Daniel’s POV

“Hey, it’s okay. Everything will be all right. You do this kind of thing always don’t you?” I tried to soothe her.

The crease in between her brows refused to disappear. Her hands were clasped at her lap and I could see her fidgeting with her dress. The nervousness seemed to radiate into the air around her.

“Now you’re making me worried,” I said, putting my hands on hers. I had to show my love within the boundaries of public acceptance or I would have kissed her then and there to make her forget all about the pending reports.

“It’s a biopsy report and it determines my future. Every decision depends on it. How can I not be worried?” she whispered.

“I’ll always be here for you no matter what. We’ll fight…We’ll fight it together,” I tried to help but it only increased the frown on her face.

“Daniel, it’s not about support. I know you’re here and support helps you go through everything, but the fight isn’t yours, it’s mine. As much as you can sympathize with me, you can’t empathize with me. It’s the truth. No one can. Living with such debilitating conditions definitely has a heavy toll on your mind.”

That was so a Phoebe thing to say. She was the rational one, the cool, calm one at times. I tended to act more impulsively. There was a stark contrast to our natures. It was as if she saw the world through a filter of negativity. It affected her in the long run.

But even I couldn’t help admire the progress she had made, accepting me in her life and in the process accepting my outlook of life and my belief in religion. I never wanted my Phoebe to change. She was unique the way she was. Pessimistic but a fighter, fierce and beautiful.

I had heard stories of how she had escaped from the kidnappers and I doubt any girl would have endured so much for people who weren’t her family. Or were they her family after all?

I didn’t know the workings of such intricate bonds but I guessed the kids really meant a lot for her.

“Miss Phoebe Wellesley,” a nurse called out.

She stood up, her knees shaking.

I held her hand and gently squeezed it.

She tried to force a smile but it came out rather weird.

“Doctor Phillip is waiting for you, Miss,” the attendant ushered us in.

“Phoebe, I’ve got your biopsy reports,” Doctor Phillip said without looking up from a bunch of papers he was studying.

“And?” her eyes darted nervously to the papers laid out on the table.

“First of all, let me assure you, it’s okay. There is nothing to worry about and there is a cure for the symptoms and the problem itself,” he looked from her to me and back to her, letting the words sink in.

“What is it doctor…” her voice faltered.

Doctor Phillip silently handed the papers to her.

The expression of shock and horror was enough to make me snatch the reports from her hand.

Nothing seemed to register for a moment except the three words in bold.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

The world was slipping from beneath my feet and I didn’t dare a glance at Phoebe.

“Then that’s it,” Phoebe sank into the chair, her eyes rapidly going out of focus.

“No,” I caught her shoulders, drawing her towards me, “It’s definitely not it. It’s not over. There’s hope.”

She stayed frozen.

“Doctor,” I turned to him, a plea in my voice, “Please tell that this is nothing. It can be managed.”
I could hear the frantic note in my voice.

How I wish this was all a dream and that day had never happened. Maybe we were still in bed, dreaming and everything was perfectly fine.

“It’s okay, Phoebe. It’s the first stage of cancer and it hasn’t started to metastasize and spread through your body yet. We’ve good medications and other ways to battle it…” he reached across the table and gently took her hands in his.
“You’re my brave girl. A little thing like this can never stop you. Don’t you remember how you used to ask me to take you to Paris and Rome and where not? How can you lose hope and abandon me?”

I had never seen such a bonding between a patient and her doctor.

Phoebe managed a small smile, “You always used to tell me stories from your travel. It’s none of my fault that I wanted to visit those places.”

“I’ll keep my promise of taking you, only if you keep your promise of always staying strong and happy. It was a deal made long ago,” his eyes crinkled in a smile.

Phoebe actually blushed, “Come on doctor, I was a kid.”

“You were never a kid for me,” he let go her hand. “You were more mature than anyone else. I’ve always considered you as a lady. You were so considerate, so understanding. I’ve never seen another girl like you in my life, Phoebe.”

Phoebe turned redder as she buried her face in my chest.

I hugged her and kissed her hair, breathing in her earthly lavender scent.

“Oh and your friend is a nice boy too,” he commented, arranging the papers. “I liked his interest in medicine.”

“You are welcome to come to my clinic anytime you want to learn things,” he looked at me.

“It’s an honour, Sir,” I said, still holding onto Phoebe.

As I looked into her haunted eyes, I knew it wasn’t something she could forget ever, but still there was that kindle of fire in those hazel eyes, which spoke volumes of her courage and her determination.

I kissed her forehead and mumbled, “You’re my hero.”

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