Ever After

Chapter 24



The Truth about the pain



William was over one crisp fall afternoon helping me plan the Halloween party we were to have here at my house in a few weeks. The school year started again as well. It was our junior year. Will and I were looking over decorations and I passed out from the pain inside my head, right into his arms; we went to see Doc that afternoon.

Doc was quick to order a battery of tests and by that evening, we learned what I had feared. I had an inoperable brain tumor. The tests after Todd’s attack when I was in the hospital somehow did not pick up on it. Doc explained it was growing at such a fast rate that at that time it might have been too small to detect.

I of course, had to explain how much pain I had been in and that I had been hiding it. I was supposed to have gone to Doctor Mott for a follow-up months ago and I didn’t, so I was facing this now. Doc called my father to his office, we all had a major discussion on my medical future, and it was not good. My father wanted the best specialists, mid eastern medicine, anything that might heal me. Doc had no good news; it was indeed terminal. Will was frozen in shock as I was. He looked over to me and I nodded. We both knew as we looked over to Doc what would have to happen to keep us together and to keep me alive.

Doc exhaled loudly tapping his pen on his cherry wood desk. My father was oblivious to what we were all doing, looking at each other as he read a homeopathic medical pamphlet. Doc looked straight at William for a long time. I knew they could hear each other’s thoughts as many vampires could. Will squeezed my hand and nodded once to Doc; he then leaned over and kissed my cheek tenderly.

“Worry not, all will be well. This will not separate us. I promise you.” Will whispered in my ear. I smiled knowingly as they had decided to save me, and I would not have to suffer a painful human death. Will wrapped his arms protectively around me. I tucked my head up under his neck; this was where I was happiest, and this was where nothing could touch me.

The next couple of weeks were very difficult for William and me; many choices had to be made. I was feeling worse each day since my visit to Doc. I felt weaker and my headaches were more intense. Doc was quick to mention a clinic in upstate New York to my father, I had never heard of it before. I knew Doc had many connections, so it clearly had to be a good place.

This was a special place Doc told my dad, where they might be able to help me. This was just a cover. Should I become near death, Will explained to me later, Doc would tell my dad I was going there for treatment. I would really be at Doc’s home and he would oversee my change to become like them.

I knew it would be hard to do this, to leave my family, especially my dad. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I also didn’t want to die either. This was going to be the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, but I had no choice now. Things were getting serious, and if I didn’t do something, I would lose all the people I love.

Doc was extremely diligent in my care; he made sure I had everything I needed to be comfortable. I had the best pain medicine and numerous other medicines to keep me relaxed. My dad was inconsolable; he spent all his free time looking for new cures for brain tumors. I hated to see him so frustrated and heartbroken. He spent most of his time with me, when he didn’t have to be at work. I was spending my time trying to reassure myself that joining William’s world was not going to totally freak me out.

I knew I really had no choice, my body was failing me, and my time was running out. I would lose William and all I knew. My body was betraying me. I had just found my soul mate, the love of my life and now I was facing certain death. I had very few options, it was hard not to panic when I stopped and thought about everything.

William rarely left my side. He stayed with me nearly all the time; of course, he made it look like he went home to my parents anyway. I was thankful he didn’t leave. I was scared to go to sleep without him there. If something should go wrong, I didn’t want to die or get close to it without him there or I would miss my chance to change.

Doc warned that if I became too weak, I might not survive the process to become a vampire. I had to be monitored very closely now. William held me in his arms while I slept. He watched every breath. I had some nights worse than others. He did his best to ease the pain of my body slowly getting weaker. I started having blurry vision and blackout spells more often. I was having trouble eating, the high-powered pain meds made my stomach hurt. I was sleeping much more than I wanted to. I had a hard time even getting out of bed, but Will was at my side for it all.

This was enough drama for all of us, but we had more to handle. Vincent was threatening to come back for William now to top it all off. Doc had sat me and Will down one bitterly cold afternoon and warned us. I held Will’s hand as Doc told us the chances of him coming back here were very good.

William’s cousins were watching out for him as well as the other coven members. Doc wanted to avoid any run-in with him. He wanted to speak to Vincent himself. I could not handle all this now, my body was too weak, and I was just too tired. I had to let William and Doc handle it.