|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 7, 2009 1:31:05 GMT 2
Lily couldn't really register anything that was going on around her. She was weak and tired, and she honestly just wanted to go to sleep. As she fell to the ground, she realized that someone was kneeling beside her. Understanding that it was Wyatt, her hand reached out to him, and she forgot all about her leaving him for two years without any knowledge of her whereabouts, and without telling him what was going on. She just wanted her husband, and she knew that he could bring comfort to her like no one else could. Even if he hated her, she knew that if she was just in his arms for a moment, she would be comforted. Once more she heaved up blood, and she knew that it wasn't right. She shouldn't be vomiting blood like this. It didn't make any sense to her. She had been healthy for a while. She had been in perfect condition on her return to Westin, with only the occasional stomach ache. She hadn't thought anything of it because it had never been this bad before.
Suddenly, she became aware of herself being moved. Someone was picking her up and cradling her in their arms, and his familiar scent filled her mind. It was Wyatt. Finding the comfort and solace she needed in his arms, she rested her head against his chest, her one hand going up to clutch his shirt. She didn't want to let go. She didn't want him to let go. Another tear slipped down her pale cheek, and she trembled violently as he hurried to his truck. His yells to Billy sounded louder than normal, and she closed her eyes tightly to try and relieve that pain. It didn't work, but she hadn't expected it to. A groan escaped her as she continued to clutch to his shirt, but only one thought could cross her mind. Katy. She was scaring Katy, and she hated herself for it. She leaned into her husband, into the one she loved more than anything, and wondered if she would make it through this. Death had never been an option for her before. But now, now it seemed real. And it seemed close. She tried opening her mouth to speak, but nothing would come up, and only more vomit threatened to. Closing her mouth quickly, she kept her eyes shut and felt herself being placed in the truck seat. He buckled her up quickly, and Lily vaguely felt his hand on her cheek. She couldn't stay awake. She just wanted to sleep. She just wanted to rest. It couldn't hurt, could it? Lily's head fell to the side and even with Wyatt reaching across to squeeze her hand, she couldn't wake herself up.
Before long, the young vibrant woman from before had slipped into a sleeping state, and comfort came to her for the first time in a while. His words echoed in her mind as she drifted, and she was doing the best that she could. But her body was shutting down on her, and everything seemed to be spinning out of control. Lily wasn't doing well, and that much was obvious as she continued to shiver even in her sleep. As they reached the hospital, it didn't take long for the EMT's to get outside with the stretcher. They had heard his arrival, and were ready to help Wyatt's wife. Lily was carefully pulled from the truck, and they laid her gently on the stretcher, strapping her in before long. An oxygen mask was placed over her nose and mouth, and they covered her with a blanket to help with the cold. Wheeling her inside, they began the long night of tests and of x-rays, trying to understand what was wrong with Lily.
They had gotten her vital signs under control, but when she vomitted blood yet again, things seemed to spiral out of control once more, and Lily seemed to be getting worse. It was then that the cancer specialist was brought in. They didn't want to admit it, but it was their last resort. Once his tests were run as well, they came to the conclusion. Lily Parker had cancer. The man came out of the room where Lily was now residing in. She was awake, but weak, with the tube in her nose and the monitors beeping to keep her steady. He came out with a solemn look on his face, and walked to the only man that was in the waiting room. The doctor's name was Tom, and he knew Wyatt. He never wanted to see him in this kind of situation. "Wyatt? You need to listen to me, alright? We're going to try to get her through this, and it's a good thing you brought her when you did. We didn't catch it that early, but we caught it before it spread further than her stomach. Lily has maligant stomach cancer, and we're doing the best we can for her Wyatt. You can see her now, but we need to consider surgery here. She's going to need to go through the chemo, but we need to run more tests, and send a biopsy of the tumor we can remove. She needs you Wyatt, she really needs you." He didn't want to add that it was because she was in a bad way, so he kept his mouth shut for now. He waited patiently for the man to respond to all of this, feeling horrible for the guy. This wasn't what he needed right now, that was for sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 7, 2009 1:48:30 GMT 2
Word Count: 596
Status: Complete
Lily was gone before Wyatt really knew what was happening and he stared after her as they took her away. He was still sitting in his truck and once again, he was gripping the steering wheel with a vice-like grip. He had to get his car out of the way before he could go after her. But he couldn't move. He just sat there until eventually a nurse came out and touched his arm, asking him if he was okay.
Fine.
He'd said, closing his car door on her and driving into the parking lot. He tried to breathe but whatever was lodged in his throat, it was choking him. Despite the fact that he was terrified to see what they were doing to his wife, Wyatt got out of the car and strode towards the emergency room. When he walked into the reception, it was all too white. Too sterile and cold. He didn't know what was happening to Lily or where she was. A nurse that he hadn't seen before approached him, asking him for his medical details and such. He filled out the forms, his head resting into his hand as a sudden wariness overwhelmed him. Then he waited. And waited. It was about two hours after his arrival that Billy phoned. He opened up his cellphone, answering Billy's questions and reciting what had happened. After he had spoken to Katy, assuring his daughter he would be home by the next morning, she seemed to calm down a bit. Then he waited again.
It took hours and hours and Wyatt didn't move once. He sat in that chair with his head in his hands, like all those nights before where he had sat on the edge of his bed, sleepless. He didn't stir and he did not respond to the nurses with words they could understand, so they left him alone. People walked past him, people cried, some people were whispering and others didn't speak, they were just there. Wyatt had come into a comatose state, barely awake and when he was stirred by the doctor, he couldn't remember what he had been doing for the hours beforehand. He had stood, staring at the doctor like the guy was speaking chinese to him. It was a few minutes before he spoke.
Cancer?
He repeated, apparently only having registered those words. He pulled his finger through his hair then turned around, facing away from the doctor who he already knew - Tom. Wyatt's breathing quickened, becoming lighter and fast-paced. His hands balled into fists, so tightly that they began to shake and his knuckles turned white. He turned around after his hands relaxed, looking more resolved than disorientated.
