Arthur and Alice hadn’t expected this. Moments ago, they stood in front of a huge hospital building, but now they found themselves in front of a run-down, small clinic. Arthur's brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. “W-W-We’re in the right place, right?” he stuttered, his voice tinged with doubt.
Alice’s face hardened in disbelief. But then, she laughed softly, her pale face suddenly brightening. Her pounding heart calmed, and for a moment, everything felt right again. She turned to Arthur, her smile gentle. “I like this place better.” She paused, taking a few steps toward the door, then stopped and glanced back at him, her expression glowing.
“It reminds me of our home.” A sudden gust of wind swept through the area, making her long, white hair sway like a dance in the breeze.
Arthur stood there for a moment, mesmerized by the sight. He finally smiled back at her.
“Well, if you say that, I guess I don’t have a choice but to agree.” They both started walking toward the door, their steps in sync. At that moment, they knew what was ahead, and they were ready. They would face whatever came their way, together, with unwavering confidence and spirit.
After they entered the clinic, the contrast between the outside and the inside couldn't have been more striking. The outside was weathered and torn, but inside was spotless and well-organized. Not a single patient other than them was there. Suddenly, a door opened, and a nurse in her mid-twenties stepped out, greeting them with a wide, warm smile.
"I’ve been expecting you both. Mr. Arthur, Ms. Alice," she said softly. "Dr. Fye informed me of your arrival. If you're ready, we can begin the check-up right away." Her voice was soothing, aiming to calm the tension that lingered in the air.
They exchanged a brief glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Alice was the first to step forward, her posture straight and eyes sharp. Her lips pressed together as she spoke, her voice steady despite the unease she felt.
"I'm ready. Please look after me," she said, determination flashing in her gaze. The nurse's smile softened.
"I’m Teresa," she replied, trying to ease the atmosphere. "I’ll take good care of you."
They walked down the narrow corridor, and Arthur couldn’t help but notice the advanced technology in every room they passed. The clinic was small but meticulously clean, and he felt a sense of reassurance growing inside him. He took a deep breath, his earlier worry easing as he saw how professional everything looked.
They finally reached the laboratory room. Teresa paused, turning to them with a smile that was both warm and serious.
"We've arrived," she said. Then, her gaze shifted to Arthur. "Guardians are not permitted to enter the examination room. If you wouldn't mind, could you wait in the waiting area?"
Arthur’s worry was palpable as he looked at Alice. "Are you okay without me?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying the concern he always had when it came to leaving her alone.
Alice gave him a reassuring smile, one that reached her eyes despite the nerves she felt.
"I’m fine, Arthur. Wait for me there," she said with a lighthearted tone that she hoped would ease his worries.
Arthur hesitated for a moment, then, seeing her smile, he smiled too—albeit a little more faintly.
"I’ll be waiting," he said, walking toward the waiting area as she entered the room with Teresa. Once inside, Teresa noticed Alice’s trembling hands.
"Are you alright, Ms. Alice?" she asked, her tone gentle as she gestured to the chair. Alice sat down, her breath catching slightly as she tried to steady herself.
"Y-Yeah, somehow. But when he’s not with me, I feel anxious without even realizing it," she admitted, her voice soft and uncertain. She laughed nervously, trying to mask her unease.
"Weird, isn’t it?" she laughs nervously.
Teresa smiled, shaking her head with a hint of fondness. "I wouldn’t say weird," she said, her voice warm. "I think it’s beautiful. I’ve never had anyone like that in my life. To care so much... it’s a beautiful thing."
Alice blinked, surprised by the nurse's sincerity. "Thank you," she said, her heart a little lighter.
Teresa took a deep breath, shifting the focus back to the task at hand. "Let’s start with the basics first, Ms. Alice." The examination room was quiet except for the faint hum of the overhead light. The nurse, a composed woman in her mid-thirties, introduced herself as Teresa. Her warm smile softened the tension in the room. “Let’s start with your vitals,” Teresa said gently, wrapping the blood pressure cuff around Alice’s arm. As it tightened, Alice winced slightly, her pale fingers gripping the edge of the chair. Teresa noted the reading, her brow furrowing ever so slightly before she moved on to check Alice’s pulse.
“How have you been feeling recently?” Teresa asked, her fingers lightly pressing against Alice’s wrist. “Exhausted,” Alice murmured, her voice trembling. “Sometimes, it’s hard to breathe.” Teresa nodded, her expression professional but empathetic.
“Shortness of breath is common. Have you noticed any bruising or bleeding?” Alice hesitated before nodding.
“Yes… It happens more than it used to.” Teresa jotted down notes before reaching for her stethoscope. “I’m going to listen to your heart and lungs now, okay? Just breathe normally.” Alice’s breaths were shallow, her chest rising and falling unevenly as Teresa moved the stethoscope across her back and chest. The nurse’s face betrayed a flicker of concern as she listened to Alice’s labored breaths.
“Your heart rate is slightly elevated,” Teresa said as she straightened, making another note. “That could be due to anemia. Let’s run some tests to get a clearer picture.” Teresa prepared the materials for a blood draw, tying a rubber tourniquet around Alice’s arm. “This might sting a bit,” she said softly, inserting the needle with practiced precision. Alice winced but kept her gaze fixed on a distant point in the room, willing herself to stay calm. As Teresa labeled the vials, she said, “This blood test will give us your cell counts and tell us how your bone marrow is functioning. We’ll also check for any abnormalities in the blood cells.”
Alice nodded, though the word “bone marrow” sent a shiver through her. Teresa set the vials aside and reached for a small tray.
