Cassandra, a beautiful woman with long brown hair and black eyes wearing a red dress stood in the front of the Olive mansion.
Her heart fluttering with anticipation to see her dear friend as she knocked on the door. It had been months since they last met, and the weight of their separation had only grown heavier with time. Elaine had always been a pillar of strength and unwavering optimism, but Cassandra couldn't shake off a nagging feeling that something was amiss.Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Elaine's tired but still radiant face. A flicker of surprise crossed her features before giving way to an exuberant smile. "Cassandra! I've missed you so much," she exclaimed, pulling her friend into a warm embrace.The familiar scent of Elaine's lavender perfume enveloped Cassandra, instantly transporting her back to cherished memories of their laughter-filled adventures. She held onto Elaine tightly, savoring the warmth of their reunion.As they stepped back, Cassandra couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in Elaine's appearance. Her once happy face had grown pale, and there were dark bags under her eyes like she hadn't had enough sleep for a while now. Concern etched deep lines on Cassandra's forehead, and her voice trembled as she asked,"Elaine, how have you been? You seem... different."Elaine's smile wavered for a moment, and her gaze dropped to the floor.“I knew you would pick up in an instant” Cassandra knew Elaine like the palm of her hand and could easily tell when something was bothering her.“Is there something wrong?” she asked."Oh, Cassandra," Elaine sighed, her voice tinged with sadness. "I wish I could say everything was fine, but the truth is, I've been diagnosed with cancer."Cassandra felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving her gasping for breath. Cancer—a word laden with fear, uncertainty, and pain. The weight of the revelation bore down on her, threatening to crush her spirit.“What?How?When?What the hell?Tell me it is not that severe and we can do something about it?” she asked with pleading eyes. Cassandra knew exactly how serious Cancer was when it got to certain stage and she was already scared for her dear friend.Tears streamed down Cassandra's face, and she reached out to hold Elaine's trembling hands."Oh dear," she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and love.From Elaine’s silence, she could tell that it was severe. "I can't imagine how you feel right now, it must be hard for you” She pulled her into a tight embrace, they two were so occupied in their discussion that Elaine had forgotten to invite her into the house.“I want you to know that I am here for you, every step of the way. Your strength has always been an inspiration to me, and I will be with you through this difficult journey.You are going to get treatment right?" She asked.“Yes” Elaine nodded. Saying No meant she was going to be scolded by her and then forced to take her treatment seriously, Elaine didn't have the guts to tell her that she didn't believe in the treatment when she had already gotten to her worst stage.Elaine's eyes shimmered with gratitude and vulnerability. She squeezed Cassandra's hands gently, finding solace in their unwavering bond."Thank you, Cassandra," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Having you by my side means more to me than words can express. There will be tough times ahead, but with your support, I know I can face them head-on."Their friendship had weathered storms before, and with love and compassion, it would withstand this new challenge.As they embraced once more, Cassandra felt a renewed sense of purpose. She would be the rock that Elaine could lean on, the shoulder to cry on, and the source of unwavering support. Together, they would navigate the path of uncertainty, finding strength in each other's presence.After hours of discussing with each other, Cassandra returned home leaving Elaine behind.The next morning,Elaine and Richard were out on their different destination leaving behind Mary. Elaine had gone to buy some groceries so Mary had to make with whatever she saw in the kitchen.The sun had disappeared from the sky as Mary sat down at her kitchen table, sipping her tea. Enjoying the quietness around her she close her eyes after a sip when the buzzing sound of her phone startled her. Mary's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar tone of the family doctor's office calling. She instinctively knew that this call carried grave news.With a trembling hand, she picked up the receiver and pressed it against her ear. "Hello?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper."Mrs. Lyon, this is Dr. Thompson from the Family Medical Center," came the somber voice on the other end."I'm afraid I have some distressing news to share with you."Mary's heart sank, and her mind raced through a myriad of possibilities. She feared the worst, but she braced herself for what the doctor was about to reveal."It's about your daughter-in-law, Elaine," Dr. Thompson continued gently. "From her previous check up, I have informed her to invite the family over but I guess she had forgotten. I'm sorry to inform you that Elaine has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer."Mary was so shocked that she couldn't utter a word.“Mrs Lyon?”“Uh..mm..m Yes” she structured.“Did you hear me?” he asked."How... how long does she have?" Mary managed to ask.There was a brief pause on the line, as if Dr. Thompson was carefully choosing his words. "I'm afraid it's not good news, Mrs. Lyon," he finally replied, his voice laden with sympathy. "Given the aggressive nature of the cancer and its advanced stage, the prognosis is approximately one year."