Where is she?
Tom led the way through the double doors and down a short corridor that sped off into another corridor. Motioning towards door 67, Tom left Wyatt to his own devices to decide when he would enter. Wyatt didn't hesitate as he entered her room. That was when he hesitated. He stared at her, trying to register the sight of the woman he loved all tangled up in monitors and tubes. He walked slowly towards her bed, standing at the edge of it as if he couldn't come any closer.
I always knew you'd be a trouble maker.
He tried to smile that lopsided smile of his, his words sounding weak and foreign even to him. What was she going through? How much pain was she in? Did she want the surgery? Had she known about the cancer? Questions reeled but no answers prevailed. |
|
|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 7, 2009 12:33:09 GMT 2
Lily wasn't in physical pain any longer. They had given her drugs and medicine to help with the agony of her stomach, and she was resting quite comfortably in her bed. Her eyes had closed shortly after the doctor had told her what was wrong with her. Warm tears lined her eyes as she laid prone, not being able to move because she just couldn't. The tears escaped her eyes, and there were soon warm streams trailing down her cheeks, standing out on her pale skin. She was freezing, but no amounts of blankets could bring her any comfort. They had already given her two, and she was trying her best to stop shaking. She felt so vulnerable and weak, and exactly how she felt when she had been depressed. The hospital was the place she had come to many times with her mental illness, and she had vowed never to come back here again. Now she was. But this time, it was much, much more serious. She had cancer. Those words kept echoing through her mind, letting her know that this was something she had never even dreamed she would be facing.
Lily was letting her family down once again. She had told Wyatt, or tried to show him anyway, that she was different. That things were going to change and she was going to be there for the ones she loved. Now it seemed that that was impossible, for she was in the hospital, and couldn't even move. How could she be there for Wyatt and Katy while she was here? While she had cancer? How could she be the mother and the wife that she had planned on being upon her arrival to Westin? She couldn't, and it was breaking her heart. The young woman let herself cry now, small sobs choking her up because she was alone in her room. If Wyatt was here, she'd make herself stop, and be strong. She needed to be strong in this type of situation. If she showed fear, that meant that Wyatt might be afraid. She couldn't be the cause of his sadness or his fear any longer. She wanted him to trust her again, but this sickness was not aiding her in that fight. She had ruined what they had worked so hard to gain. It had taken so long, and now she felt like it had been thrown out the window once more. It wasn't fair, and it certainly didn't make any sense to her. She couldn't support her family now. She couldn't pull her share of work, and it would make that much more for Wyatt. She was going to try to work of course, but it seemed impossible right now. As soon as she began to even think about working, she felt exhausted at the meer thought. The doctor had been talking about surgery and chemotherapy, but Lily had been blank when he had been explaining to her what this all meant. His first words kept ringing through her mind over and over again. You have cancer. How was someone supposed to react to that? How was she supposed to tell Wyatt that?
She found that she was wishing for him. Hoping and praying that he would be here when all of the tests were done, and she was hooked up to these strange machines. The iv catheter in her arm was making her cold because of the fluids being pumped into her, and the tube in her nose was making her uncomfortable, but allowing her to take in the breath that was a bit hard for her to take at the moment. Groaning slightly as she shifted a little to the left, she suddenly became aware of the familiar footsteps outside her door. Her heart skipped a beat, and she weakly raised her hand to wipe at her tears. She didn't want him to see that she had been crying. That wasn't a good impression in the least. As he came in, Lily offered him a small smile, using all of the strength that she could gather to smile. As he stood at the edge of her bed, she willed him to come closer, but she doubted that he would. He was probably uncomfortable and felt awkward, and she wasn't going to pressure him. Hearing his words, she gave a small laugh, and tried her best to hide the pain that that action had caused her. Looking up at him, she took a deep breath and responded as best as she could. "It never fails to find me." She said in agreement about trouble. Smiling lightly, she looked up at him, and then knew she needed to get it off of her chest. Holding back her tears, she spoke out quietly. "Wyatt, I'm sorry. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I was supposed to come back, and help you. And try to make things better, and make up for what I did to you and Katy. And now I'm making more trouble. This is all my fault Wyatt. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She finished finally, and one tear managed to escape down her face. She hated this, but she didn't knoww hat else to do. She had to tell him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 7, 2009 20:15:23 GMT 2
Word Count: 411
Status: Complete
Wyatt's smile gentled when she spoke, her own smile fueling his. But he couldn't feel any real happiness or even shake out a little laugh. Death had not even occurred in his mind. He couldn't face the thought of losing her twice and never being able to have another chance. If she died, that was the end. That would be his breaking point and Wyatt knew it. So how could she have felt about the whole situation? Trying to put himself in her shoe felt wrong. Firstly because he couldn't wrap his head around it, and second, he was a few shoe sizes bigger.
When Lily started speaking, he listened, but then again, he wasn't really. He was walking towards her, moving around the edge of the bed and coming alongside her. He stopped, sitting himself down on the edge of her bed, staying next to her. He stroked her cheek, feeling a bit of moisture from her tears that she had not wiped off before he came into the room. Then he did something that the both of them had been thinking about all day. He kissed her. Cupping her cheek in his hand, he kissed her tenderly and with such raw emotion that it was almost overwhelming. Then when he leaned away, the only expression that he wore was relief.
Not everythin' is your fault. This, right here, is no one's fault.
He spoke just above a whisper, sounding firm in his words like he always did. Wyatt had confidence in what he said, which was what gave the impression to people that he was so strong. But you could only be strong to a certain degree - there was always a breaking point. Wyatt stroked her neck, looking at the tubes along her bedside and the various machines with symbols and words that he had never heard of before. It was all very strange and so sudden, taking it in seemed unrealistic. Wyatt looked back into Lily's face, looking her in the eye.
And Katy was just a bit scared. You didn't so anything wrong. She just didn't understand.
