The news

~Elena~

"You have glioblastoma, Elena, it's stage four." The announcement came as a shock because I should have known if something was wrong with me, but I didn't 

My eyes widened in disbelief as I locked gazes with the Doctor before me, questioning whether her words or she was lying. I had no idea what to believe. 

‘’I… I have a brain..." I stuttered as I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. "how could I have not noticed all these years and you…" The tears streamed down my face. ''I mean i am supposed to know about it but why?'' 

The Doctor sighed and pointed to the screen, which showed a scan of my head. "If I had not told you to carry that test, Elena, we wouldn't have found out. The tumor hid itself perfectly without showing signs, and if I had not..." 

"Doctor Mallory," I cut her off before she could finish. "I don't understand what you are saying. Do you mean that I have cancer and I didn't know all these while and…." I rubbed my eyes and sighed heavily. 

"yes, Elena," she replied, pointing to the screen. "it is growing, Elena, and I know that you just found out that you are pregnant, and you are glad, but if you want to live a few months longer and….." 

"live a few months?" I frowned at her. "what are you saying, Doctor? Are you saying that I am going to die?" 

Doctor Mallory sighed and lowered her head for a moment, and when she raised it, she nodded in response. "Elena, I hate to break the bad news to you, but see here," she pointed to a dark thing on the screen. "The tumor is growing, and because you are pregnant, it is becoming more aggressive, and if you don't abort the baby, then you will…." 

My hand slammed against the table. "What the hell are you asking me to do?!" I shouted, my voice cracking with disbelief. "Abort which baby?" I yelled, my hand instinctively reaching for my head. "I can't fathom what you're saying, but there's no way I'll terminate my baby!" I stated. 

"Just last week, you confirmed my pregnancy, and now there's a tumor spreading rapidly!" I chuckled bitterly, clutching my head. "I haven't even told Owen about the baby, and now I'm facing death." I sighed and rubbed my hands together. 

 After enduring everything, this was to be my fate — to perish without laying eyes on my child. All I have ever wanted was to have a child, and now that I was pregnant after five years of my marriage with Charles, I was going to die with my baby or terminate my baby to have a few months to live. 

"This is for your good, Elena. With the baby, the tumor will grow twice as fast, shortening your life, and…" she tried to explain, but I wasn't ready to hear her. 

 I had just found out about my baby, and if I wanted to leave for a few months, I had to sacrifice the life of my baby. 

"I am going to die anyway, so why the hell should I let my baby die when I can save it," I inhaled deeply and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly. "Listen to me, Doctor. I don't know what you'll do or how you'll do it, but I need my baby to survive. Do any treatment; I will endure it all, but I need to ensure my baby survives."

Doctor Mallory yanked her hands from mine. "Have you gone insane, Elena? This is me talking as your friend, not your Doctor. I'm trying to make you see that you can't keep the baby and…"

"Doctor Mallory!" I interrupted her. "There is no way I will agree, and I don't know how you'll do it. If you can refer me to an oncologist, a good one who can help me until the baby is born, then I am ready, and I am…"

"Elena!"

"What!" I lowered my head as tears welled up in my eyes. "You know how it is with Owen. I want him to be happy that I am pregnant with his baby. We have long longed for a baby, and now that I am pregnant, maybe he will continue to love me, or maybe my mother-in-law will learn to treat me better. I can't announce to anyone that I have tumors growing, and…"

Doctor Mallory stretched her hand forward and grabbed mine. "I wish we could do something, Elena, but if you go through with this, you might end up losing the baby and also lose your life. It will all be for nothing. You'll die without being able to hold your baby."

Tears streamed down my face. Doctor Mallory knew how much I wanted a baby after everything. I was desperate for one because it was the only thing to make Owen love me again and earn his trust. Even my mother-in-law might treat me better once she finds out I am pregnant. I couldn't break the news about my pregnancy and tumor to them.

I couldn't.

"Elena, are you listening to me?" Doctor Mallory snapped her fingers in my face. "I think you need to tell your family. They are the only ones who can support you at this time."

"Support?" I chuckled and slowly removed my hands from her grasp. I rubbed them on my thighs and sighed heavily. "No one is going to support me when they find out that I am going to die. I need you to help me, please. I don't want the baby to die. The baby has to survive, please, and…"

"You are not making sense, Elena. I am…"

"They are not going to support me, okay!" I shouted at her and stood up from the chair. "You think they will start treating me differently because I am going to die!" I chuckled. ''stop acting as if you don't know them and how they have treated me all these years. If they find out.....'' I sucked in my breath. 

"That is not… I believe that Owen deserves to know what is happening to you! You can't do this on your own."

"I will," I spoke with assurance, even though I knew it would be tough. "I am going to have my baby before I die, and I am…" I paused, thinking of what to say. 

I knew Doctor Mallory was looking out for me, and I had to listen to her, but I couldn't help but think about holding my bundle of joy.

 "Thank you for your care, but I had already decided, Doctor. I am keeping the baby, and I will tell Owen about it today," I told her and headed towards the door. Just as I was about to open it, she shouted.

"I hope you will not regret this, Elena!"

I turned to face her and smiled. "The only thing I will regret is being unable to save my child," I smiled at her and headed out of her office. My heart pounded in my chest as I headed toward the elevator. Once I was inside and alone, I burst into tears.

Why me? After years of struggling to have a child, I was faced with this fate. I never expected something like this would ever happen to me. It made me wonder if the world was against me. Why do I have to have a brain tumor when I was so close to making myself relevant in my family and my husband's family?

The elevator doors opened, and I looked at the entrance with a teary face. My eyes met with a man's. He looked at me but didn't say anything as he entered and stood beside me.

I continued crying, not caring if there was someone else beside me. After all, we didn't know each other, and it would have been none of his business if I had chosen to cry. Things happen in hospitals.

"Here," he handed me a white handkerchief. I raised my head to look at him, and our eyes met briefly. I took the handkerchief from his hand and wiped my face with it. "I don't know what you are thinking about or what happened to you, but it is going to be okay," his voice was deep and calming. He smiled at me, showing the dimples on his face. Just as I was about to reply, the doors opened, and he walked out.

 "Wait!" I shouted after him, but the doors closed in my face. "You forgot your handkerchief!" I called, but he was already out of sight.

I sighed and raised the handkerchief, staring at it. It was plain white, but in the left corner, there was a symbol and writing: "The Royal Empire."

I stared at the writing for a few seconds before realization dawned on me. The Royal Empire? I thought he must be an employee there as I examined the handkerchief again. "Thank you, mister," I muttered to the handkerchief as the doors opened and I walked out of the elevator.

The stranger's words comforted me, assuring me everything would be alright. I decided I would tell my husband about everything that was happening to me, hoping that together, we could find a way to save the baby.

Upon reaching the front door, I was surprised to find the absence of workers, and the door was locked. I pressed the button to unlock it and entered. I intended to call my husband's name, but I stopped when I heard loud moans from our upstairs room.

Dropping my bag to the ground, my heart raced as I anticipated the worst. I had suspected something was happening, noticing his unusual behavior for months – late-night calls, skipped meals, and arriving home late. However, I had dismissed the signs because of my deep love for him.

"It couldn't be," I told myself as I climbed the stairs to our room. The moaning grew louder with each step I took, intensifying my curiosity. I wanted to discover who he was cheating on me with and why he had done that.

When I finally reached the front of our door, I hesitated for a few seconds, fearing the worst. A sudden headache formed in my head, and my heart pounded as if I had run a marathon. Taking a deep breath, I gently pushed the door open and gasped loudly.

It can't be.