HASTY DECISION

“How could you?”

Alicia was furious as her voice took over the living room. This had to be a joke.

She ran down to Kendall’s house after seeing the multiple mixed calls only to be given double strikes; Kendall hadn't only slept with a stranger, but she had already called Doctor Sophia, saying that she was ready for the IVF procedure.

“What would I have done?” Kendall wasn't having it. Matter of fact, she was done trying to explain herself.

"Anything..." "Just not messing around." She shrugged.

Kendall hated that she was diagnosed with cancer, and had woken up in bed with a stranger, with the effect of the alcohol wearing off and she felt terrible. Like every other girl, she had the fantasy of a small family and having her babies, not opting for a sperm donor.

“I'm sorry for not being by your side at the time you needed me most,” Alicia apologized.

"You don't have to be." "All that I expect from you, is love, support, and kind words…"

"That's if you are dealing with so much, and you're still on the right track, yes!" Alicia stated clearly. “Not when you're clearly losing it!”

Kendall sighed and just went to the bar. All she did lately was drink and make hasty decisions, one that might ruin her. Just maybe she didn't care anymore. Doctor Sophia had told her she needed thousands of dollars for her surgery, and it was worse because she also wanted an IVF procedure.

Her bank account was literally beeping red, and she had nowhere to turn to. Alicia was almost as jobless as her, as her work barely took care of her needs.

“You’re right, I'm losing it.” Kendall ran the tip of her fingers on the different brands of alcohol. "I doubt you'd understand." "You're not the one diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, of course."

“It's not the end of the world…”

“Oh!” Kendall laughed so loudly that she began to cough from the effect. "What is the end of the world, Alicia?" "Getting smashed like a potato by a huge car?" "Or jumping in the ocean and drowning to death?..."

She shrugged and randomly just pulled out a bottle of liquor, waiting for Alicia to respond, but it was like the cat caught her tongue.

“Because that may be me soon… Anyone of them.” Kendall was being naughty and Alicia knew better than to banter at that point.

"Kendall, everything will be fine." "We can always fix this." Her voice was calm as she tried to encourage Kendall.

“There's no ‘we’ in this, Alicia, I'm sorry, but it's a fact.” She poured herself a glass and began drinking.

“Enough of the drinking,” Alicia tried to snatch the glass from her, but she stopped her with a lifted hand.

“You shouldn't be taking that,” Alicia made another attempt to get the glass from her grip, but Kendall raised it above her head.

"What are you now?" "My mother or doctor?"

“Both,” Alicia didn’t mind. “I'm so sorry that you had to go through that alone,” she mumbled, feeling bad that she didn't respond to any of her calls when her best friend needed her the most.

In her defense, she was attending to clients all day, showing them around, from one property to another. Alicia is a Realtor, and a beginner as well, so she had to put in the extra work to get things done.

“I'm fine, you don't have to bother much,” Kendall lied through her teeth.

“No, you're not,” Alicia wasn't believing her lies. She knew Kendall better than that.

“I'm fine… It's just cancer… It's not the end of the world after all.” Kendall’s tone was laced with so much sarcasm. Unexpectedly, she broke down, crying like a child.

“Oh, my darling,” Alicia whimpered as she swiftly ran to the bar to meet the crying baby. She held Kendall in her bosom for a while, patting her gently.

Needing to vent and let out her pent-up emotions, Kendall began to cry profusely, latching onto her best friend like she needed air.

“I have no plans for my life, no good paying job, not even a baby as compensation… Just cancer!”

“I'm sorry,” Alicia kept consoling her.

Kendall’s phone buzzed on the center table and Alicia whipped her head around in search for it.

“I'll go get it,” she said to Kendall and let go of the warm embrace before she left to retrieve the phone as promised.

She looked at the caller's ID to see that it was Doctor Sophia. She stretched the phone over to Kendall.

“It's Doctor Sophia,” Alicia mouthed.

“Thanks,” Kendall took her phone from her, wiped her face, and cleared her voice before swiping the answer icon.

“Hello, Miss Kendall,” Doctor Sophia’s cheerful voice beamed.

“Hi,” she managed a response.

“We need to see you in person, so we will discuss everything before the procedure.” She paused in between words. “Also, we would need you to go over the consent form and sign…”

“There is no problem with that,” Kendall responded.

"Stop by tomorrow noon." "This has to be done as soon as possible."

The call ended before Kendall could say anything.

“Is everything okay?” Alicia asked, concern laced in her tone.

Kendall nodded, not wanting to share much with her best friend because she would talk her out of it.

It was already 12: 10 pm.

At the hospital’s reception, Kendall sat and waited for Doctor Sophia. She was wearing a pair of black trousers, a blue tank top and sunshade.

“Kendall Williams.” The receptionist called out. “The last room on your left.”

Gracefully, Kendall strolled to the office and knocked.

"Kendall?" "Come in," Doctor Sophia responded. She got in and sat on a vacant seat opposite the doctor.

“Welcome, Miss Kendall,” Doctor Sophia began and Kendall just flashed her a fake smile. "When do we begin..." "I mean when do you want the implant?"

“Now.” Kendall was as blunt as a knife.