Shane: Okay, maybe you’re not a hallucination.

Carmen: Finally you believe me.

Carmen leaned her forehead on Shane’s.

Shane: I can’t believe it, you’re back.

Shane lifted her arms up to hold onto Carmen.

Carmen: Do you hate me for leaving?

Shane: I can’t love you enough, how could I hate you?

Carmen: I left without saying anything.

Shane: I was mad, but I’m also sorry for burdening you and thinking you could stand so much crap.

Carmen: It wasn’t crap being with you.

The two of them smiled. Their love for each other never died out. Carmen stroked Shane’s cheek gently.

Carmen: You’ve gotten so skinny.

Shane: Really?

Carmen: Yeah, I read about your escapades on magazines.

Shane was guilty and embarrassed by it.

Shane: I’m sorry Carmen, I couldn’t do anything. All I wanted was you.

Carmen: Shhh, I know it’s okay. I once overheard Jenny saying all the girls seemed to look like me.

Shane: I would run down the street chasing girls that looked like you.

Carmen: I’m sorry babe. I shouldn’t have done that to you.

Shane: Don’t leave any more.

There was a knock on the door. A dazzling doctor in white walked in. Her white lab coat sweeping behind her.

Helena: I’m glad you’re up.

Her British accent made Shane smile.

Shane: Sorry Helena, haven’t visited you in a while.

Helena: Actually I quite like not having a visit from you. Every time you come in, I have to pump your stomach or give you stitches.

Shane sat up in bed.

Shane: Do I need all this stuck to me?

Helena: Not really, your temperature went down so we can take that IV out. The rest of the stuff, well stays.

Shane: I haven’t introduced you to my fiancé yet.

Carmen was surprised Shane would still consider her as a fiancé. She didn’t even plan the wedding yet and she was already a runaway bride.

Carmen: I’m Carmen, it’s very nice to meet you.

Helena smiled brightly flashing her straight white teeth. Carmen studied the British beauty. Long wavy hair. Fair skinned. Gorgeous smile.

Helena: It’s very nice to meet you too. Helena Peabody.

Then her demeanor turned a bit dark.

Helena: Shane, I want to talk to you about your results.

Shane: Go ahead, you can say it in front of Carmen. She’s family.

Helena: Are you sure?

Shane nodded. She didn’t suspect anything wrong with her. She felt fine.

Helena: Shane, you’ve got liver cancer. It was benign before, but after all the drugs and the massive amount of alcohol you’ve been dumping on your body, it turned deadly.

Shane’s smile dropped. Carmen was in disbelief.

Shane: Well… I… Helena… what do I have to do?

Helena: You can go for chemo or surgery. It’s your choice. But definitely cut back on the drinking.

Shane: Can you give me a couple days to think?

Helena: Yeah.

Shane: Can I get out of here?

Helena: I’d rather you not.

Shane: I want to leave.

Shane said sternly. She didn’t want to stay there cooped up.

Helena: Once the pain comes back it’s hard to bear Shane.

Shane: I can do it. Give me some pills or something.

Helena: Three days Shane. I’ll give you three days worth of shots. You can ask Carmen to administer them. After three days you come back here.

Shane nodded defeated. Her happiness was so short lived. She had just found Carmen, but her life was being taken away.