Wyatt still felt scared, mainly for Lily who would have to go through the trauma of surgery and chemotherapy. She had looked so healthy just a few days before and now, she had a tube up her nose. Usually that would have been the pinnacle of tears from laughing so hard, but it wasn't exactly appropriate for the situation. |
|
|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 8, 2009 16:45:19 GMT 2
Lily was afraid that Wyatt would never forgive her after this. She had come here expecting to make things right, or to at least try to let him see that she was trying. But how in the world was she supposed to try when she was stuck in this hospital bed? She wanted to go home, she wanted to go back to the ranch with Wyatt and Katy, and be with them if she wasn't going to make it through this. Being in a hospital wasn't what she wanted if this was it. Being at home with the two people that she loved the most in her life was what mattered now. Lily took a deep breath and exhaled quietly, even though that small motion brought pain into her heart. She resisted the urge to groan while he was in the room, but she felt the familiar pain rising in her stomach. Lily didn't understand how this could have happened. She had been so healthy lately, and she had been feeling better than she ever had in a long while. Was this simply punishment for what she had done for her family? It seemed a little extreme, but maybe she was deserving even if she didn't think it.
Lily closed her eyes for a moment as he stood at the end of her bed, but then she became aware of movement over the beeping of her machines. Opening her tired eyes, she stared across as Wyatt moved to come and sit beside her. The smile upon her face was there, and her eyes held a bit of light in them. They weren't as bright as they had been all day, but they were certainly lively at this point. Him being near to her was the thing that was going to get her through this. Him being open and willing to be around her was going to help the most. She didn't want to come out and say that, but maybe there was a way that she could show him. She needed him now, even if he didn't want her any longer. She couldn't do this alone anymore, and she simply didn't want to. Lily was about to open her mouth to speak, but suddenly his hand was resting on her cheek, and he was leaning in. Lily was able to bring her own hand up to cover his, and her fingers matched perfectly once more over his. It was like they were a perfect fit, and nothing was going to change that. Not even this sickness. Lily looked into his gentle eyes, and soon felt that this was going to be alright. They could both make it through this and come out stronger on the other side. Maybe this was a good thing after all. If only she could get better and get rid of this cancer. The young woman looked to Wyatt, and was completely taken aback by what he was doing. Wyatt was leaning forward, and soon enough, he had captured her lips in a kiss that she had never been expecting.
But she responded. She responded with all of her pent up feelings and emotions. Lily had been wanting to kiss him all day long, and she had finally gotten her wish. Even if it was the cancer that brought them closer. Whatever it took to allow him to understand she still cared for him, and she still wanted him. Leaning into him, she let her passion match his own, and all too soon, the kiss had ended. She pulled back, breathless and shaking from the experience, and realized just how much she loved the man in front of her. Her feelings had never faded, and had never faltered, and she felt that maybe his hadn't either. Not after that. He was speaking to her though, and she let her eyes remain on his, listening to what he was telling her. Everything wasn't her fault. That's what he was saying to her. And maybe she just had to trust that. But he needed to know how she felt. "I feel like I deserve something like this because of what I've done." She said, the tears gathering in her eyes once more. She tried to blink them back, but she couldn't be strong any longer. They began falling once more, and this time she wasn't ashamed to let him see her cry. She was scared, and she didn't know how this was going to turn out. "I don't know what to tell her Wyatt. How can we show her not to be scared when that's the only thing I am right now? I don't want to leave you two again Wyatt. I want to go home." She whispered the last sentence, unable to get it out through her tears. She didn't want to die, that's what she was telling him. She didn't want to die so soon after finding them and being with them. She didn't know what to do now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 8, 2009 21:00:25 GMT 2
Word Count: 498
Status: Complete
Lyrics: In The End by Linkin Park
Wyatt saw the way his wife was shaking, the way she trembled like she couldn't control it. He wanted to hold her, but would he hurt her? Would his trying to comfort her hurt her more than she was hurt already? Things didn't always make sense, just like now. It was unreal. It wasn't even a week ago that he had been raising his voice to her, being more open than he usually was comfortable with. And now? Now she was breaking apart piece by piece. He couldn't let her go again. He had to be strong for her. As her husband, lover and friend, he had to do everything in his power to save her. No one could do this on their own, no matter their inner strength. Like I said, everyone has their breaking point. Its just a matter of time before it surfaced.
Taking her hand in his, he held on firmly, careful not to hold it too tightly. He looked her in the eye, his other hand on the bed next to her pillow and he was leaning in close. It was intimate, but he wasn't uncomfortable with it. He loved her, even if he hadn't said it aloud.
Lil, listen to me. Okay? Listen.
He couldn't let her go. She couldn't let him go. It was a hopeless scene to watch, the pure desperation in their voices and fear in their eyes, but what he felt for her was real and it was strong. It had survived their years of hardship and it was certainly going to survive now. They were stronger. Right?
(It starts with)
One thing / I don’t know why
It doesn’t even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind / I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time
All I know
time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It’s so unreal
Didn’t look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on / but didn’t even know
Wasted it all just to
Watch you go
I kept everything inside and even though I tried / it all fell apart
What it meant to me / will eventually / be a memory / of a time when I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
Whatever fate has in store for you, your life won't end here. There has got to be somethin' more. This can't be the end.
He searched her eyes for something, anything that would show a hint of hope.
You came back.
This time Wyatt smiled, showing how happy he could finally be that she ahd returned.
We can be strong. I realize that we can't be strong all the time, but for Katy's sake we have to be. And when you need a helpin' hand I'm always there. For you, I'll be here.
