The Point of No Return {sequel to The Arbitrary life of Avery Blake [teacher]}

The Point of No Return {sequel to The Arbitrary life of Avery Blake [teacher]}22

My heart was pounding furiously against my chest.

‘No.’ I simply said.

‘Okay well, we would like to treat it now before it gets any worse. Would you be okay with that?’

‘No.’ I repeated nonchalantly.

‘No?’ she asked in confusion. ‘But Mr Jones, don’t you want to treat it?’

‘Of course I want to treat it and get better!’

‘…then?’

‘No.’ I said simply. After a moment of hesitation, the nurse hesitated before walking out.

‘What was that about?’ Cole asked kindly before sitting at the edge of my hospital bed, coffee in hand.

‘Nothing,’ I lied, attempting to turn away.

Cole hesitated before speaking. ‘It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. I’m just concerned, that’s all. Why don’t you want to take Chemo?’

I sighed before turning to face him. ‘Because my dad spent years of his life hoping, wishing and praying that he would get better. He went through a lot of treatment but none of it worked. HE DIED! And there was no doctor in the whole world that could save his life! So why should I take treatment when I know none of it will work?!’ I asked hysterically.

Cole was silent. ‘I-I’m sorry…’ he said.

‘No…I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ever having hope. I’m sorry for my father dying and last of all, I’m sorry I ever inherited this thing!’

Cole and I talked for a while more.

‘So…you didn’t tell Avery or Meghann or even Ashton about any of this, did you?’ I asked nervously.

‘No,’ he said simply. ‘They just think it was a normal seizure. I just told them that it wasn’t too out of the ordinary for you. It wasn’t the first time.’

‘Oh…okay, um, thanks.’ I said, biting my lip.

Cole sighed, ‘You have to tell them, you know.’

‘No… they… they don’t need to be burdened with it. Avery’s life has just began to get on track again and normal itself out. She doesn’t need that stress.’

‘But don’t you think that she’s your best friend and she deserves to know? And you’re right…she has been through a lot, I should know. But it’s those experiences she’s gone through that will help her find salvation and then help you in the end result. Your friends can be the difference of you surviving from this or death. From you enjoying the rest of your life, or giving up. And what will happen that one day, god forbid, you were to pass away. How would Avery and Meghann and Ashton deal? They need warning. It will be better for them to find out before it’s too late.’ He said in a completely unusual casualness and quietness.

I guess the guy had been through a lot too.

I took his words in consideration. I then sighed.

‘Look, I can’t promise you anything. This is hard. But telling them would be harder.’

‘Yeah, but you found it in yourself to tell me, didn’t you?’

I hesitated. ‘I guess… but I really needed someone. And I went to you because I knew you wouldn’t judge me that much, and also I’m sure you can relate to me. Not exactly in the diagnoses but you were once my age. L-look…what I’m trying to say is I needed you. I told you because you’re a guy and you’re close to my age. You’re dating my best friend for god sake. I…I knew I could trust you.’ I shrugged, biting inside my cheek.