Black Friday prep was done, and the signs couldn’t be put out until after the store officially closed.
She checked the time—one hour left, and then she’d have to go home to a house filled with the scent of food prep for tomorrow and the questioning looks from her mother. Even her father had given her more than one arched brow. But Henrik was out of town, which gave her a valid excuse to be home.
She really needed her own place. And that was a goal to strive for if she didn’t die before she graduated.
God. She slumped forward, forehead plunking on the glass countertop, the weight of the last week holding her down until she swore she’d suffocate under the pressure.
She missed Henrik more than she’d expected, yet not really. His parting words had torn her heart out. Somehow it continued to beat though, a dull thud in her chest that kept her moving but not much else.
But she’d had to do it. Had to leave before he was trapped with her. Her family had no choice, they’d stick with her through another round of cancer because they had to. Henrik didn’t need to be stuck with her, and she couldn’t deal with the guilt of knowing she was holding him back. That he could have—deserved—so much better than to watch her die.
Which had been confirmed today. The doctor wants more blood work and an additional scan. That only happened when something came back abnormal.
She shoved up, hair draping around her face in a damning reminder of how far she’d come, how hard she’d fought to get here. She’d only had it trimmed since the last round of chemo, each inch visual proof of her health.
Or it had been.
Her Friday appointment would only confirm what she already knew. The additional tests would come back positive. Her oncologist would want an appointment next week to discuss the results, give his next steps and treatment spiel and slowly tear her world apart—again.
The reminder was all she needed to keep from contacting Henrik, despite what her heart was begging her to do.
The bell on the door jingled a warning, and she whipped around, smile in place to greet the customer. One that instantly fell away when she spotted Aiden striding toward her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hi, sis,” he greeted, fake grin plastered on. “It’s great to see you too. Thanks.”
She rolled her eyes at the sarcasm and turned away. This she did not need. She yanked the stack of sale signs from under the counter and stalked onto the sales floor. It wouldn’t hurt to put them up a bit early, given the desert landscape of customers.
“Still avoiding then?” Aiden trailed behind her, relentless in his pursuit. “You’re an expert on that, aren’t you? Running.”
“Shut up.” She spun so fast he jerked back to avoid stumbling into her. “You have no room to speak, Mr. Commitment-phobe. I learned from the best.”
His hands went up in defense. “I’m not arguing that. And we’re not talking about me.”
“And we’re not talking about me either.” She whipped back around and stormed down the aisle to the pianos. Seething, she tossed the stack of signs on top of an upright and started folding the tent signs to place on the various pianos. Each vicious swipe of her hand down a seam was a strike at the pile of injustice leveled upon her.
Cancer—swipe.
Pain—swipe.
Meddling family—swipe.
Hurt ex-boyfriend—swipe.
Broken heart—swipe.
Death—swipe.
Her breath hitched on that one, blood freezing in her veins until her hands shook. Goddamn it. She wasn’t ready to die and didn’t want to go through another round of cancer.
“I can’t do it again,” she whispered. Her biggest fear came out on a soft admission and broke down the last of the strength she’d been so desperately clinging to. “I can’t.”
Her first sob was choked behind her hand, her second muffled in Aiden’s shoulder. He wrapped her in his arms, his comforting support destroying the last of her will.
The harsh, bitter tears tore through her throat and shoved her anger out. At life and a God who was supposed to protect her. At finding Henrik then being forced to let him go. At the pain she’d caused her family over and over again. At all the things she was afraid to let herself have because of cancer: love, babies, a family of her own.
All of it gushed out in a storm of destruction contained within her brother’s arms.