He raised her hand to his lips, kissing the soft skin that he remembered so fondly. Everything changed so suddenly. Everything was out of place. It wasn't realistic. This was what you saw on the t.v.. It didn't happen in real life. But they had to get ideas from somewhere, right? This is probably where they got it from. Wyatt realized just how harsh life could be. Slaving away on the ranch for a day was nothing compared to the wariness he felt now. He was exhausted. Slaving through nights, trying to grab onto some kind of happy thought to push away the overwhelming unhappy ones could take a lot out of you. But when the happy thoughts had more value to a person, it made them all the more better, no matter how unbalanced they were. |
|
|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 9, 2009 4:13:26 GMT 2
The doctors had made her more worried than anyone else. First of all, they were more surprised to see her back here, and then secondly, they were even more surprised to see how sick she was. They told her that when she wasn't living in Westin, and getting those small stomach aches, she should have gone to the doctor right away. Then this could have been caught earlier, and then they could have taken care of it easier. Now the cancer had spread to most of her stomach, and they were going to try their best to remove what they could. The rest of it would have to be taken care of by chemotherapy and radiation. It was not going to be easy, and it was not going to be fun. They told her she was going to be really sick for quite a while, but it was good that she had her family beside her now. Lily hadn't known how to respond. So she just stayed quiet, getting the deer in the headlights look. What was she supposed to say to all of that? Okay? I can't wait? Lily was frustrated and upset, but most of all, she was scared.
She was afraid of losing Wyatt again, and she was afraid of losing Katy. When she had left and lost them before, she had the ability to come back. Now that she was sick, she wished she had come back sooner. They would have had more time together then. Now, it didn't matter. Now she was sicker than she'd ever been, and she didn't know if she'd have the energy or the ability to do the things that she wanted to do. She would though. If she wasn't going to make it through this, she wasn't going to live her life in fear of dying. Taking a deep breath, Lily exhaled slowly and looked to Wyatt. Her eyes were wide with fright, and she wasn't trying to hide it now. She saw the same emotion reflected in his eyes, and instead of making her more scared, it gave her a sense of comfort. He felt the same way. He knew that this was a serious situation, and that she might not get through this. Now they just had to tell Katy that her mommy was really sick, and she was going to be like that for a while. Lily knew Katy would understand, for the little girl was too smart for her own good. They were going to have a hard time keeping this from her. Lily didn't know what to do now. She wanted to go home, for she felt fine. She didn't want to be hospitalized any longer than she had to be. And then she heard him speak her name. Not just her name, but his name for her. Her big brown eyes found his immediately, and she allowed herself to stare at him. As he leaned in, she didn't pull away. She wanted to be closer to him...she wanted to feel his arms around her once more like he used to do when they slept in the same bed. She nodded her head weakly. "Okay." She responded quietly, watching him carefully.
They were going to make it through this. They had made it through so much before that it didn't seem right that they wouldn't come out on top. Unfortunately, this was different. This wasn't her leaving, and his opening up to her in a way that allowed him to yell and get his emotions out. This was a completely different situation, and one in which she could lose her life. She didn't want to die. Not now, not when she had him in her life again. She listened softly to his words, trying to let the comfort of his presence and his familiar confidence surround her. He always had a way of making her feel at peace because of how calm and sure he was. It always helped, and in this situation it made things better. He knew somehow that this wasn't going to be the end of her life. How she hoped and prayed that he was right. She couldn't take that idea right now. She couldn't die yet. Sighing once more, she nodded, and then saw his smile as he spoke his next words. Small tears filled her eyes once more, but now they were tears of happiness. Nodding her head, she spoke out. "I came back to you and to Katy. I came back to try and earn your forgiveness, but I don't think I've done a very good job of it." She said, a small laugh coming forward as she spoke her next words.
"Now you've got a good for nothing, half insane horse, and a woman who almost threw up all over your truck." She said, trying to lighten the mood in the room. She couldn't take the sadness anymore. She was tired of being sad. Smiling slightly, she heard his next words and nodded. "I can be strong for Katy, and I can be strong for you. I'm going to try my best to help you still. Thank you Wyatt. For this..and for everything." She finished, and then looked up as the doctor came into the room, interupting their quiet moments. Her eyes found Wyatt's and she tried her best to give him an encouraging smile. Her hand found his, and she gave his a squeeze, and then turned her attention to the doctor. Tom. A familiar face. Even though it was serious, Lily didn't mind having him here. Lily. Wyatt. I know you both realize how serious this situation is. We want to talk to you about your options, and what can be done for this. But first off, you can go home tonight. We've done all that we can for you right now, and I think you'll be more comfortable at home in all honesty. We'll send you home with the pain medication, and more instructions, but we believe the worst is over. We do however, want to talk to you about surgery to remove the tumor. We can remove it, and then put you through chemo and radiation to make sure the rest is taken care of. But I need your okay. This wouldn't start until next week as well." Lily listened somberly, and then nodded her head. She wanted to go home, and she was glad she could go now. If Wyatt wanted her of course. Sighing, she looked to him now. "I think I should get the surgery Wyatt." She finished honestly, and she knew he would understand the seriousness of her statement. All of her life, she had been petrified of anything to do with hospitals and cutting people open. Wyatt knew that the most out of everyone. And for her to say that showed that she really wanted to get better, because she really wanted to stay with him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 9, 2009 19:55:07 GMT 2
Word Count: 629
Status: Complete
Wyatt laughed along with her, his a little more boastful.
Not many people can outdo your entrance.
Wyatt stared quietly at his hand holding hers, falling into a soft silence as he considered what he said, promising to give this all he had. To help her. That was the main thing. Getting Lily through this was important and took priority over everything else. She couldn't die. That single word in his head seemed to wake him up and he had looked at her, jumping a bit when suddenly someone was speaking to them. Wyatt looked over his shoulder at Tom, standing onto his two feet whilst still holding Lily's hand. He stared at the doctor, listening to the options they had. Surgery. Chemotherapy. Radiation. Surgery had its complications and chemo was enough to kill some people on its own. Then it hit him exactly how hard this was going to be. But a Parker never backed out on their word. He wasn't going to start. He loved her too much.
Wyatt looked at Lily, who was telling him that she wanted the surgery. This was coming from Lily who, for all those years that they had been together, who shifted around in her seat every time they passed the hospital. Who hadn't been able to stand coming into the hospital when she was pregnant with Katy. Lily, who was so damn afraid of what happened in hospitals, especially cutting people open. He hesitated. What was he supposed to say? Okay, sure! Cut open my wife! It didn't quite sound right. Well, he had to say something.
