Chapter 1: Little tactic
1770 Words
Kate’s pov
“Seems like you have cancer, Mrs Callas.” the doctor said, and I nodded.
I noticed the symptoms but none of this makes no sense.
Maxim and I exercise every day since he is health conscious, and we have also been trying to have a child.
So how on earth did I get cancer?
And why now of all times?
We have plans to go to Europe because he needs to go there and expand his family business.
Why now?
Such terrible timing of all things.
“You will need to go through chemotherapy, and then surgery once the tumour has shrunk. But since we caught it in the early stages we will be able to get ahead of this.” the doctor said sounding really confident.
I nodded and got up, “I will be back with my husband, then we can start chemo, and everything needed.”
He nodded, and I walked out.
I have cancer.
I am only 24 years old so how on earth can I have cancer?
Maxim and I have so many plans for the future.
We have so much to look forward In life that it doesn’t make sense that I have cancer.
As I was passing by my eyes landed on a girl, she was about my age.
She obviously has cancer and chemotherapy seems to be giving her a hard time.
She was wearing a hat, but you could see that she had no hair at all.
Her face was pale and almost lifeless, her eyes landed on mine.
She had green eyes just like mine, I couldn’t help myself so I walked in and sat next to her.
“Hi, my name is Kate.” I said, and she smiled at me.
“My name is Grace. Nice to meet you, Kate. What brings you to my humble abode?” she asked.
“I don’t know, I just couldn’t bring myself to pass you by.” I said, and she smiled.
“You have it too, don’t you? I know that look and also this little tactic.” she said, and I looked at her confused.
Little tactic?
“You don’t want to go home yet.” she explained.
“When I was first diagnosed, I was also like this. But it wasn’t because I had cancer, but because what am I going to tell everyone? How will I tell the people in my life what is happening?” she said.
That’s exactly what is going on in my mind right now.
“Trust me little girl, everyone in this room has gone through what you did.” an older woman in a bed next to hers said.
“Well except for me, I don’t have any family left, so it's just me.” a girl probably a few years older than us said.
“Who will you tell first?” the girl Grace said, and I thought about it.
My parents have had it rough in life, after dad was told that he could never walk again. Maxim was going to pay for his medical bills, but the surgery he had been hoping for since I was 16 years old wasn’t the solution. He spent 7 years of his life dreaming that he would one day walk again, and that hope was snatched away from him.
As for my older sister, she just lost her husband and David my brother has his own problems.
There is only one person I can think of at this moment, one person whose arms I want to comfort me.
“My husband, I am going to tell my husband.” I said with a smile.
“Look at you, you were just told you have cancer, but you still smile when you think of your husband. He must be quiet the man.” the old woman said making me blush.
“He is, he is like a coconut. Hard on the outside but very soft on the inside, he is my pillar and I know that he can help me through this.” I said with confidence.
“Then tell him, we will all wait here to see this husband of yours.” Grace said.
I nodded and got up, I said goodbye to everyone and went straight to my car and drove home.
The Callas mansion, I have lived here for almost 2 years, but it still doesn’t feel like home.
Well, when Maxim is not around it doesn’t feel like home at all. But when he is there it feels like a home, and I understand them when they say that home is a person.
Maxim is that he is my person and my home, and I really just want him to comfort me right now.
“You have been out for forever. Did you have anything important to do?” my mother-in-law asked me.
“Not really. Did you have a great day mother? How was the party you attended?” I asked her, and she just shrugged.
“It was okay. Next time I will be sure to bring you along.” she said.
“But I will have to buy you decent clothes.” she added which I half expected and saw coming.
I got to my room and started practicing.
So quick question?
How do you tell your husband that you have cancer?
No matter how many times I practiced everything just didn’t sound right.
I eventually got tired and took out our photo albums. Photos of when we went on dates, photos of when we got engaged, and also when we got married.
Who knew, huh? That guy at the corner reading a book would become the love of my life.
That the same person I had no interest in going on a date with is the same person who I would want to spend whatever time I have left in this world with.
The bedroom door opened, and he came in, with age he became even more handsome.
He seemed tired, I went and took his jacket and bag. “You seem tired, I will run you a hot bath. I am sorry I couldn’t cook for you today, I had somewhere to go. But I asked the chef to make you something, I will tell them to bring it up after you are done showering.”
I turned around to look at him, he was sitting down on the couch and had this look on his face. It’s the look he usually has at times when I am beating him at chess like always.
“Did something happen at work? You can have a glass of whiskey just to get rid of the tiredness. I know we are trying to have a baby, but I can make this exception.” I said pouring him a glass of whiskey.
Plus, maybe once he has had something a little strong it will be easier to tell him that I have cancer.
I gave him and he took it, why was he avoiding eye contact?
He always said that he liked my green eyes, and every time he always looked at me in the eyes.
“You are seriously scaring me what is wrong?” I asked him and he sighed and looked at me.
What? I am the one who is about to tell him that I have cancer. So, what else could he want to say that’s weighing on him so heavily? What news could be more devastating than cancer?
He took out a few documents from his bag and took a sip of his whiskey before throwing them on the table.
“Let’s get a divorce.” he said, and I froze. What did he just say?
Did he say divorce?
“What do you mean let us get a divorce?” I asked him and he sighed.
“You are smarter than this Kate, it means exactly what I said. I want a divorce.” he said and then got up and went to the bathroom.
I looked at the divorce papers. He is offering me a few apartments and a beach house along with annual alimony for the rest of my life.
Which might be a short life, maybe this is a sign from the universe that I was being selfish. I wanted to burden him with my problems and the universe helped him get out.
I took a pen that was on the table, I signed on the dotted line where my name was.
I guess this is something that I must go through alone, isn’t it?
So much for a shoulder to cry on.
I took out a bag and looked around the closet, designer clothes and bags.
Expensive jewellery and shoes, none of these things are mine. I looked around the room and there was nothing that was mine except my phone, laptop, and diary. Not even the book that’s on my side of the bed or what was on my side of the bed is mine.
I guess it's just these three items, the bathroom door opened, and he looked at me.
I am so used to him looking at me with so much love that him looking at me like that suddenly makes me feel like a stranger. But I will not cry.
I can't cry, maybe this is for the best.
After all, I might die, it would be cruel to hope that he still loves me even if I might die.
“I signed the papers.” I said, and he looked at them.
“I don’t need the property or the money, but thank you.” I said, and he didn’t reply.
I forgot how cold he can be.
I walked closer to him and tried not to cry, but my stupid eyes betrayed me. A few tears fell, and he was taller than me, so I had to tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
I am pathetic, aren’t I?
I took the bag with a few of my things and took off my wedding ring.
“You aren’t going to ask me why? You are just going to walk off?” he asked me.
I didn’t turn around, “would it change your decision? Divorce is a big deal. I am sure you thought about it and made up your mind. I have known you for 3 years, and you don’t change your mind no matter what. So, what’s the point?” I asked before walking away.
What would be the point of asking questions now?
What Is done is done.
- Writer