“Did you just say a year?” she asked.“Yes, are you sure she hasn’t told you anything about this?” he asked expecting that such news should be shared among family members.Taking a deep breath, Mary steadied herself and asked, "Dr. Thompson, what are the next steps? What can we do?"The doctor explained the available treatment options, the importance of seeking specialized care, and the need for Elaine to make decisions about her treatment and quality of life. Mary listened attentively, her mind racing with questions and concerns.After bidding farewell to the doctor, Mary remained seated at the table, her mind went haywire just thinking about it.“Elaine has cancer” she uttered in shock once again.Elaine returned from buying groceries to see Mary seated in the living room,“Mother, you must be hungry, I will make a meal for you immediately” she said.“We need to talk Elaine”Not once has Elaine seen her look so serious so she wondered what could be the problem.“I didn't mean to stay long at the market” she tried to explain herself knowing Mary had been waiting long for her to get back and make her meal.“Drop the groceries in the kitchen and come out lets talk” Mary ordered.She quickly heeded to her words and came out of the kitchen in a minute.As Elaine entered the room, her face pale and tired. Mary’s eyes locked onto Elaine, who seemed oblivious to the tension that filled the air."I just got a call from Dr Thompson and he told me a disturbing news.I can't believe you never told us about your illness. How could you keep something like this from us?" she asked.Elaine's eyes widened in surprise, and she stammered, searching for the right words. "Mother, I... I didn't want to burden you and Richard with my problems. I thought I could handle it on my own, and I didn't want to worry you both."”So you mean you haven't told Richard about it, you kept such a news from him” Mary yelled at her.”I didn't want to bother him with a thing like that” she explained.“Can you hear yourself, you know such a news from your husband, from your family. What the hell is wrong with you?” Mary asked.Elaine just stood there quiet, it was not like she hadn't tried to tell Richard about it but she just wasn't given an opportunity.“How the hell am I supposed to tell him that I have cancer and I am left with one year to live” she demanded.“You have cancer?” a voice said and Elaine instantly froze.“Answer me” the voice repeated.Elaine slowly turned to see Richard standing behind her with his jacket in his hand. His bag had already dropped to the ground and she could tell it was from shock.“Yes and the doctor said I had about a year to live” she summed up courage to answer him just to see his reaction.“Was that what you wanted to talk to me about?” he said recalling the discussion she tried to have with him but he dismissed her.“Yes, I tried to tell you but you wouldn't listen to me.” she said.“Okay” he responded and then turned to leave.The screeching sound of a car could be heard as he drove out through the gate.Elaine stood there stunned that he would turn his back on her at a time like that.Mary paced back and forth in the living room, her mind heavy with worry. Her son Richard sat on the couch, his face etched with a mixture of exhaustion and sadness. The atmosphere in the room was tense, the weight of an impending decision hanging in the air."Richard, I've been thinking about this for a while now," Mary finally spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "I think it might be best if you consider divorcing Elaine."Richard's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Divorce? Mom, how can you say that? Elaine is my wife.”Mary sighed, taking a seat beside him. "I know, Richard. I understand that she is your wife but she has cancer. it's a serious matter. It's going to be a long and challenging road for both of you. Divorce might be the best option for her, for her sake." she said trying to twist her words into his mind.Richard's face twisted with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Are you seriously suggesting that I leave her when she needs me the most? I thought you, of all people
It was a typical Friday afternoon, Cassandra found herself engrossed in her work. The clinic was bustling with patients, their ailments varying from the common cold to chronic conditions that required long-term management. Cassandra moved from one examination room to another, offering her expertise and compassionate care.As the day wore on, Cassandra's last appointment arrived—a young man named Ethan, a regular patient who had sought treatment for a knee injury. Ethan was undeniably charming, with his warm smile and confident demeanor.Cassandra led Ethan into the examination room, where she prepared to evaluate his progress. As she inspected his knee, they engaged in light conversation, discussing his recovery and the exercises he had been performing diligently. The friendly banter between them created a comfortable atmosphere, setting the stage for what was to come.As Cassandra continued her examination, she noticed Ethan's gaze lingering on her a little longer than usual. A subtl
