as there for the procedure, but I wasn't alone. David showed up,

s I filled out the paperwork. "Why didn't you w

, his touch sending a jolt of revulsi

le it, Davi

a conspiratorial whisper. "Is that what this is about?

st laughable. He was trying to frame my decision as an e

ith you," I said, my voic

He was tall, with a calm demeanor and

too

ay." He glanced at David, who was hovering possessively.

word "friend" told me everythin

firmly. "He'l

he rearranged his features back into a pained, underst

s eyes held a question. "Your file mentions the tumor diagnosis. This is a difficult time, and you're m

n offer of help, was a lifeline

t," I said, and t

or the procedure, I locked myself in a b

eerful, teenage voice was the m

o something for me. It's a littl

. Any

to your friend Mark's house. Tell his parents it's for a school project or something.

. "Uh, okay. Is e

promise tasting like metal in my mouth

you to

ing over me. One piece of the future was

ing impatient. He saw me and his face s

over, you can focus on what's important-getting me better. Then we can

talking about a future with me while actively plann

cold, hard reality of my situation, using it as a shield. When I was in the recovery room, grogg

one," I

king up. "You just rest. I'

dropping to a low murmur. But the room was

e I'll take you to Tiffany's tomorrow, we can get the

y from my abortion, while I was lying here, bleeding and in

ht of it all hit me at once. A wave of dizzi

pered, but my v

one, laughing softly a

tried aga

I heard before I passed out was his voice, promising