So Much to Live For

Free So Much to Live For by Lurlene McDaniel

Book: So Much to Live For by Lurlene McDaniel Read Free Book Online
Authors: Lurlene McDaniel
into the washroom.
    Dawn knew she was talking about the pediatric oncology floor at the hospital. “No offense,” Dawn said. “But I’ve seen all I want to see of that place.”
I almost died there,
she thought.
    Katie nibbled on a nut embedded in her butter pecan cone. “Joan Clark tells me that you were a fabulous CIT. The staff and the kids really liked you.”
    Dawn was pleased by the compliment. “They were a pretty nice bunch. I had a good time.”
    “Think you’ll do it again next year?”
    Dawn hesitated to say yes. She was having such a wonderful time being a normal, regular, ordinary, typical fifteen-year-old girl that she hated to be reminded about her leukemia. Except for her clinic visits and blood work, parts of the past seemed only like a bad dream.
    “I’m not sure,” she told Katie. “I think I’d like to try working full-time next summer.”
    “Too bad,” Katie answered. “You’re a real inspiration to some child going through it.”
    Dawn wanted to tell her that it was hard being an inspiration. But Rhonda interrupted just then. “Good grief,” she cried. “Look! A whole busload of senior citizens is coming straight toward us.”
    “We better get busy,” Dawn told Katie with a bright smile.
    “Well, come and see me at work sometime,” she called, taking Rob’s hand as he came up beside her.
    “I will,” Dawn said, knowing deep down that she wouldn’t willingly go up to the oncology floor ever again.

    * * * *

    The next Friday night. Dawn was sitting in the living room watching TV with her parents when the phone rang.
    “I’ll get it.” She hurried to the kitchen phone for privacy.
    “May I speak to Dawn, please?” The girl’s voice on the other end of the receiver sounded quivery and familiar.
    “This is Dawn. Who’s this?”
    “It–it’s me—Marlee Hodges.”
    For no reason, Dawn’s heart skipped a beat. “Hi. How are you? Is everything all right?”
    “No.” Marlee’s voice wavered.
    Dawn clutched the receiver so tightly that her fingers hurt. “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m back in the hospital, and I’m scared. Please, come see me, Dawn. Please.”

Thirteen
    D AWN watched the elevator doors slide open. Beyond them lay the brightly lit corridors of the pediatric oncology floor. The walls were painted a sunny yellow and decorated with life-size drawings of cartoon characters. A nurses’ station formed a hub in the center of the floor and hallways stretched in three different directions. Down one wing, infants and children under age six were treated. Down another, older children and teens roomed. And down the third was the critical care unit. Dawn remembered with a shudder the weeks she’d spent in isolation down that particular corridor.
    She passed the activity room and paused at the doorway. Intense Saturday morning sunlight streamed through the wall of windows. Memories of the time she’d spent doing craft projects with Sandy swirled through her mind. Sandy had fashioned a necklace of popcorn and sprinkled it with glitter. Dawn had decorated a drawing of a teddy bear with popped kernels to make it look furry. A popcorn war had broken out, with popcorn flying everywhere. And they had laughed and laughed. Dawn could almost hear their laughter still.
    With a sigh, she shoved herself away from the doorway. She was here to visit Marlee, not old memories. The girl had sounded so frightened on the phone the night before. Dawn passed the nurses’ station. Katie wasn’t on duty today, and Dawn didn’t recognize any of the other faces.
    Everything changes
, she reminded herself. Dawn found Marlee’s room, squared her shoulders and pushed open the door.
    Marlee was in bed watching TV. The room was private, spacious, and sunny. A mauve fabric sofa, chair, and small table in one area made it seem more like a hotel suite than a hospital room. The metal IV stand beside Marlee’s bed was the only thing that made the room look like a hospital room.
    “Good

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