-CC’s POV-
I closed her journal gently and wrapped the protective strap back around the binding. “So?” Jake asked me, obviously very curious. I shook my head, “She’s kept so much from me… Way too much.” I sighed heavily, thinking if Annah sighed like that she’d probably be breathless and have a hard time recollecting her breath. It was hurting me more and more as I let time pass, I had to say it, and I had to tell someone. “She had or has cancer.” I said quietly. It took awhile for Jake to register the idea of Annah having cancer before he turned to me and gave me a tight hug. “I am so sorry, man. But like I said, she’s a fighter, she won’t it kill her.” I nodded and slumped back in the waiting room chair. I glanced to the window above me, only to see nothing but darkness. I shook my head to keep myself awake, but couldn’t help but let out a yawn.

“Get some sleep; I’ll wake you up if something happens.” That was all I needed, after three days in the ER I was exhausted. My eyelids slumped closed and I dove into a soundless rest.

It felt like minutes that I was sleeping before my shaking shoulder woke me up. “CC, wake up. Annah’s awake and not going very well.” My eyes bolted open, and sleep shrugging off my body.

“What? Where?” I asked frantically. Just then, an older gentleman whom I assumed was the doctor introduced himself. “How’s she?”

“She’s not very well. Her heart rate keeps spiking and we can’t take her off the oxygen. Her surgery went great, but she was complaining about her head hurting and she told us about her past experience with cancer. That being said, we gave her a PET scan. I’m sorry to say this, Mr. Mora, her cancer has come back.”

“Wait, so she has her lung cancer back?” I asked, hoping this was all just a dream.

He nodded, “Yes, the cancer is still in her lungs but it has also gone outside of her internal organs.” Confusion spread across my face, not quite understanding what he was telling me. “Breast cancer, sir. She has breast cancer as well as lung cancer.” At that point in time I wanted to breakdown and cry. Let all of my sobs escape, but I had to be strong, for Annah. “Can I see her?” “Most certainly, follow me please.”

I walked into her ICU room, stopping at the door. I looked at her body laying there, finally understanding why she was always so skinny and small. She turned her head and saw me standing in the doorway, a smile instantly illuminating her defined face. Waving her hand in a small movement, I joined her by her bed, pulling the chair right up next to it. “Christian,” She started to say, but I held a finger to her lips. “Shhh, it’s alright.” I suppressed a painful yet hopeful smile and placed a hand on her cheek. I could feel the slightest curve in her cheekbone. I sat there, looking into her gleaming grey eyes I thought I would never see again. “I love you,” She whispered. “I really really do.”

I breathed out a laugh and held up her journal. “I know, babe, I know. But, I want you to tell me something. Okay?” She nodded the slightest bit, a worried look on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me about the cancer?” I caught her off guard. Her mouth gaped open, looking for words to say, but I know there would be none. “What were you so afraid of? That I was going to break up with you? Or did you think I would just feel bad for you and stay with you out of respect.” She nodded, not clarifying which one was right. I took her face gently in both of my hands and looked her square in the eye. “I love you, only you. Did you forget that?” I dropped one of my hands from her face and reached into my back pocket. I took out the engagement ring that I had given her and held it up so she could see it. “Did you forget about this?” I teased her as I slid it onto her left ring finger. “Annah, you can trust me. But, there is on-”

I was cut off when I heard someone from the doorway clear their throat. I turned around, still holding Annah’s hand to see her doctor standing there. Despair washed over me yet again, what could it be this time? I turned back to Annah and kissed her temple gently. “Just a second, I love you.” I smiled at her and walked quickly out of the room, and then followed the doctor around the corner so Annah couldn’t see us. “What’s wrong this time?” I questioned him nervously.

“Well, first off,” He started, “Annah’s brother, Eli, is doing great. It was a very lengthy surgery preformed, but thankfully we have the best surgeons here. Apart from a broken leg and broken collarbone, he should be fine.” I nodded and sighed in relief. “That’s good news to tell Annah.”

“Also, I must ask something of you before I tell you the news. You mustn’t tell Ms. Reese about her cancer returning or spreading, alright?” I knit my eyebrows together and nodded slowly, waiting for an explanation. “Telling Ms. Reese would send her into overdrive, make her heart work for her body twice as hard, but also another. With her heart working three times as hard with her knowing her cancer has returned would also put an enormous amount of stress on her shoulders which would just add onto the stress she has for her brother.”

“Well, she doesn’t know about her brother yet. I haven’t gotten the chance to tell her or explain to her yet. Anyways, please carry on.”

“With her heart already working for two people, her heart might give out, she might go into shock-” “Wait, what did you just say?” I interrupted him. “She has a chance of heart failure and shock.” He repeated. “No, no, no. Before that.” The doctor gave a slight chuckle and started to pat my shoulder. “Ms. Reese is pregnant; you’re going to be a father.”