One simple word had so many meanings. One word could change a life.
"Terminal."
That meant a life would end because of disease. That a life would end and all the lives connected would be damaged as collateral.
What is the meaning of a life? How can the quality of life be measured? By how much we love? By how much money we make? By how many people know our name?
There is not a single way in which the meaning of life is measured. Instead, each life has its own measurement of quality. No life is the same and no life has more value than another.
None of this went through the head of Jace Elliott. He did not think about the meaning of life, or the meaning of his life. He thought about what he had to do so that he would not have any regrets when he died.
What he had was an inoperable tumor in his brainstem. It would cause him to lose control of his body. The only thing he had control over was what he would do with what was left of his life.
Jace had many regrets, but three stood out above the rest: his mother, his father, and her.