“You can get me out of here.”
“I will, as soon as the doctors say you can leave.”
“No, Meggie, now, today.” Shirl grabbed Megan’s hand so hard Megan feared the bones might break. “Megan, please get me out of here. I don’t want to die in this place, hooked up to a bunch of machines, tubes everywhere!”
“Shirl, calm down. You’re not going to die.” As gently as she could, she pulled her hand away, then took both of Shirl’s hands in hers. “You’re going to be fine.”
“No.” Shirl lifted a hand to her head. “I have a tumor.”
“You can’t know that,” Megan said, forcing a note of calm into her voice that she was far from feeling. “Greg said they’re waiting for the test results.”
“I know, Meggie. It’s been there for a long time.”
“What?” Megan stared at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tears welled in Shirl’s eyes and dripped, unchecked, down her cheeks. “I’ve known for over a year. It’s what’s causing my headaches. I never should have gotten involved with Greg.”
Megan shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”
Shirl squeezed her hand again. “I’m afraid, Meggie.”
“I know. I know. There must be something they can do.”
“It’s inoperable.” Shirl quickly dried her eyes on a corner of the sheet when Greg woke with a low groan.
Rising, he kissed her cheek. “Hey, beautiful, how are you feeling?”
“Better. I’m going home.”
“What? But, the tests…the doctor…”
Shirl glanced at Megan. “Could you leave us alone for a few minutes?”
“Sure.” Megan looked from Shirl to Greg. “I’ll be right outside.”
Megan paced the hospital corridor, her mind refusing to believe that Shirl was dying. How could her friend have kept such a secret from her? It wasn’t fair. Shirl was young and beautiful, at the top of her career, and in love for the first time in her life. Why had this happened to her?
When Megan reached the end of the corridor, she blinked away her tears, then started walking back toward Shirl’s room. She bit down on her lower lip when Greg stalked out of the room and headed for the elevators.
Heaving a sigh, she went to offer Shirl what comfort she could.
In spite of what everyone, including her doctor had to say, Shirl insisted on checking out of the hospital.
At home, Megan tucked Shirl into bed, made sure she was comfortable, and then went to her own room. After undressing, she went into the bathroom, stepped into the shower, and turned the water on full blast so Shirl wouldn’t hear her crying. Shirl was more than her roommate; she was the sister Megan had always wanted.
Megan stayed in the shower until she had no tears left. After drying off, she pulled on a pair of sweats and went downstairs to fix blueberry waffles for breakfast. She put the plates on a pretty tray and carried it upstairs, only to find that neither of them had any appetite.
Megan set her plate on top of Shirl’s on the nightstand. “Do your parents know?”
“Yes.”
Megan stared out the window, trying to imagine what it would be like to know your only child was dying. Was Shirl’s mother remembering what Shirl had been like as a little girl, regretting the fact that she hadn’t been a better mother, that they hadn’t spent more time together?
“I broke it off with Greg,” Shirl said, her voice barely audible. “He said it didn’t matter, that he wanted to stay with me, but it’s for the best.”
Megan nodded. What did you say to someone whose time was running out? Everything she thought of sounded trite or silly. Instead, she found herself remembering late night pillow fights and all the times they had shared confidences over a cup of hot chocolate. She was going to miss those times, Megan thought, blinking back her tears.
Silence hung heavy in the room for several minutes before Shirl said, “Meggie, will you do something for me?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Would you get in touch with Rhys?”
“Rhys? Whatever for?” Megan asked, and then, as comprehension dawned, she shook her head. “No, Shirl, don’t even think about it.”
“He’s the only one who can help me now.”
“Shirl…there has to be another option. Maybe another doctor would give you a better prognosis. At least get a second opinion.”
“I’ve gone to three different specialists, Meggie. They all say the same thing. It’s inoperable.”
Megan sighed. “You don’t want to be what he is, Shirl. Believe me, I’ve seen it. It’s not a pretty sight.” She shook her head. “I watched him attack a man. I saw him with his mask down, his eyes red and glowing, his fangs stained with blood….”
“I don’t care. I don’t want to die.”
“Think of what you’re saying, what you’ll be giving up…” Megan bit down on her lower lip as she realized the futility of that argument.
“I’m giving up death for a new life,” Shirl said. “My mind’s made up, Meggie. I’ve been thinking about it ever since you told me Rhys is a vampire.”
“I can’t.”
“If you won’t do it, I’ll just go to his club. I know what I’m doing.”
“It’s the reason you broke up with Greg, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Living with someone who’s dying is one thing. Asking him to share his life with a vampire…I couldn’t do that.”
“What are you going to tell your parents?”
“I don’t know. I’ll worry about it later. I wonder if it hurts—becoming a vampire, I mean.”
“I don’t know,” Megan said. Being bitten didn’t hurt. In fact, it felt wonderful, but maybe it was different when you were being…what was the term? Turned?
“So, will you contact him for me?”
Megan nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“I do.”
Even though she didn’t agree with Shirl’s decision, Megan couldn’t still the little shiver of excitement that curled in the pit of her stomach at the thought of seeing Rhys again.
Megan called Mr. Parker that afternoon to ask for the night off. He told her not to worry about it, asked how Shirl was feeling, said to be sure to let him know if there was anything he could do, and hung up.