Okay.
He looked at Lily for a moment longer then looked at the doctor, holding his hand out to Tom. Tom shook his hand and with a strong grip, Wyatt held on.
Gonna take care of her, doc?
Tom looked him in the eye, nodding.
"Yes, I am."
Wyatt let go of the doctors hand, who shot out more information. As if their minds weren't already reeling.
"I'd like you back in my office on Monday so that I can prepare you properly for what you're getting yourself into. Okay? Otherwise, I'll sign you out and you're free to go before then. A nurse will bring you your medication. Lily, you know how much to take."
Tom nodded then with a brief good-bye, he left them alone. Wyatt looked down at his arm, eyeing the time. It was nearly eight o'clock. They had both been kept awake for quite a while. When they had arrived the previous day, it was nearly dusk. Now the sun had already risen in the sky and the winds were picking up. Wyatt looked at Lily, exhaling.
Guess that's that.
He rubbed the back of his neck, still absorbing the fact that she wanted surgery. They were interrupted again as a nurse came shuffling through. She was rather broad, with a thick southern accent as she greeted them.
"Howdy, darlin."
She smiled at Lily, looking at Wyatt and eyeing him up before turning a cold shoulder on him and turning to Lily, making a fuss over the blankets.
"Luckeh thang. Ya'll get to shuffle on back home."
She giggled and Wyatt was quite taken aback, not sure what to make of this loud character. Then the nurse turned to him and he nearly took a step back.
"You."
She pointed a thick finger at him.
"Get this poor thang's clothes. What are ya? Decoration?"
Then she turned her back on him again, fiddling with tubes. Wyatt was at a loss.
And where might those be, ma'am?
"All brawn no brain. Hunneh, ya shoulda married some kinda rocket scientist, 'cuz ya ain't got one here. Closet."
She pointed at the door behind Wyatt. Feel like an ass - check.
OOC: Sorry, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to accents. xD |
|
|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 9, 2009 21:22:26 GMT 2
Lily was trying her best not to show that she was afraid. She didn't want Wyatt thinking that she was weak all over again. However, the truth was, she was more afraid than she ever had been in a really long time. This was even worse than the sickness she had gone through two years ago. The depression had never been as bad as to give her the thoughts that many people experienced. She had had her low points, but it was never anything that bad. Now, she was facing death. A death that she couldn't possibly begin to hope to control. She wanted to more than anything in the world, but she doubted that it would happen anytime soon. This cancer was something serious, but if what Wyatt said was true, then she wasn't alone. He was here to support her, and to help her along the way. Things were going to work out for the best. She just had to keep a positive attitude. Being optimistic was her main goal, and her main focus now.
If she remained upbeat and carefree, than maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could get through this. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled softly and then looked up to Wyatt as he had laughed along with her and spoke of her entrance. "Well, I wanted to make sure I was noticed." She said quietly with a smaller laugh, letting him know that this was how she was going to be. She was going to have her low points, there was no doubt about that. She was certain that after her first round of chemo and radiation that she was going to have a hard time with it. She smiled a little as a new thought came within her mind. Gazing at Wyatt, she spoke up, trying to show that she was going to be light hearted about this. "I don't know how I'm going to look without hair though. We'll have to do some serious hat shopping." She finished thoughtfully, and then let the familiar smile take over her face. This wasn't going to be the end of the world. It was cancer. It had to be manageable, right? The doctors would look more upset if it was worse than she thought, and that was the conclusion she was going to stick to. Taking another deep breath to relax herself, she looked up as Wyatt did, feeling him shift beside her. Afraid that he was going to release her hand, she tightened her hold on his, but it wasn't very strong at all. The grip actually showed how weak she really was, since Lily was a rather strong individual. Her fear filled eyes turned to look up into Wyatt's, and she waited patiently for what the doctor had to say.
"We caught it early, so that's a good thing in this situation. You have gastric cancer, Lily, and right now, it's stage II, which is still manageable. We want to do something called a subtotal gastrectomy, which will remove the part of your stomach and the tissues surrounding it that are infected with the cancer. We'll follow it with chemoradiation, which combines chemo and radiation therapy. You're young, and you're healthy. And you've got a good family behind you. We're going to try to pull you through this, alright?" Lily didn't know what to say. As he said he'd talk to them more about it on Monday, Lily felt herself giving up hope. He made it sound so serious, and she was afraid of her chances here. He didn't say what her chances were of making it, but she didn't know if she had faith in herself. But no, she couldn't give up. She had just spend all of this time making sure she wouldn't give up. Biting her bottom lip, she thanked Tom, and then looked to her husband. This really was happening. This really was serious. She didn't want to cry any longer, but after what Tom had just told him ,she felt like it was the only thing that she wanted to do. How were they going to explain this to Katy? She would figure out that her mother was sick soon enough, especially once Lily had to go to the hospital for a while, and would come home tired and sick after chemotherapy. Leaning back into her pillow, she closed her eyes, and then jumped slightly when she heard the new commotion from the room.
Hearing Wyatt's words, Lily opened her eyes and nodded slightly. "Until Monday, anyway." She agreed, and then wondered what they were going to do now. They were going to bring her her medication ,and the doctor had already signed her out. She was good to go home. Lily was exhausted in all honesty. Being up all night while being this sick wasn't anything that was putting her at peace. She was tired and in pain, and uncomfortable. She just wanted to go home. Sighing once more, she looked over at Wyatt and then jumped slightly when the loud nurse announced her arrival. Giving Wyatt a look with her familiar wide eyes, she bit her lower lip and then glanced across at the newcomer to the room. As the woman started bustling around and disconnecting her from everything, Lily was overwhelmed, and one who knew her could tell very easily. She sat up in bed, trying to inch away from the nurse, but never really succeeding. As the nurse spoke to Wyatt, Lily turned her humorous eyes up at her husband. A small laugh escaped her, and she reddened immediately, the red color making her appear flushed. Lily felt bad for Wyatt, and her brown eyes turned to the nurse before her. "He's perfect to me, ma'am." She said softly, turning her eyes to Wyatt for a moment. She knew it was early in their newfound relationship with eachother, but she wanted him to know. As Wyatt got her clothes and handed them over, Lily waited until he was turned around and then quickly changed into her clothes. She stood up and thanked the nurse, and was soon by Wyatt's side, looking exhausted and weak, but ready to go home. "Ready?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 10, 2009 12:33:18 GMT 2
Word Count: 560
Status: Complete
Wyatt smiled when Lily replied to the nurse about him being perfect. He had looked at Lily, winking just before the nurse began her rantings again.
