re cancer-free.”

“Fuck.” I shoved my hands into my hair, pushing it back from my face momentarily. “Sorry, but, just…what the fuck?”

I met his eyes again to find they were slightly narrowed. Questioning almost. “Believe me, it’s what we’ve all been asking too. The department has asked that you undergo some testing for research purposes.”

My soul recoiled at the thought of being poked and prodded further. Don’t be selfish. What if whatever’s happened can help others?

“But I’d advise against that,” Dr. Hall said, making me sag in relief. “For the time being at least. I’d like to see you again in a month for blood work, but aside from that, I suggest you spend the next few weeks coming to terms with things.”

Honestly, I couldn’t keep up with this. Any of it. It just didn’t make sense. I was dreaming. I had to be. “With what?”

Dr. Hall smiled. “Your new life.”

Several hours later, I was still in disbelief. I’d pinched my hand so many times that a small bruise had formed there. Even that disappeared faster than normal. I swear it did.

What the fuck was going on?

Dave’s key in the door signalled his arrival home. I didn’t move or even react. Not when he called out my name, nor when he stepped into the living room. I just stayed on the sofa, staring into space.