The phone fell from my limp hand, crashing onto the floor. The sudden noise didn't even register in my shocked brain. That word just kept repeating in my head, never quite sinking in. Around and around and around until its indistinguishable, no beginning, no ending, no meaning. How can it be true...? Cancer... cancer. Cancer, CancerCancercancercancercancer. Six letters. How can something that short change my present? I didn't notice the tears spilling down my face, until your fingers were there wiping them away. I didn't notice my whimpering until your voice was there, soothing me. I didn't notice my arms wrapping around myself, until you were there prying them off me and placing them around yourself, despite the fact you knew I would leave bruises. You were the only one who noticed when my knees gave out, so you picked me up and sat me on your lap on the couch, where we sat for hours, until my tears finally slowed. Eventually I was able to gasp out the words I'd been fearing, "My dad has cancer." I'd been dreading it for a while, but the news was still hard to take. Your only response was to wrap your arms tighter around me, and whisper into my hair, "It'll be okay. It'll all be okay. We'll get through this together." The vibrations in your chest rippled through me, relaxing my muscles, strained at being taut so long.
