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You can try to put a label on what I am doing here, but in the end, I did it because I fucking can.”
    He slapped his hand on my shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze before walking toward his own vehicle to leave.
     
    ***
     
    “The last round of tests show that the radiation treatment didn’t do as we’d hoped,” Dr. Jess began. “In fact, the results show that the cancer has only—”
    “—it’s only gotten worse,” Kate finished. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
    He nodded. “I’m afraid so. We could do another round.”
    “No,” Katelynn replied without hesitation.
    “Katelynn,” I said, turning to face her. She couldn’t be serious. I mean, we had to at least try.
    “I can’t do it again, Jude. I got so sick—you remember, you were there. I can’t do that to the kids again, not anymore. I don’t want the last memories they have of me to be me being so sick I can’t even lift my head.”
    “So you’re giving up?” My words came out in a whisper.
    “No,” she replied. “I’m choosing to live. Whatever time I have left, I would rather spend making memories my children will have forever than being so damn sick I sleep every minute of every day.”
    I couldn’t accept it. I refused to. I sat in the chair next to her as the doctor proceeded to give us her prognosis. Hearing him talk about how her cancer had progressed over the last few years only made the lump in my chest grow. I knew her time was limited, and I felt myself becoming more tense and agitated with each moment that passed.
    When we left the doctor’s office, we drove home in silence. I was afraid to speak. I could feel myself breaking down and knew that when I erupted, I needed to be alone.
    As we pulled up to the apartment and I hurried to get her inside, she watched me in silence.
    Once I put her in the recliner and the controller was within her reach, I quickly excused myself to go next door.
    Mrs. Reames opened the door, and her smile fell instantly. “What is it?” When her eyes filled with tears, it was more than I could take.
    “I need some time.” My throat burned as I blinked back the tears. “Can you keep an eye on them? I just need some air.”
    “Of course.” She nodded, and I wasted no time before turning around and breaking out into a jog.
    The longer I ran, the more my chest burned. I wiped away the first tear angrily as it fell. But when they began to come harder and faster, I didn’t try to stop them as I fell to my knees in the grass. I was far enough away from the apartment that I knew I had privacy, so I gave in to the heartache I had been fighting since I heard the doctor say we should begin to prepare for the end.
    The end. How the fuck do you prepare for something like that?

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    Callie
     
    That weekend a very pregnant Avery and myself had joined Quinn at Harper’s place for a day of sun. I had just placed my feet in the pool when Harper hollered out from behind me.
    “Your phone is ringing.” She passed it to me over my shoulder.
    The display showed it was an unknown caller. I thought about letting it go to voicemail, but at the last second I hit Accept. “Hello?”
    “Callie,” a woman said in a soft whisper.
    “Yeah, this is Callie.”
    “It’s Katelynn.”
    The weakness in her voice made my stomach tense. “Is everything okay?” I asked as I began to stand. All three girls looked at me in concern.
    “Um, do you have a minute?” she asked.
    “Yeah, of course I do.” My heart was racing.
    “Jude took the kids to the store, and I wanted to talk to you before they got back.” I found myself nodding as if she could see me. “I went to the doctor a few days ago. The news we were given wasn’t the greatest.”
    My eyes instantly filled with tears. “What can I do?” I felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest even though I still had no idea what was truly going on. I knew she had cancer, but I also knew she had been