Chapter 3 Bradley and friends

Woodway Texas, United State of America.

"You're welcome Mr Harper, please take your seat. Dr Harry narrowed his eyes, gesturing to one of the seats adjacent to him.

Bradley nervously took his seat as instructed with the doctor's table situated between them. Seeing that Bradley had done as he asked, he carefully tossed his pen on the book he was writing on, closed it and looked up to Bradley, examining him carefully.

"So, how are you today, Mr. Harper?" the doctor asked as he steepled his fingers on his desk.

"The same as the last time you asked, or even worse." Bradley gazed sideways.

The doctor stood and walked carefully till he was directly in front of Bradley with nothing between them this time. He carried out his checkup on Bradley and shook his head when he was done.

"Are you sure you don't want your family to know about this?" The doctor looked at Bradley questioningly.

Bradley shook his head forlornly. "Cancer is not good news to share around. Even the media seldom carries out good news to the masses. And what good has it done to the masses? They only break other people's hearts for their own cynicism!"

Bradley gazed disdainfully. "Fools! They are all a bunch of fools, and I will not be like 'em.

Dr Harry perceived that Bradley was venting the anger of his sickness on the media so he quickly changed the topic. "Have you been following your prescriptions?"

"I'm trying."

"Okay, that's alright. I hope you remember our next schedule."

"I will always remember, as long as this d*mn cancer lives with me."

"Hmm!" The doctor exclaimed, giving Bradley a look of concern. He wanted to hold Bradley as a son and give him some words of comfort. He wanted to look straight into his eyes and tell him all was going to be well.

Dr Harry knew his face expressed nothing but hopelessness, and Bradley had seen it too. He knew he had not been professional, but how could he when each time his gaze settled on Bradley, he would remember his brother who also died of the same illness. He swiftly turned his head away from Bradley to wipe away the lone tear that dropped from his hazel eyes.

He whirled around to see Bradley gazing at him in confusion. "See you in a fortnight, Mr. Harper," Dr Harry said with the voice of dismissal.

Bradley knew his time with the doctor was up. He decided to step out so the doctor could attend to other patients. "Thank you, Doctor, for having me."

"My pleasure," Dr Harry said and they both shook hands.

Bradley walked to the door, held the doorknob, and was about to yank it open. He paused when he heard the doctor calling out to him.

"Yes, Doctor." He tilted his head slightly to gaze at the doctor from his side eye with one of his hands still on the doorknob.

"Please, I would like you to go over your decision again. You can still change your mind if you want."

The doctor spoke calmly, but Bradley could still sense the worry from the way he spoke.

"Thank you, Doctor." Bradley walked out of his office, uncertain if he would heed the doctor's advice. He walked briskly across the hallway. When he got to the receptionist, he flashed her a smile and continued walking till he was out of the hospital door.

How did this start? and when will it end? Nausea swept over Bradley, his vision blurred slightly. He staggered.

Bradley pondered on what it would be like when he died, leaving his only brother and parents behind. The imagination sent a cold chill down his spine. He stared, watching as the hospital's door opened and closed in sequence. Patients were either coming in or going out of the hospital.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he jerked when he felt a hand tapping him on his shoulders.

"Umm! Sir, are you in pain?"

"Huh! Me?"

"Yes." The nurse's eyes narrowed on his own. "You are crying."

The nurse was telling the truth. Tears streamed down his eyes. He had subconsciously sat down on one of the stairs. He quickly wiped the tears on his eyes with his white handkerchief. He raised his head to look at the nurse.

When his puffy eyes looked into her concerned ones, she knew something other than his illness troubled him. She saw that he was trying to get up, then she held his hands, helping him to his feet.

"Thank you," he said, almost whispering.

She flashed him a soothing smile. "You're welcome. I pray God will help you."

She had spoken those words sincerely. Praying for him was the only thing she could think of doing at that time.

"Thank you," was the only reply he could think of giving her as he wondered why a professional nurse had spoken religious words to him.

He stepped down from the stairs and walked to the parking lot, his car keys dangling in his hand. He got to his car, opened the door and slid into the driver's seat.

The nurse's gaze followed him till he was covered by his car tinted glass, then she mumbled a prayer.

"Oh, Lord! Please help..." She paused. She didn't ask what his name was.

"Oh, Lord! Please help that young man." She pointed to his car. "Let him find you and accept you as his Lord and Savior if he hasn't. And if he has, please be with him. Open his eyes to see your purpose for him."

"Fiona, beloved! I've heard your prayers, I'll reach out my love to him," the still small voice spoke and she recognised him. She raised her hands and gave thanks to God, then turned around and entered the hospital.

Bradley slid his keys into the car's ignition and the engine roared to life. His phone chimed, causing him to step on the brakes. He scooped up his phone and glanced at the caller ID.

"Yes, Mandy! What is it?"

The caller at the other end ignored the harshness in his tone and cheerfully broke the good news to him.

"Hello, cowboy, We've been accepted into college!" she exclaimed happily.

"We?!" He said the word, not sure if he was exclaiming or asking.

"Yes! I mean, you, Hunter, Ryan, Anne-Marie, Skylar, Megan, Avery and I have been offered admission to study at the University of Pennsylvania."

The news of their admission made his eyes glitter.

"We'll be throwing a party in Ryan's house, make sure you come early," she said and disconnected the call.

"Oh my G-!" He paused quickly when he realized he wanted to call God. Was there any God? He and his friends were atheists; they had never believed in the existence of any sky daddy, and he wasn't sure they would ever believe. He remembered the way the nurse called God and it stirred up something inside him. Confusion everywhere. Which of the gods is real? He gave a sardonic laugh. And which one was she talking about?

She might be a Muslim, no! He shook his head. Buddhist, Catalyst, or even a Christian. Which one did she belong to? Bradley stifled his curiosity, twisted the key in his ignition and drove out of the parking lot.

Bradley and his friends spent the whole night partying. He had returned to his normal happy self. Like he always did whenever he was with them.

----

A woman stood in front of a mirror looking at her reflection over and over again. She let out a laugh that only expressed animosity and walked to her wine bar. She poured herself a glass of wine, then carefully gulped down its contents. Enjoying the way it burnt her throat, she poured herself another glass. She did this severally till her vision became blurry, and her feet heavy to carry her. But she was thankful that her senses were still intact.

She staggered to one of her sofas, and plopped down on the seat. She belched loudly. "It is time to have my pound of flesh, Mister William Miller." She glared at the photo in her hand.

"It is good your son, Ryan, has been offered admission to the University of Pennsylvania. Let me see what you will do now that he's gonna be far from you."

She looked at the man in the photo disdainfully as anger radiated through her body.

"Ryan will never graduate from that college alive, I swear it. I will watch you grieve over your son, suffer slowly till you commit suicide. I'll spread out my venom and destroy you till there's nothing that is left of you again!"

She held the picture in both hands and tore it into shreds, telling herself that this was how she would destroy him and everything he held sacred.