My short stories

Childhood Cancer Awareness

Note: Sorry I have been inactive lately. I was really busy. I'm not sure if you're aware, but September's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Enjoy the story! By the way, this is a midquel of More Than She Seems.

Cassandra Trillin was super bored in the hospital. There was nothing to do and the TV shows were boring. When she asked a nurse about what she could do, the nurse said that she could talk to other patients.

Cassie still had some injuries from falling off the bridge and her legs had gotten unused to walking, so she had to travel in a wheelchair. Cassie felt really humiliated. She felt like a baby in a pushchair.

She went to the next ward. It was a children's ward and was very colourful. There were only three children there.

There was a seven-year-old boy and a six-year-old boy drawing pictures at a table. The boy had a broken leg and the girl looked like she was recovering from a throat infection.

The third child was a ten-year-old girl sitting all alone in a bed. She was wearing a pretty hat. Cassie wondered if she was lonely. She slowly went up to the girl.

'Hi there,' said Cassie. 'Are you lonely?'

'A bit,' said the girl. 'What happened to you?'

'It's a long story,' said Cassie. She wasn't keen on telling the girl about how she had almost committed suicide, got stopped by her friend Susan, but ended up falling off the bridge anyway and got stuck in a coma.

'Well, it's nice to have company. My parents are very busy on the weekdays and can only visit me on the weekends.'

'Why are you in hospital, anyway?'

'I have cancer.'

Cancer?'

'Yeah.' The girl removed her hat, showing that she was bald.

'What happened to your hair?'

'It all fell out. I used to have long, curly hair, so I was really sad to lose it. I'm Sandra, by the way.'

'I'm Cassie.'

From that day on, Cassie and Sandra became friends. Even after Cassie got discharged from the hospital, she still came to visit Sandra every now and then.

A few months later, tragedy struck. Cassie was called to the principal's office one day. She went timidly, fearing that she was in trouble, but she was told that Sandra wanted to see her immediately. Cassie got worried. Sandra knew that she was in school. It had to be something serious for Sandra to send for her during school hours.

Cassie almost fainted when she arrived at the hospital. The younger children had already gone home, so Sandra was alone.

Sandra was lying in bed, as pale as sheet. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was barely noticeable. Cassie thought that Sandra looked half dead.

'Sandra?' asked Cassie. 'Are you alive?'

Sandra opened her eyes. She smiled a little at Cassie.

'Hi,' she said. 'I was hoping to see you again before I go.'

'You're dying?' asked Cassie. 'Is there anything I can do to help?'

'No,' said Sandra. 'Don't be sad. Soon I won't feel any pain anymore.'

'Please don't leave me,' said Cassie. 'You still have your entire life in front of you.'

'I'll be fine,' said Sandra. 'Don't fret about me.'

Cassie sighed. She gave Sandra a flower hair clip. 'Well, take this to heaven with you.'

'I will,' said Sandra.

~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~🏨~

Barely four hours after Cassie left the hospital, she got a call from Sandra's parents informing her that Sandra had passed away. Although the news saddened her, she knew that Sandra was now at peace.

Cassie now understood how precious life was. There were so many people who didn't have the chance to lead a full life. Cassie felt guilty for almost throwing hers away.

Cassie told Susan that she wanted to become a doctor when she grew up so that she could save lives. To save someone's life was a miracle in itself.