The Choice They Never Asked For

The morning light peeked through the curtains, gentle but cold.

Aera blinked her eyes open, and her mom's soft voice was already there, sitting at the edge of the bed.

Her mom stroked her forehead,

"You can sleep a little longer. You're not going to school today."

Aera blinked,

"Why?"

"Hospital. You've got an appointment."

Aera didn't protest.

She just nodded, rolled over for a second, then slowly got up and reached for her phone.

Message to Lia,

"Won't be coming today. Just a small fever :)"

The smiley face felt like a lie, but she sent it anyway.

----

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and something sterile… too clean to feel real.

They walked into the familiar room. A nurse greeted them, asked Aera to sit down, and began the usual routine, vitals, blood test, and a small dose of her medication via IV. Her treatment wasn't full blown chemo not yet. It was a targeted therapy, the kind that bought time. Soft pills. Strong side effects.

Her mom watched quietly. Aera stared at the ceiling like it was a sky she'd never fly under.

The doctor walked in, all polite smiles.

Doctor cheerfully,

"Aera, you're done for now. Why don't you wait outside? I need to talk to your parents about a few lifestyle changes."

Aera didn't say anything.

She just nodded, stood up, and walked to the waiting area… but she knew.

She knew it wasn't really about "lifestyle changes."

It was a script, one she'd heard before. A fake reason to talk privately.

They didn't want her to hear things like,

"We don't know how much time she has."

"It's progressing."

"Make her comfortable."

Aera sat in the hallway, hands in her lap.

The hallway was quiet except for the soft buzz of the air conditioner and someone coughing down the corridor.

She looked down at her fingers, flexed them once, then whispered to herself:

Aera softly,

"Days are numbers now, huh... like math homework I can't skip."

She rested her head back against the wall, eyes open, mind spinning.

She didn't cry.

Not here.

She'd save that for later… maybe.

Or maybe she wouldn't cry at all.

Inside, the doctor's smile faded the moment she was gone. He turned to Aera's mother and father, his voice more grounded now, professional but with that heavy undertone of truth.

Doctor sighing as he glances at the reports,

"I'll be honest with you. The current treatment is only holding things at bay. It's like pressing pause… not stop."

Her mother's hand instinctively clutched her dress, eyes locked on the doctor's every word. Her father stayed still, arms crossed tightly, his face unreadable.

Doctor gently,

"She's strong, and that helps. But the tumor is growing in a delicate spot. If it spreads further, symptoms will worsen. More headaches, fatigue, confusion… You'll notice them soon if we keep to this line of therapy."

Her mother's throat tightened.

Her mom barely above a whisper,

"So there's… no better option?"

The doctor nodded slowly, not no, but not here.

"There is an advanced treatment program overseas. Experimental, yes...but promising. It's expensive and will mean relocating for a while. But if you're asking whether there's a chance... yes, there's a chance."

Her father shifted for the first time, his lips tight. The doctor looked between the two of them.

"I'm not going to give you false hope. But I also won't say it's over. You still have doors open. Whether or not you walk through them… that's your decision."

Meanwhile, Outside the Room

Aera sat with her earbuds in but no music playing. Just static silence.

She stared at a plant in the hallway, dry and half dead.

At least that thing isn't pretending to be fine, she thought.

Just then, the door opened.

Her mother stepped out first, wiping the corner of her eyes before Aera could see. But Aera did see. Her father followed, his face like stone.

Her mom is smiling too wide,

"Let's get something to eat before heading home, hmm?"

Aera with a crooked smile,

"Let me guess... doctor said I should eat more greens, rest well, and not run a marathon?"

Her mom chuckled, but her eyes were red.

"Something like that."

Aera stood up, walked between them.

After her check up, things felt off.

Her mother tried to act normal, smiled too much, talked too little. The silence screamed louder than words.

At that night, Aera was walking past her parents' room after grabbing a glass of water when she heard something from inside.

She paused. The door wasn't fully shut.

Her mom's voice floated through, soft but serious.

Mom:

"We agree to the abroad treatment for her. Don't worry, money is not a thing, as long as she's alive in front of us..."

A beat of silence.

Then her voice dropped a little, quieter.

"I didn't mention it to Aera yet. I need to get her answer first... only then I'll know."

Aera's grip tightened around the glass.

She didn't move. She didn't breathe.

Abroad treatment?

Her chest felt heavy like someone had stacked bricks on it.

She turned and walked back to her room slowly, the glass trembling slightly in her hands.

Inside her mind, thoughts spiraled like wildfire.

Abroad? For treatment? Why didn't they ask me?

Why does everyone keep deciding things around me like I'm already gone?