And Somehow The Cancer returned

 Inside a dim sapphire lit, air-conditioned office. In the light as the doctor wanted Ben to be more comfortable for the result of the check-up. After all, today was his birthday. Not the best sweet 17 to have.

 "Your cancer is back." Said in the familiar low pitch crow shaped nose doctor to Ben, with his baggy eyes evident of no sleep, gave out a faint smile with his eyes looking away from the doctor.

 Just a routine check-up, just expecting the usual- 'your body is improving, the chemotherapy did its job well, your cancer is dead.' No, it came back. It wouldn't leave him. He had gone through burns, pain and discomfort from treatment, shaving his head bald, inflating payments from his shallow pocket parents.

 His parents, his sister, oh what would he tell them? They were already celebrating him defeating cancer, funds took a big reduction but they were happy it was over, he had friends who already posted him in memes of him defeating cancer…

 The doctor was calling him. He focused on his shining head- he gave a little giggle at their similarity.

 "Ben, it's like we have take a few tests to make sure we know what is going on, it's not looking… Ben, I can't lie to you but it's not looking… You know-"

 "Chemo can't do anything." Ben assisted, his focus on the long tie of the doctor. It had smiley faces plastered all of it, he tried counting how many there were. 

 A sharp pain pierced from inside. Very convenient, he thought. The doctor was saying something again, he focused.

 "But there are new treatments that should work. I can ring a friend for one of them. If you can make half payment, I can plead with…" Ben zoned out again from the mention of payment, he was tired of treatment. He was still in pain, although mild. As of when tsge cancer first appeared, it was pain. Everything was painful, to breathe, to sleep, to chew, move, use the toilet. Pain medication dosage increased constantly till they felt they couldn't safely go any higher.

 He hated himself, every minute was a wish of death to claim him. His mind spiraled, his family and friends turned it back to normal. Each day his friends would find ways to visit him, staying with him, making the dumbest of jokes, playing video games- he tried to join but his condition at that time couldn't let him enjoy so he became a spectator.

 It was fun, with the bashing insults and him having the same excuse- 'If I didn't have cancer, I would have come to wipe all of you.' The line had initial bad reception, but later grew on them to be a nice and annoying one liners. 

 His family would be also vital, coming from work to check on him, his sister to only his knowledge would skip school, or come back early to be with him, sharing gists of her friends and boyfriend called Owens, who she wanted to break up with for reasons she never explained. All those things really stopped him from doing something to himself.

 The doctor was saying something, again. He hated not paying attention to what someone was saying, he felt pinge of guilt in his already painful heart.

 "So, how do we go about this?" The doctor asked, his hand now holding a human skull shaped glass cup. Taking sips from whatever steamy drink is in it while maintaining eye contact with him.

 "You are going to die a painful death, yiu really want to waste your parents money on your selfishness." The doctor's low pitch voice turned into legions of child-like voices, his eyes glowing red with giant wings now appearing from behind.

 "Just die." The doctor jumped on him. Hands grabbing his neck, and squeezing. Ben gasped as he was taken to the ground.

 Ben awoke, his eyes widened at the doctor who was staring at him with concerned eyes. It was a dream, of course, although he didn't remember when he slept off. 

 "You dozed off when I mentioned the payment for the new treatment. Listen, there is a loan thiing I can help with…"

 No, he couldn't take another moment of treatment, the pain, the drugs that his body had gotten used to, he didn't want to experience it again, he couldn't. To once again, let that experience repeat itself was a big no from Ben, He was feeling sleepy, his eyes heavy. But the pain still pulsated, looks like more sleeping pills to be used.

 He gave a small chuckle, he didn't like not listening to the doctor. He was trying to help in his own way, Ben just didn't want it, plus to make his parents burn through more limited cash for something that most likely wouldn't go. That wouldn't be nice, additionally the headache they would face, the arguments on him… it would be hard to help, why was he doing this to them… He wasn't ignorant, critically thinking that was what they would think of him, a burden.