This strange woman had Wyatt so wound up that he didn't even think about what the doctor had been telling them. They were going to cut away a part of her stomach, taking out what they had finally told them was gastric cancer. Okay. And breathe. Wyatt walked towards the closet, opening the door. He didn't have to look very far, as Lily's clothes were on a chair alongside the wall. He picked up the neat pile, walking back towards her bedside. Before he had a chance to do much with the clothes, the nurse had snatched them up and handed them to Lily. She then fussily pushed Wyatt to turn around.
"Haven't ya got any decency?"
She fussed and he nearly burst out laughing. He had finally found the humour in the way the woman acted, but he had to admit, she was a pain in the ass. He looked down at his watch again.
"Listen here."
Wyatt peered over his shoulder and seeing Lily dressed, he turned around. To be frank, he'd seen it all before. But who needed a pair of eyes on them when they were changing? Now, standing in front of the nurse, she waved her finger in his face after handing him a bottle of pills.
"The instructions are on the bottle. Don't overdose on 'em. Ya hear? An' don't let her outta bed. She needs her rest before that surgery and all the chemo."
Wyatt raised his hand, pushing her hand away from him.
Yes ma'am.
She stood up straight, looking like a bird with her feathers all ruffled up. He just smiled, stepping over to where Lily was and wrapping his arm around her waist, taking her hand in his, supporting her as she stood.
You okay, hun?
He asked.
"What are ya? A pigeon? 'course she ain't.."
For the love of God. Shut up.
The nurse's eyes widened, staring at him as if he had just slapped her across the face. He could find the funny side in it, but he had never liked southerns, especially the woman like this, despite how close he was to it himself.
Thank you.
Feeling a bit sheepish with his outburst, Wyatt looked at Lily. She was pale and earlier, when she had gripped his hand, the touch had been rather weak. They couldn't stand around all day. Holding her close to him, Wyatt led her past the nurse, who was still eyeballing him. Coming out of the room, Wyatt had to look around before knowing where to go. He hadn't been paying attention when he had first come down the corridor, but it wasn't a long way to go. Walking down the corridor, keeping a slow pace for Lily, he opened the double doors ahead of them, which led straight into the small reception area. He looked at the nurse behind the counter and she smiled.
"All ready to go?"
Yeah. Thanks Kylie.
In a small town, you really did know everyone. When they reached the outside, Wyatt looked at Lily with a lopsided smile.
Want me to carry you?
He motioned with a nod towards his truck, which was parked at least twenty meters out of reach. |
|
|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 11, 2009 5:28:57 GMT 2
Lily couldn't believe what was happening now. Her mind was whirling with questions and thoughts that she didn't want to be thinking about, but she didn't know how to push them away. What if she didn't survive this? What if this gastric cancer was something she couldn't get over and past, and she was going to lose Wyatt and Katy forever? In all honesty, the two years without them had been horrible, and she didn't want to go through that again. This time, she would be leaving again, but there was no chance of her coming back. There was no possibility that she could return to them, and there would be no reason for her to get down on her knees and beg for forgiveness. This time she wouldn't have any control. Pushing those thoughts stubbornly away, she looked up as Tom gave the final instructions. Monday. She had to be back here on Monday. Today was Thursday, and that only really gave her a weekend to live her life.
Her apprehensive eyes turned to gaze up into Wyatt's, but she didn't have long to think about what all of this meant. Poor Wyatt was now being terrorized by the southern nurse that had barged into the room, and Lily was trying her best not to laugh. As Wyatt caught her eye and winked at her words of him being perfect, she just gave him an innocent, but pure smile, and was soon being bustled away by the nurse. She closed the curtains for a moment after sniping at Wyatt, and Lily gave him an apologetic look, but the laughter was apparent behind her eyes. Sighing quietly, Lily worked slowly on pulling on her clothes. It took a lot out of her, and she was a bit embarrassed. This illness had come on so fast, and so strong, it was like way out of left field. She didn't know what this was going to do to her life. Taking a deep breath, she suddenly realized that that was a bad idea. For a moment, the fun and games vanished from the room as Lily grasped for the railing of the bed, finding herself coughing once more. The nurse was there to support her, but Lily didn't want the woman. She wanted her husband. She wanted Wyatt. But the nurse wouldn't let her near him at the moment, and Lily was forced to wheeze pass the sickness in her stomach. She didn't vomit, even though it had come awful close to that outcome. Straightening after a moment, she struggled to straighten up, and soon glanced off to the side to where Wyatt was, the embarrassment and shame obvious on her features.
But Lily only received an encouraging word from the nurse, and she was soon changed into her full ensemble. It was just a simple pair of jeans and a white tee shirt. The white tee shirt miraculously didn't hold any blood stains on it, even though it was strange how it didn't. She had been vomiting all over the place earlier, but Lily always had a knack for keeping her white clothes clean, no matter what was going on. Shaking those thoughts away, she shook a little as she stood on her own for the first time, but was extremely thankful when Wyatt approached her. She looked up at him with her big, innocent eyes, but there was something different about them. Even though she was trying her best to hide it, there was pain laced within her eyes, and she hated the fact that they had always betrayed her emotions. She could never hide anything from Wyatt, no matter what. Lily leaned into him a little more than she would have liked, but she had no choice right now. She was too tired, and too weak to support herself, and it was frustrating. Lily had always been rather self-sufficient, even when her depression hit home. It had to be obvious to Wyatt that she was no over that stage in her life. She was still smiling even when she had this life threatening illness hovering over her head. She wouldn't stop, that was for sure. As he questioned her, she nodded her head, before the nurse chimed in. "I'm good. Just tired." She finally admitted to him, determined not to lie to him any longer.
