chapter two

Nicholas's pov:

I went for a 2 mile run before I got ready to go to the doctor. After showering and throwing on clothes. Cancer has really taken a toll on my life. I get tired easily, My boss makes me work shorter hours, I can't drink. I've been trying to stay calm for my mother but in reality, I'm freaking out. I'm all she has left. The doctors told me that I need to start with chemo right away. They also said that even if I take chemo, there is a 50-50% chance I'll make it. As I make my way to the doctors, I started thinking about death and I realized that part of me was already accepting that. Pulling up to the doctor's office, I push the thoughts to the back of my head. I don't need this right now. I walk into the office and check-in. I sit in a seat and wait for my name to be called. After 10 minutes, I hear my name called. I get up and follow the nurse. She takes my weight and height before taking me to exam room two. She checks my vitals and my temperature. Then she says the doctor will be with me in a minute. I nod and I lay back on the table and just like that I'm in my thoughts again. After 5 minutes (or at least I think so), I hear a knock on the door. "Come in," I say. The doctor opens the door. I look up and standing in front of me is the person I thought I'd never see again. I can tell she's shocked. She keeps opening and closing her mouth. She looks different from when I last saw her. "Gin-,"I start to say, but she cuts me off. "It's either Virginia or Dr.Winters. Please Nicholas I can't go down that road again. Plus I'm your new doctor and I keep everything work-related strictly professional," she says. As she says this, she is looking away but you can see that her eyes had tears in them. She quickly grabs a tissue and wipes the tears. "Virginia," I wince as I say her full name. "I understand why you're mad at me but it was something I had to do. Why else would I risk losing my best friend?" I ask. "I don't know Nicholas. You never told me why you joined the military and why it was something you had to do. You could always talk to me and you know that. We never kept secrets until that point. You knew why I didn't want you to go, but you just did it anyway and without a goodbye or a note. I waited for months to hear something from you, but I didn't get anything," she says now sobbing quietly. She was right, I had known why she didn't want me to join. That reason was that she didn't want to lose me like she lost her dad. But I joined. I joined for 3 reasons. One being I was scared because I realized I was in love with my best friend. Two being I felt like I should honor both of our fathers, I wanted them to be proud. Three being my mother's boyfriend was a drunk, and I hated him. I could tell her the last two but the first one was something I keep to myself because I still love her. I fought in the army for 8 years and I have the same feelings, maybe even more for her. "Okay, I'll tell you why I left," I say, sighing. "I left because one I felt like I should honor both of our fathers, I wanted them to be proud. Two my mother's boyfriend was a drunk, and I hated him, snd the third reason I can't tell you," I say. She looks up. "Why?" She asks. "because you'll hate me and I just want my best friend back." I say. She nods and turns away. "Let's get this over with first. Then we can talk but out of here. Like I said I don't keep everything work-related strictly professional," She says. I nod.