The Candy Striper

Chapter 5

Lance

     I despised treatment day. I wake up to the sinking feeling of my gut, knowing what's coming later on today. I pressed the button to call on of the nurse to tell her that I was awake. After telling her, she informed me that the doctor will be in here in about an hour and I was not to eat anything. I sighed, closed my eyes and rested my head on the lump pillow. By now, I knew the drill, it became second nature to me.

      First, they would come in and shave my head. It made it easier for the chemotherapy to work, also it saves me to seeing my hair falling out. Next I would be taken to chemotherapy. Lucky, the treatment normally went in a blur, I blame all the medication in the IV that they stick in my vain. When treatment was over, I would sleep the rest of the day. But, when the sunset and the chemo finally settled into my system, I would be waken by the sudden urge to throw up and this feeling of vomit coming up my throat would continue the rest of the night. Finally, I would fall asleep, exhausted and sore.

     "Are you ready to start?" I heard my doctors deep voice ask. I nodded my head, not wanting to open my eyes. The familiar buzz of an electronic shaver started, and the long, dreadful process of treatment begin.

     I was awakened by the feeling of soft hands running over my bald head. I opened my eyes to find Mary, kneeling next to me, a soft smile on her face as she continued to stroke my scalp. I couldn't help but laugh softly at the fact she seemed enchanted by shaven head. She abruptly stopped and stood up, blush painted her cheeks, embarrassed she was caught.

    I pushed myself up from the hard tile floor of the bathroom to stand up and look at her, smirking at her innocent expression.

     "What's so funny?" She asked, sounding a little offended by my amusement.

     "I though we already had this discussion, Mary." I replied back, playfully. She smile up at me, then the smile on her face was replaced by an expression of soberness. Sadness hiding within her eyes as if she knew something I didn't. Before I could ask her what was wrong, my legs began to shake as I felt my knees being to give out. I fell down to the floor, where I stood back up and walked over to my bed with the assistance of Mary. I laid down on the bed, groaning at the ache in my legs.

      "How do you feel?" Mary asked softly, gently resting a hand on my head. Running it up and over my head, soothing me in someway.

     "Like I was dragging around a hundred pound weight with my angles." I said grimly. Hissing though my teeth as the pain went away and the soreness set in. I don't know which was worst, the sharp stabbing pain or soreness that fallowed afterwards.

     "I'm sorry." Mary whispered to me, hint of sorrow leaking into her voice.

      I shrugged and looked up at her, "Its not your fault."

      She sat down on the edge of my bed, taking my hand and lacing her fingers though mine. I smiled slightly as the small touches between us cause warmth spreading though my gut. But, as I looked at her, I guess the feeling was not mutual because her lips where turn down in a frown. Her gaze was fixated on the ground.

     "What's wrong?" I question, concerned.

     My question must have caught her off guard, because her head popped up and she quickly put a smile on her face. "Nothing," She said, almost automatically. I frowned slightly at her, knowing nothing was going on. Otherwise, she would be cheery and happy, like she was the first day I met her. Sighing, she confessed, "I'm just a little worried about you."

     I smile slightly and squeezed her hand gently. "I've done this a million and one times. Don't worry about me." I hoped my words would calm her nerves but that uneasy smile remained on her face.

     "I guess we won't be going to the cafeteria today?" The unemotional tone of her voice made me feel terrible.

      "Well you can, but I don't feel like eating today to be completely honest." I answered jokingly, hoping to cheer her up. But, all I got was a small smile that lasted for only half a second.

      Soon, a frantic looking Candy Striper came into the room. "Mary," she said in an irradiated tone. "Did you forget that we have a meeting in about five minutes?" Mary shot me an apologetic look, almost saying that she didn't want to leave.

      Before Mary left the room, she spun around and said, "You look really good with a shaved head." I couldn't help but smile.  

     Soon both of the Candy Stripers were gone. I closed my eyes, trying to relax, when I sprang up from the bed and ran into the restroom.