CRUEL REALITY

3 cm invasive tumor in situ… Stage 3… Metastasis is present…

Kendall’s hands trembled as she read her test result. She swallowed thick lumps of saliva that were about to choke her.

“Wh- what does… this mean, doctor?”

Her voice was trembling and so was her whole body, coupled with her labored breathing. Even though she knew what it meant, she rather lived in denial.

“Miss Kendall,” Doctor Sophia took off her glasses and focused on the patient in front of her.

“You have stage three cervical cancer.” She dropped the heartbreaking news.

“No… I don't… doctor, this is not my result.” Tears rolled down Kendall’s cheeks as she kept on arguing. There was no way that she would accept this result as hers.

She only had pain and heavy bleeding… And a few minor symptoms. She was sure that there was a mix-up somewhere. There had to be.

“I can't have cancer,” Kendall heaved a sigh. It felt like her whole world was crumbling before her and she was too weak to put the smallest pieces together.

“How?” She stuttered. "I'm not married, I don't even have kids." "How can I have cancer?"

“If you will, we can go over some fertility options.” Doctor Sophia used a calm approach. She had seen tons of patients break down before her.

“There's room for in-vitro fertilization before the surgery, but that has to be done as soon as possible because you need immediate intervention…”

Kendall didn't wait for Doctor Sophia to be done before she stormed out of her office in tears. She didn't know where exactly she was going, but she kept running, her vision was clouded by tears.

She flagged down a taxi and heaped herself on the back seat, wiping her eyes and snorting in between.

“Where to?” The driver asked, looking at her through the front mirror, but didn't say a word, not wanting to invade her privacy.

“Anywhere,” Kendall hissed through her gritted teeth. “Just keep moving.”

Without her vague instructions, the driver reared the engine to life and followed her order. All he knew was that she had to tell him to stop at some point, or he would when he eventually got tired.

“Damn it,” Kendall sighed, punching the digits on her phone’s screen. “Pick up.”

‘Alicia’ popped up on the screen when she dialed the phone over and over again. Alicia was her best friend, and right now, Kendall needed all the support that there was.

Still, the call was diverted to voicemail. She wasn't sure if to pop up at her house unannounced or if Alicia would be home. Defeated, she tossed her phone back in her purse and stared out the window as the car kept moving.

This had to be a nightmare. There was no way she was accepting that result. Tomorrow, she will go to another hospital for a proper check-up, and then another, till the result changes. At this point, she would spend the last of her savings.

“Stop!” she exclaimed abruptly, more surprised at her hasty decision.

The driver stepped on the break, bringing the car to a forced halt as the tires screeched. He turned to look at the passenger, to be sure if everything was okay with her.

Unaware of the driver’s worry, Kendall paid him off and headed to the club that was just down the street. It was a place she frequented with Alicia when they were either popping bottles for their wins or doing the bottoms up as their crazy challenge.

Seeing she wanted to put down her sorrows in liquor, the driver shook his head in pity and drove off.

“Twelve shots of whiskey,” Kendall recklessly said to the bartender.

The bartender blinked nonstop, shocked at her order, causing Kendall to slam her hand on the counter.

“What?” Kendall rolled her eyes. “Do as you're told.” She grunted in frustration. She wasn't this spontaneous, well, cancer happened.

“I'm sorry,” the bartender muttered and left to pour her order. Minutes later, she returned with Kendall’s orders.

In return, Kendall slipped over her debit card and pulled the tray of shots to herself. She swiftly took a glass and downed the contents with a gulp.

“Whoa!” She blew hot air and chuckled wryly. The next second, she laughed sporadically and began sobbing.

A bit composed, she sniffled and wiped her cheeks dry. “Mind your business,” she warned the bartender and those who stared before she took another shot.

“Vodka on the rock,” Damien’s cool voice blended smoothly with the background music. “Add her bills to mine.”

“I don't need your pity,” Kendall grunted and looked up at the stranger.

The neo-blue light of the club settled on her face. She gulped the third and the fourth and fifth.

“Easy, damsel,” Damien smirked. “How about we don't call it pity, say I see what I like, and I go for it.” He shrugged.

He was tall and could pass off as the most handsome guy in the room. His piercing amber-green eyes pulled her in their depths, and he had this aura about him that was hard to shake off.

“Damien,” he said, seeing that she was checking him out.

“Your house or mine?” Kendall seized him with her gaze.

“Better yet, I have a room,” he winked.

Damien drank a generous amount from his glass and set it on the counter before leading her to his room.

He trapped her against the wall and claimed her lips in hot passionate kisses. Needing more at once, she wrapped her arms around his neck and anchored herself to his frame.

He struggled to open the door, clutching her to himself as they managed to get into the room and leveled her on the bed before settling on her. Getting their clothes off each other was hectic.

In a smooth rhythm, Damien rode them to  climax and collapsed on her, panting and sweating.

Kendall drifted to sleep beside the stranger.

Her ringing tone made her jolt from the bed as she reached for it. It was Alicia. Damien was still sleeping peacefully.

Shrugging into her dress, she packed the rest of her things, and sneaked out of the room, to her taunting reality.