CHAPTER 44

A week later, after being discharged from the hospital, Ava returned home with her newborns. Her parents had to leave but promised to return soon. The weight of their departure was tempered by Ava's decision to postpone her cancer treatment. She confided in Dr. Drake about her plan to begin treatment the following month.

"Ms. Jones, the babies are healthy now. Why do you wish to wait another month to start your treatment?" Dr. Drake asked, his voice tinged with concern. He was well aware that delaying treatment could significantly diminish her chances of survival.

"Doctor, I understand your concern, but once I begin treatment, I won't be able to nurse or spend time with them. I need at least a month to bond with my children, to hold them, and to find solace in their presence. Even if something happens to me, this time will be precious," Ava explained, her gaze lingering on her sleeping sons in the cradle. They were still so tiny, their breaths soft and rhythmic.

Her heart brimmed with a fierce determination to fight for her children. The thought of starting treatment while they were so young was daunting, but she wanted to savor every moment of their infancy. Sitting beside her sleeping boys, Ava's worries seemed to melt away as she watched them peacefully. Alexander bore a resemblance to both her and Xavier; his nose and lips were similar to Xavier's, yet his eyes were unmistakably hers. Lucas, with his blue doe eyes, looked more like Xavier, his gaze inquisitive as he sought to understand the world around him. Ava's chestnut-brown eyes sparkled with a mixture of exhaustion and love as she gazed at her sons.

One evening, Lucas began to cry, his tiny body wriggling in his cradle. Ava sighed deeply, lifting him with tender care. Settling onto the bed, she began to nurse him. As he drank from her, she spoke softly to him, her voice a gentle murmur.

"After carrying you for nine months, you come out looking just like him. That hardly seems fair," she said, her tone a mix of affection and playful annoyance. Lucas, however, was oblivious to her words, focused solely on satisfying his hunger.

Once Lucas had finished feeding, Ava placed him on her shoulder, patting him gently to coax him to sleep. Despite her efforts, he remained restless, clutching at her dress and peering up at her with his striking blue eyes, trying to discern if she was truly his mother.

"Definitely the troublesome one," she whispered with a sigh. "Don't trouble Mommy, Lucas. Please, just go to sleep." Her soft humming eventually calmed him, and he fell into a peaceful slumber.

As the days progressed and the month drew to a close, Ava prepared for the beginning of her chemotherapy. She found herself in a hair salon, where the stylist worked meticulously on her long hair. After the stylist finished, Ava was pleased with the result.

"Ma'am, you look absolutely beautiful. May I take a picture of your hair?" the stylist asked.

Ava smiled and agreed, asking the stylist to send the photo to her. She then made a difficult request. "After taking the picture, please cut my hair short and style it. I want to see how I look."

The stylist, taken aback by the request, hesitated but complied. After the transformation, Ava looked at her reflection. Her hair now fell in a chic, short style that rested just on her shoulders. She appeared pretty, despite the underlying reason for the change.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, ma'am?" the stylist inquired.

Ava closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her resolve, before opening them to face her reflection once more. "Shave everything," she whispered.

The stylist's eyes filled with sympathy as she began shaving Ava's head. Ava's voice was steady and resigned as she spoke. "Don't look at me like that. I'm a cancer patient, so it's better to shave it off now rather than later." The stylist, moved by her quiet bravery, completed the task with care.

With her head now shaved, Ava was prepared to face the grueling reality of chemotherapy. Six months later, after enduring the trials of treatment and a subsequent surgery to remove a lobe of her lung, Ava was met with a new chapter in her journey.

Dr. Drake approached her with a mixture of relief and optimism. "Congratulations, Ava. You are officially cured. There is a vaccine you need to take care of after one month, and then you will be perfectly healthy. However, please remember to avoid overexerting yourself physically and to take good care of your health moving forward."

His words, delivered with a reassuring tone, marked a triumphant end to a long and arduous battle. Ava's family gathered around her, their faces reflecting a deep well of relief and pride. The road ahead was still fraught with challenges, but for now, the victory was a testament to her strength and resilience.

Three years had passed, almost unnoticed, and life had changed significantly for Ava. Her twin sons, Alexander and Lucas, were now two and a half years old, lively and full of energy. Time had added a certain grace to her; she had turned 27 just last month. Despite the physical toll her past battles had taken on her—leaving her slender and frail—Ava remained undeniably beautiful. Her short hair framed her delicate features, giving her an ethereal quality, as if her strength radiated from within.

The boys, mischievous as ever, filled Ava's life with both joy and exhaustion. Every evening when she returned home from work, they would bolt from Greta's arms and run to her, wrapping their tiny arms around her legs in excitement. Though they were still short for their age, they seemed to tower in her heart. Their boundless energy kept her on her toes, and after a long day, she would refresh herself and settle them both on the couch, finally getting a moment to breathe.

She smiled as they sipped on their favorite treat—sweet tea—a habit they had inherited from their father. It seemed like a small but potent reminder of the man whose presence lingered, even in his absence. Their baby teeth had already come in, and while they were starting to speak, most of what came out was a jumble of gibberish. Yet, amidst the nonsensical chatter, they had managed to master a few essential words: "Mama" and "Dada." Though they couldn't yet comprehend the meaning behind "Dada," it always left a pang in Ava's heart.