Part 1: Who is Molly Cooper?

Molly Cooper couldn’t sleep. Anxiety kept her thoughts racing and her body tossing and turning. Sometimes she would be so focused on a single thought that she’d forget to breathe, only coming out of her trance when her lungs forced her to gasp for air. Then she’d roll over again, shaking her head and trying to focus on nothing. She was almost grateful for five a.m. to come around so she could get out of bed and leave her obsessive thoughts behind.

Before her sister Lizzie knocked on the door, she was ready to go. She jumped out of bed and threw on her most comfortable sweats and sweater, remembering how cold the waiting room had been the last time her mom had surgery. But they didn’t seem to be doing the job she thought they would. A chill passed through her that reached her bones. Would a blanket be necessary too? It seemed like overkill.

She didn’t have too long to think about it. With a tap on the door, her sister poked her head inside.

“Are you awake?” Lizzie asked gently as she pushed the door open. She smiled when she saw Molly standing there dressed and ready to go. But Molly didn’t move, still absorbed in the cold that had taken over her body. It felt like a fog built up inside her.

“Hey!” Lizzie waved a hand in front of Molly’s face. “You okay?”

“Fine,” Molly said.

The last thing Lizzie needed was someone else to worry about. Since coming home from school a few days ago she’d done nothing but worry over their mom and dad. Molly forced a smile that turned into a grimace as she shuddered once more.

Lizzie’s hand found Molly’s and squeezed it. “It’s going to be okay,” she said. “This is her best shot, remember?”

Of course it was. That’s what the surgeon had said and what their family had agreed on after talking it over dozens of times. But the surgeon had also said removing a tumor so close to the spine had a high risk of complications.  Those ranged anywhere from permanent tingling in the legs to never being able to walk again. Oh, and the thing that no one in the family wanted to think about, let alone say out loud. Even their mom wouldn’t say it, and she was the most comfortable talking about her cancer out of all of them.

“I’m fine,” Molly said. “It’s just early.”

Lizzie smiled in relief. “Well, we can fix that. Once we get to the hospital and mom’s in surgery we’ll get some coffee.”

She took Molly’s hand and dragged her down the hall.

“I’ve got muffins for breakfast, and cards and magazines for the hospital,” Lizzie continued as they headed toward the kitchen. “I even have this audio splitter for my Walkman. Greg got it for my birthday. Bring your headphones. We’ll listen together.”

“Greg? Who’s Greg?”

Lizzie’s smile infected Molly, and soon they were laughing on the way to the car as Lizzie told the story about how she met Greg.

“What are you two girls laughing about?” their mom asked with laughter in her own voice.

“Lizzie’s new boyfriend,” Molly teased.

Lizzie slapped her and said, “He’s not my boyfriend.” But the red creeping up into her cheeks suggested he was more than just a friend.

“I don’t think I’ve heard this story,” their mom said. “You’ll have to tell me after the surgery.”

Their dad cleared his throat. “Everyone ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” their mom said in a calm and confident voice that put the rest of the car at ease.  She always knew how to do that.

As they drove off, Molly relaxed for the first time in a week. Whether it was thanks to her sister’s story or her mom strength, she couldn’t help but feel like everything really would turn out all right.

Now if she would only stop shivering.

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Want to find out what happens next? Read part 2 now.