The Unexpected Journey Part Two

Chapter 24

"I don't know," Nurse Harding offered him a comforting smile as she shook her head. "She might. But last time was the very first time her body had taken this kind of medication, so it was a bit more of a shock to the system. This time might not be as much."

Harry nodded his head as though he understood, even though he felt like he understood so very little. "And afterwards?"

"Afterwards," Nurse Harding leaned in to look at Maddie's port, to make sure everything was running smoothly. "My guess is that afterwards will be a bit more rough than the first."

She smiled up at Maddie. "Are you comfortable?"

"I am," Maddie returned the smile. "Thank you."

"Of course. Now," Nurse Harding stood tall, moving towards the door as she looked to the two of them. "If you need anything, let me know. I'll be back to check on you in a bit."

"Thank you," Harry nodded his head, tossing a glance her way before his eyes returned to his wife.

"Thank you," Maddie watched as she slipped from the room, watched as the door shut behind her before she turned to her husband who was now sitting next to her. Reaching for his hand, she tugged lightly on his fingers. "Come here?"

Without a second thought, he moved in. His fingers tangled with hers, his arm moved over into her space and, as his head laid back against the top of her chair, her head found rest on his shoulder.

Maddie sighed and nuzzled in and, with sleepy eyes, she smiled. "Thank you."

"Of course," he turned to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Of course."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Second Round of chemo hit harder than the first. Much harder. This time Maddie felt the aches and pains creeping into her bones as early as the ride home. This time she didn't even try to stay awake to see the children, she didn't attempt to eat dinner. Without any provocation from Harry, without any insistences, she went straight upstairs and crawled into bed.

This time she wasn't surprised by the headaches.

This time she wasn't surprised by the slowness of her mind, of her thinking process.

She wasn't surprised by the bright red in her pee and she wasn't surprised when the metallic taste in her mouth drove her straight to the bathroom.

And when Harry followed her in, when he sank to the floor next to her, ready to comfort and help, she more than expected him to be there. This time she didn't fight him. She took the towel he offered, took the water, and she let him help her up and back to bed.

There wasn't much about this Second Round that was surprising.

Until the Seventh Day.

It had taken her a little longer to bounce back than it had the first time. It had taken her a few extra days before she felt like pulling herself out of bed, before she felt like showering and dressing and facing her morning. But she finally did. The hot water felt amazing; waking her up, soothing her aches.

And then it happened. She lifted her hands to her head, rubbing her coconut scented shampoo into her roots and when she turned to rinse out the suds, a clump of hair came with them.

She took a full step back in the shower, her hands reaching out to the slick tiled walls to steady herself as all of the air in her lungs rushed out and completely unexpected tears rose to her eyes. She had known it was coming. Her experiences with Cancer had told her it would happen. Her Doctors and her Nurses and everything she had ever read or heard had warned her it would be coming.