Elaine slowly blinked her eyes open, the hazy fog of sleep dissipating as consciousness seeped in. For a moment, she lay still, her mind struggling to piece together the fragments of the previous night. Her head throbbed slightly,As her surroundings came into focus, she quickly realized she was not in her own bedroom. The walls were adorned with unfamiliar artwork, Confusion mingled with a touch of panic as Elaine attempted to make sense of her situation.She raised her head to see Richard starting back at her. Elaine blinked her eyes thinking it was a dream but he was still there staring back at her with folded arms leaning on his shirtless body.The realization hit Elaine like a sudden gust of wind, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment. A wave of regret washed over her as she remembered the events leading up to this moment. The emotional distance that had grown between her and Richard had fueled her decision to step out of her comfort zone, seeking solace in the arms of a
Cassandra finished work early when she heard that Elaine was at her home, it was unusual for her to be there in the afternoon and she immediately knew something was wrong.“How long have you been waiting?” She asked.“About an hour, did I disturb your work?” Elaine questioned, it must have been hard for her to leave work and come see her.“No, luckily my last client bailed on me so I am totally free for the day” she answered.“Can I get you a cup of coffee or something”“Where did you leave me to last night, I woke up and you were not there with me” Elaine’s outburst startled her that she squeezed her lips in shame.“I am so sorry my friend, after you passed out. I tried to book us a taxi but there was none available. All I could remember was that I was trying to check outside if I could see any but when I woke up, I was in bed with one of my client” Cassandra narrated to her, her ordeal. She could remember rejecting Ethan but how then did she end up in bed with him.“You slept with
Ethan paced back and forth in the waiting area, clutching a vibrant bouquet of flowers. He had spent the better part of the day choosing the perfect arrangement, each bloom carefully selected to convey his appreciation and interest. He had wished to see Cassandra, hoping to take their relationship beyond the professional realm. Little did he know that his carefully crafted plan was about to be met with an unexpected twist.As Cassandra's office door swung open, Ethan stood there with a smile on his face. She emerged, her white lab coat pristine and her demeanor composed. Cassandra was a highly respected physician, known for her strict adherence to professional boundaries. Ethan knew this, yet he couldn't help but hope that she would see the gesture as an opportunity for something more.Approaching her with a hopeful smile, Ethan extended the bouquet towards Cassandra. "These are for you, Cassandra," he said, his voice filled with anticipation."I wanted to show my appreciation for ev
Elaine's heart raced as she stood outside the door of the mansion. She hadn't been there in weeks, not since she had made the difficult decision to take a break from her husband, Richard. The house was bustling with activity. The aroma of her father-in-law's favorite dishes filled the air, and Elaine's stomach churned with a mix of hunger and resentment. She had expected to help prepare the memorial feast,But as she surveyed the kitchen, she saw that Richard had taken charge of the meal preparation himself.Her anger flared up like an uncontrollable flame. She had taken this break to create some space between them, to allow them both to breathe and reconsider their choices. Yet Richard seemed to be moving forward without her, as if her absence didn't matter. It felt like a slap in the face, a confirmation that he could do without her, both in the kitchen and in his life.Suppressing her emotions, Elaine took a deep breath and approached Richard. "Do you need any help?" she asked, str
The next morning,Richard woke up to the sound of plates from the dinning room, he could tell Elaine was making breakfast as she always did. It was a habit of hers to make breakfast even though she knew that he wouldn't eat and might ignore her.He took a shower and then stepped out of the room.Once she saw him, she smiled.“I made breakfast for us” she said gesturing for him to join her.Richard stood there with his hand in his pockets and she began to think if he was really going to join her or if her efforts will go to waste just like other mornings in their marriage.“When did you wake up?” he asked instead not moving an inch.“Past 5” she answered.He took a good look at his watch and realized that she was up two hours ago making breakfast.With slow movement, he made his way to his seat where he sat down staring at the food in front of him.“Is there a feast?” he asked.“No, I was just trying new recipes” she replied.He picked up his spoon and began eating with no more questio
Boxes were being taken out of a truck into a new apartment, Elaine and Cassandra stood there watching the men carry the boxes into the house.“Are you sure you can stay here alone, I don’t mind moving in with you?” Cassandra said with concern. The two days she stayed in her house, Cassandra was certain that she wasn’t okay and it had something to do with Richard.It was unusual for her to get drunk in the morning and she has caught her crying in a room alone. She was worried for her and has tried to find out what happened but Elaine wouldn’t utter a word.“I am okay Cass, I just need to be alone to be able to think” she answered but her mind wavered to how Richard was doing, she could bet he was doing okay without her and it hurt her to think about it.“Does this have to do with Richard?” Cassandra asked thinking add would spill the beans to her.“Cass, remember when I said I wanted to leave a life of my own, this is me taking a step forward towards that. I want to live for me now, I