As her husband finally grew flustered with the nurse, Lily didn't blame him. At first it had been amusing, but now it certainly wasn't. Lily was exhausted, and the pain was starting to set in once more. She wanted to get home and be with her family now, not here in this hospital room with a nurse that seemed intent on insulting Wyatt. As he finally told the pesky woman what he really felt, Lily couldn't help but smile. Wyatt..the one who had always been polite and patient in every situation had finally cracked before she did. And she was glad for it. As the flustered nurse tried to find her voice again, Lily looked to Wyatt. "Quick. Get out while you still can." She said with a small smile, and was soon heading for the door. She had hurried to get out, but once she was in the hallway and away from the nurse, at a safe distance, she slowed right down. The exhaustion set in, and she leaned against Wyatt even more. When they reached the desk, Lily offered them a smile, and then found herself fading fast. Whatever they had done to her here was certainly effecting her quickly. She was falling asleep faster than Wyatt could blink. Waking herself up, she heard Wyatt's question. "You don't mind? I don't think I can make it Wyatt." She admitted, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to slow it down from the trek here. As she allowed herself to be picked up, she leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck. She didn't want to ever let go. As they went along, Lily became aware of some of the familiar faces in town. What could they say this was? Food poisoning? She didn't want the real sickness getting out just yet. She wasn't ready for more talk to circulate, even though this scene would soon spread like wildfire. A small wave of pain passed through her, and she leaned more into him. "Wyatt..." She whispered, trying to fight through all of this to the best of her ability. It seemed so hard though, and she was afraid. What if she let them down again? She couldn't do that to them. She wouldn't do that to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 11, 2009 13:04:45 GMT 2
Word Count: 360
Status: Complete
Lyrics: Love Story by Taylor Swift
I don't mind.
He replied, sounding gentle as he tilted his head to look at her. It could break a man's heart to look into his lovers face and see all of that shame. Lily had always been so independent. The both of them had been. So he knew how it must have been to give herself in, to have to depend on someone else. It was downright wrong. He bent down, his arms wrapping around her safely before picking her up. Almost immediately Lily was resting her head on his shoulder, her arms wound around his neck. He remembered the time when they had married. Standing at the altar, taking her into his arms and kissing her. So full of love and with a real passion for life. He wished for better days. Days where Lily could stand on her own without feeling sick. Days where Lily was going to be okay. And then she was saying his name, supporting herself more against him.
Nearly there.
We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts:
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd
and say hello;
Little did I know
That you were Romeo; you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
And I was crying on the staircase,
begging you, 'Please, don't go.'"
And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'"
Wyatt kissed her forehead, his lips brushing over her soft but pale skin. He had walked the distance and was standing alongside his truck, gently letting her down onto her own two feet, standing in front of her whilst she was against the truck for support. He looked at her for a moment, hesitating then reaching for his keys. He pulled them out, pressing a button on his remote and the trucks lights flashed, and he heard the doors unlock. Opening her door, Wyatt was looking at her again. He smiled.
You'll be just fine.
Used in simple terms, it could be a reassuring gesture. But wondering whether everything would in fact be fine was something entirely different. Wyatt could only believe that she would make it through all the trauma. If he believed anything else, then he couldn't be strong for her. He would rather hurt himself than let her down. Then again, in the end, although neither of them knew it, he wouldn't have to hurt himself. Fate had a plan with Lily Parker and this cancer wasn't going to kill her. Not this time. Not the next time. Not ever. |
|
|
|
Post by Lily Parker on Jun 12, 2009 4:59:13 GMT 2
He didn't mind. Lily almost cried with relief, but she held back the tears rather stubbornly. She knew why she was so emotional right now. This cancer had been a blessing in disguise. A really bad, horrible disguise, but one nonetheless. The illness had brought her and Wyatt together once more, and she couldn't be happier. Well, she could be. If she didn't have this sickness inside of her. The young woman was tried already, and she hadn't even begun her fight. She came to the conclusion that she was so exhausted because of the all nighter she had just spent with the doctors. Lily had gotten sick more times than she could count, and every time it had just been pure blood. It frightened her, but even though she was tired, it had kept her awake. She refused to fall asleep when that was happening to her because who knew what could happen. So she had kept herself awake, even if it wasn't the best thing for her to do. Lily didn't care anymore. She was going to do what she wanted and felt she needed to do.
If she wasn't going to make it through this, then she was going to live her life to the best of her ability while she was with Katy and Wyatt. And at that moment, the shock hit her. As she remained in Wyatt's arms, she felt the tears coming, and the silent sobs ripping at her chest. Oh no. How was she going to tell Katy? How were they going to tell their daughter that her mommy was sick, and that it was going to take her a while to get better? Lily didn't know, and that scared her the most. She knew she needed to be strong for Wyatt, and for Katy, but it was a scary thought. The little girl had just lost her grandfather, and she had just previously lost her mother, but not for good. What if she was going to lose her for good this time? Lily refused to let that happen. She would not abandon her family again. But try as she might, she couldn't get the tears to stop. Why was she being like this? This wasn't strong, this wasn't optimistic. This was real, old fashioned fear. Lily had never been this afraid in her life, and as Wyatt kissed her forehead, she tightened her arms around his neck. She voiced her worries and fears then. "What are we going to tell Katy? How are we going to tell Katy?" She questioned quietly, and then felt him setting her down in front of the truck. Lily's trembling hand went out to grasp the door handle, and she opened it to the best of her ability. With a little of Wyatt's help, she managed to climb into the pickup truck and buckle up her seatbelt. Hearing his words, she looked down at him from where she sat in his truck. The worry was laced within her eyes, but she was trying her best to be brave right now. She reached forward, and gently found his hand with her own. Giving his a small squeeze with the rest of the strength she could muster, she nodded her head, giving him an encouraging smile. "I know I will be."