“Next, Dr. Fye has requested a bone marrow aspiration. It’s not as scary as it sounds, I promise. We’ll use local anesthesia to make it as comfortable as possible.” Alice swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly. Teresa offered a reassuring smile. “It’s an important step to understand how advanced the disease is and what kind of treatment will work best.” Alice nodded again, her expression resolute despite the fear in her eyes. Teresa guided her to lie on the padded table, explaining each step of the procedure. When the needle pierced her pelvis, Alice gritted her teeth, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists. The discomfort was sharp, but the procedure was over quickly. Once finished, Teresa helped Alice sit up and handed her a small bottle of water.
“You did great,” she said gently. “We’ll also examine your blood under a microscope and run some genetic tests to check for abnormalities. These will help us tailor your treatment.” Alice sipped the water, feeling drained but resolute.
“Thank you,” she said softly. Teresa packed up the samples and gave her an encouraging smile.
“Dr. Fye will go over the results with you soon. You’re in good hands.” As Teresa stood beside her, Alice leaned back against the chair, exhaling slowly. The silence felt heavy, but she steadied herself, knowing this was just the beginning of her fight.
She bit her lips together and took a deep breath. “C-Can you help me walk, I want to see Arthur as soon as possible.” She said, her voice was desperate and anxious was all over her. Teresa smiled.
“Yes, of course I will escort you.” She responded with a smile on her face. The days passed quietly, the stillness of the hotel room a stark contrast to the tumult of Alice’s thoughts. Their time together had been peaceful, but there was an unspoken tension in the air.
On the sofa, Alice nestled into Arthur’s side, her head resting on his shoulder as the weight of the upcoming results settled between them like a looming cloud.
“If things will work out and be good for us, what are we going to do, Arthur?” Her voice was low, carrying the distant hopes and dreams that filled her heart despite everything.
Arthur ran his fingers through her hair, his lips brushing her forehead gently. “All I could ever want is to be with you till the end of my life. I think that’s all that matters for me right now,” he replied softly, as though reassuring both of them in the face of uncertainty.
Alice shifted slightly, looking up at him with a playful pout, though the tension in her eyes remained. “Is that all you ever think of? I mean, there are so many things we could do—explore different places, learn the traditional cultures of people who live in those places.” She paused for a moment, her pale face coloring as a sudden thought occurred to her. “Also… w-w-we could have children of our own,” she stammered, her voice barely audible as she turned her face away, her blush deepening.
Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise. That idea had never crossed his mind. He let out a soft chuckle, but his amusement quickly turned to confusion when he saw the irritation in her expression. She turned her back to him, her face a mix of sadness and frustration. "I see,” she muttered, her voice carrying a quiet hurt. “You don’t want to build a family with me, do you?”
Arthur’s heart ached at the thought. He immediately pulled her close, holding her tightly as he kissed her neck in an attempt to comfort her. “Our daughter will be just like her mother—strong and beautiful. That would be a treasure to me,” he whispered softly, his breath warm against her skin.
Alice's breath caught in her throat, and for the first time, she let herself truly smile. She patted his hair gently, a tenderness in her touch that was more than just affection. “I want a son who’s like you,” she murmured, her voice soft and sweet. “Serious, reliable, and above all, kind. I’ve been longing for a family for so long, and I’m grateful I can have that with you.”
Arthur's heart swelled as he kissed her lips, the gentle embrace wrapping around them both like a warm cocoon. “That should be my line,” he said, his voice full of love and longing as they settled into each other, letting the moment linger.
The following days passed quickly, and when the test results arrived, they immediately made their way back to the clinic. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as they entered the sterile, quiet room.
Dr. Fye and Teresa were waiting for them, their expressions unreadable but serious. The medical documents in their hands seemed heavy with unspoken truths.
"Good morning,” Dr. Fye greeted them with a slight smile, her tone light but not without gravity. “You arrived quickly. I’m glad to see that." Arthur gently guided Alice to a chair, and they sat together, their hands entwined. Alice could feel the rapid beat of her heart as Dr. Fye took her seat across from them, her gaze focused on Alice with a level of intensity that made Alice feel exposed.
“Alice,” Dr. Fye began, her voice gentle but firm, “we’ve gone over the results, and there are a few things we need to discuss.” She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. “Your blood work shows severe anemia. Your red blood cells and hemoglobin levels are dangerously low. This is why you’ve been feeling so fatigued and experiencing shortness of breath. Your platelet count is also significantly reduced, which is why you're experiencing frequent bruising and bleeding.”
Alice’s hands clenched the edge of the chair, her knuckles white, while Arthur’s grip tightened around hers, offering silent strength. Alice kept her eyes trained on Dr. Fye, her mind racing.
“The white blood cell count is elevated,” Dr. Fye continued. “There’s a high percentage of immature cells in your bloodstream, which indicates that your leukemia is progressing. The bone marrow test confirmed this as well—it’s producing a large number of abnormal cells, crowding out the healthy ones.”
Arthur’s stomach churned at the words, but he held his composure, wanting to be strong for Alice. His heart, though, sank with every word that left Dr. Fye’s lips. Dr. Fye set down the clipboard with a soft exhale. “The good news is that your leukemia is still in the chronic phase, so there is a window to act before it becomes more aggressive. The treatment we recommend involves a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, both of which can slow or stop the progression.”
Arthur’s eyes widened as he absorbed this information. “Chemotherapy…” His voice trembled slightly. “That means there are risks, right?”
Dr. Fye nodded solemnly. “Yes, Arthur. The treatment does come with risks. One of the potential side effects is that it can impact Alice’s fertility. Chemotherapy and some of the medications we’d need to use could damage her ability to have children in the future.”
The room fell silent. The air seemed to thicken around Alice as the words sank in. She stared at Dr. Fye, the gravity of the situation slowly crushing her from the inside. She had always dreamed of a family—children, a future. Now that dream seemed far beyond her reach.
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