 Strips of tears rushed out of his eyes, images of his friends and families shouting at him manifested in his head. His heart rushed in pace, pain increasing. He calmed himself down, forcing the images out. On the outside, he was just looking away, static.

 "You raise another 'fund for me' campaign, local charities, so much more if you're scared of the financial impact. Because this one will be steeper. But, we can get through this together again, round two would still be a knockout win for you."

 The doctor's words didn't enter Ben, he had his mind set on not receiving anything, he hated this situation. Why him, why did it come back? Why him? Why today? He had an obvious birthday surprise waiting for him at home, why did he come for a check-up? Why did he wake up today if this was bound to happen? He could have passed away in his sleep.

 The last charity that done for him wasn't enough to pay everything as they didn't really get a lot of people to pay in the first place, but enough to reduce the amount his parents would pay, plus with help from friends and other families. It didn't help insurance was non-responsive.

 The doctor wasn't saying something, just staring at him. Sadness obvious, Ben was used to it, he didn't like it though. It pained him, those sad looks people poured at him.

 "Can you not tell my parents about this, look, even you tell them… I can't go through another treatment, I just can't. I will still tell them myself but it will take time, I don't want treatment. Today is my birthday, tomorrow is my sister's. Can I like enjoy these things, give me a week. Before you drop the bomb." Ben pleaded, his whole attention on the doctor, who nodded. 

 That was it, a goodbye handshake and the doctor gave him a small cake. He accepted it, and walked out.

 That afternoon, he managed to hold pain while taking pain medication. He was already used to it to the point he could inject himself safely. He had gotten used to it. His body felt worse though, it was heavier. Must have been sleep.

 He entered his house, it was pitch black, pretending to be ignorant. A predicted jumpscare surprise arised when he switches on the lights. Guilt manifesting in him along with numb pain as a gaint banner that his famiyamd friends had was 'Ben 1 : Cancer 0' with a 'Happy Birthday' song offkey sang while they paraded with a medium sized birthday cake with his name on it.

 His heart pumped in pain, he felt sleepier. He still forced himself to do the celebration with them, he couldn't spoil their joy.

 Hugged and joked with everyone there, took pictures of different sorts. He was serious about it, he took as many as possible. His friends went home sadly as it was getting late. Just his parents and sister who were in a joyful mood, of course they were.

 They played games, movies, more photos, he appreciated everything. He had to. He slept in pain, but with joy.

 The next day, he felt like shit. Body was spasming in pain with him coughing dry, and vision a bit blurry. Especially because he woke up earlier than usual, he stood himself up and wobbled to knock on the door and greet his sister happy birthday. He heard a guy's voice inside just a brief second before his sister said that she's busy. It was a terrible lie in a terribly abnormal voice.

 The door opened, and out ran his sister past him screaming. An angry man ran out after, it was Owens.

 Ben was confused, shocked and scared. He grabbed a hold of Owens out of reflex who smacked him down to the ground, Ben still held onto the body. Shivering in pain from impact as his sister's scream continued. He felt like puking, but held it.

 Owen started screaming. "Why do you want to break up?" Over and over he dragged a still clingy and in pain Ben, who was hissing in pain.

 Owen would pull a gun and point it at Ben, telling Ben to let him go. Ben, who had no idea what was still going on. Don't know why, still clinged to Owen's legs. Jis parents would come out and gun would be pointed at them. Ben didn't care about understanding the situation anymore, he had to do something.

 He leaped at the gun, instantly turning the gun away as it fired at the ceiling. His parents tackled Owens to the ground the gun fired. Ben felt a pain through his stomach and he cried out. 

 He would puke blood on Owens, who was struggling with his parents' grip on him, everything was blurry and painful. He saw his sister rush to him, it was blurry. He felt more sleepy than pain. His sister and parents were screaming something, he just wanted to take a nap. 

 His eyes closed for last time in this world.