The One by Maria Realf

Author:Maria Realf
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008278977
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

17

5 weeks to go …

Lizzie stood on the pool edge, staring over the side of the deep end. Her reflection fragmented with each ripple of the water, a fragile replica bobbing along on an ever-shifting surface. I know how you feel, she told the floating doppelganger. Suddenly a stocky boy with red shorts and an even redder face ran up alongside her and divebombed in with a splash, causing the mirror image to shatter.

‘Stop that!’ shouted the lifeguard, blowing his whistle zealously. The boy emerged laughing, not paying any attention. His dark hair was splayed out across the top of his head like a drowning spider.

Lizzie waited for the swell to settle. Then she raised her arms and plunged into the pool, the cool water engulfing her as she broke the surface and settled into a steady front crawl. She didn’t come swimming as much as she used to, what with work and all the wedding prep, but whenever she managed to fit in a session she always felt at home. Alex was right. I guess some things don’t change.

Except, of course, that everything had changed for Alex. And she couldn’t stop thinking about the bombshell he’d dropped in the park.

When he told her that he had a brain tumour, she didn’t know what to say. The first thought that crossed her mind was that it might be a twisted joke, but that didn’t make any sense and, besides, he wasn’t laughing. She wanted to say something meaningful, something that would fill the silence to offer comfort, support and compassion.

‘Fuuuuuck’ was all that came out.

He tried to smile. ‘Well, that’s the best reaction I’ve had so far. Most people either cry or pretend everything’s going to be OK.’

‘Oh, Alex …’ Lizzie’s insides went into freefall. ‘How bad is it?’

‘It’s not great. They say it’s low-grade at the moment, but it’s an awkward shape. So we’re just watching and waiting for now.’

What does that mean? Her mind was throwing up questions so fast she couldn’t think straight. ‘Why don’t they operate, take it out? There’s got to be something they can do, right? Lots of people recover from cancer these days.’

‘They will operate if it grows any bigger, but they’re not going to be able to get it all. It’s too embedded.’

‘Are they sure? Maybe you should see another specialist, get a second opinion …’

Alex stared at his shoes. ‘I’ve been to see two specialists here, Lizzie. They only confirmed what I’d already been told in Thailand. They can buy me more time, but they can’t cure it.’

She exhaled loudly, the sound of her breath echoing in her ears.

‘How long?’ she asked slowly.

‘Hard to say. Could be two years, could be twenty. Or I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. No one really knows how long they’ve got, do they?’

Lizzie’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘Surely there’s got to be something you could try? Doctors are coming up with new cutting-edge stuff all the time.’

He slid his arm around the back of the bench, squeezing her shoulder.

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