The young woman agreed, looking at him with her now dull eyes. The life that had been so prominent days before had dimished greatly, and that was a sign of how sick she really was. It obviously wasn't a sign of her depression, but even then she had had a small light in her eyes. Now there was nothing at all, and it seemed that she was completely spent. She needed to sleep and rest, but that didn't seem like it was going to happen now. Her mind was whirling, and she was trying to sort through all that could have possibly gone wrong to give her this cancer. It wasn't going to kill her no, but it was going to take her for one hell of a ride. Her and the rest of her family. A ride that she was going to come out on top of though, and she was going to be sure of that. The chemoradiation was going to be hell, and the surgery was not going to be a picnic either, but that wasn't what Lily was worried about. She was more worried about her daughter and her husband. She didn't want him to have to be strong for them all. It wasn't fair for him to take all of this responsibility, and she wasn't going to let that happen thi s time. A part of her was worried though..what if he thought that her being sick this time was going to be exactly like last time? She had to let him know that she wasn't that person any longer. Once he got into the truck, Lily lifted her head long enough to look his way. reaching for his hand once more. She was starting to drift already, and her words were slurred with her exhaustion, but she was decipherable, and quite coherent. "I know I'm sick Wyatt, but this isn't going to be like last time. I won't give up on you and Katy like I did before. I was weak then, and stupid and selfish. This time I'm going to make it through, and I won't abandon my family. I promise you. I love you." There. She said it. She probably wouldn't have said that if she was fully awake, but she knew what she was saying. She was aware. This state had just given her the courage to say it. In another moment, Lily's eyes closed, but she wasn't sleeping. She was just resting until they got back to the ranch. And then they'd talk to Katy and Billy and Carl together about what was going to happen now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyatt Parker on Jun 12, 2009 18:33:00 GMT 2
Word Count: 872
Status: Continued
What are we going to tell Katy? How are we going to tell Katy? The desperate words coming from Lily made Wyatt feel a bit panicky about having to tell their daughter that her mother, whom she had only reunited with a few hours earlier, was really sick. Katy would know. Katy would somehow just know what was going through both of her parents minds. Death. She had only been nearly three when her grandfather, Allen, died. She had sat in her fathers lap, wrapping her arms as far around him as possible with as tight a grip as she could manage. She had cried into Wyatt's shirt until it had become quite damp from all of the tears. That had been her grandfather. Their little girl was far too young to understand why her mother might leave her again. In her world it was all butterflies, rainbows, unicorns, teddy bears and pink. Lord knows she loved her pink. But this made her innocent. It made her pure from death or anything like it. Like Finnegan's abuse. She knew her perception of her father, who had never raised his hand to her. Not one time. And Finn? He had a baseball bat to the face and everywhere else you could imagine. Death. The word forged memories, pain and thoughts that Wyatt Parker would rather forget. It was all for the best.
Wyatt's eyes were glazed as he shut the car door once Lily was safely inside. He walked around the front of the truck, looking dead ahead as if he'd been put on automatic. Getting into the drivers seat, he shoved the key into the ignition, rubbing his eyes and finally he looked as if he was actually looking at something again. He had shifted the gears when Lily reached for his hand. He looked at her and she was looking at him, her eyelids drooping over her blue-grey-green eyes. He had never really deciphered what colour they were. They changed on a daily basis. I won't leave you. Its not going to be like the last time. Then Wyatt froze. The three words that had meant so much before were spoken from her lips. His hand was still in the gear, tensely gripping onto it as he stared blankly at her. He hadn't expected it but before he had a say in it, she closed her eyes. She was resting. Her breathing was too heavy for her to be asleep. Wyatt's expression softened and he stroked the hair from her face. Kissing her cheek, he let her be. But he hadn't said that he loved her too. Maybe she would be too tired to notice. His inner battle was aroused again. Was forgiveness really as easy as one, two, three? No. He needed time. He had kissed her and promised her his care and strength, but saying that he loved her aloud sounded foreign in his mind. What was wrong with him now? What was he acting like a damned fool for?
The drive back to the ranch was easier than the time before. There was a bit of traffic around but most people were at work. Commuters walked on the sidewalks, some laughing and others really looking as if they couldn't face whatever task lay ahead of them. It was twenty to nine at that point and the sun was shining bright. It didn't seem quite right, as Wyatt felt the cold winds breeze right through his thin shirt. It had been pretty hot the day before. Autumn was here again. Wyatt raised his hand, acknowledging someone who smiled and waved. Her partner was trying to see who the woman was sitting next to Wyatt in his truck. He raised his eyebrows, saying something to the woman. Being too tired and stubborn to care for the gossip on their lips, he passed 'em by. The ranch was up ahead now, just in the distance as he drove out of town. It was home territory but it was also where another battle lay ahead. The battle that involved facing Katy's big, wide eyes. She had the same eyes as her mother. Every day that Lily was gone, Wyatt had to look into Katy's face and see his wifes eyes staring back at him. A daily reminder that she had left. That he had failed as a husband. Remembering a scene from the Cinderella Man where the two women sat facing each other in an empty room, one asking the other if she could control "hers" (her husband).
"No matter what they do, they always feel like they're failing us."
Wyatt knew that feeling all too well. He provided for his family. He had been brought up to believe that it was his responsibility and whenever something went wrong, he blamed himself and tried harder. It produced results, but not in the right way. It was times like this when he wished that those science fiction movies where true. He wanted to have the power to know what was going on inside Lily's head, to feel those emotions so that he knew what to do for her and how to do it right. Why couldn't it just be true. Just this once?
--> Continued at Silver Stag Ranch, Main Yard. |
|
