Four Months Later

                Bryce was up late, trying his hardest to focus on his midterm study guide. Michelle had practically forced him to stay in school, despite his ardent objections. Their life was crazy enough has it was, with cancer treatments and doctor’s appointments, everything had blurred together. Michelle didn’t want Bryce to put his life on hold, which was a sensitive subject for her since she’d dropped her classes shortly after her diagnosis. Between the physical side effects of the treatments and the mild depression Michelle felt about being sick, school was just worth the effort. Bryce felt similarly, that he should work and be there for Michelle. All he wanted was to hold her hand and help her, but that only made things harder. I don’t want you to always see me like this, Michelle would say. I’m not the beautiful women you felt in love with. Of course, she was referring to her ever thinning hairline and the fact that she’d gone from curvaceous to gaunt and thin. But Bryce didn’t give a damn about her appearance or their sex life, because he only cared about one thing. He wanted to help Michelle get healthy, whatever the cost. So after a lengthy debate about their situation, they’d come to an agreement. Michelle and Bryce moved in with his parents, so that Tina Santiago could help take Michelle to appointments and help care for her. In some ways, Bryce’s parents were thrilled. They were lonely in their big house with no children and Bryce’s parents adored Michelle. But on some level, Bryce knew his parents were worried. Everyone was worried. Guys his age were supposed to go to pub crawls, not to their wives latest radiation therapy appointment. But he’d do it for eternity, because she was still alive.

                Bryce watched his wife sleeping on the couch, noting how she actually did still look beautiful. She had a scarf wrapped around her head to cover the bald spots, and her face looked soft. He couldn’t help but sit and watch her, hoping she could get some decent rest after the latest treatment.

“So how is she doing,” Bryce’s father, Martin, asked.

“Well, she is sleeping,” Bryce said. “I talked to Dr. Bresko today about her test results; it could be better.”

“Did he talk to Michelle,” Martin asked.

“Not yet,” Bryce replied. “I asked him to tell her in the morning. She had a very rough day today; she felt so sick. I think she just needs to sleep.”

“So what did the doctor say?”

 “Basically, she isn’t getting worse, but she isn’t getting better. The cancer is just stable, not going one way or the other. They can continue the current treatment and hope it helps, but it might not.”

“And the damage it does to her body might make other treatment options difficult.”

“So does that mean they look into a transplant option,” Marti asked.

“Yeah,” Bryce said. “Michelle’s dad and cousin are getting tested tomorrow to see who the best match is. She should be in surgery by the end of the week.”

“That is good news, Bryce.”

“I hope so,” Bryce said. “Dad, I can’t say thank you enough for helping us out. I mean, when I got married I thought of a lot of scenarios and how we’d handle them. But I never thought of what to do when my wife got cancer.”

“Son, you helped us plenty of times,” Martin said. “We’re family. This is what we do.”

“I know,” Bryce said. “I’m going to sit with her while she sleeps.”

“Ok, son,” Martin said.

***

Michelle sat in the bed with a small notebook computer on her lap. Bryce had went to get her something to drink, helping like always. Michelle appreciated his love and attention, but she also felt guilty. Sometimes she thought about how they’d only gotten together to pay for school, and now, that reason was gone. He had every right to walk away, but still, Bryce was there. He was more than a husband to her, he was like her guardian angel. So, she kept fighting and trying to get better, although her self-resolve had little to do with it. She had been going to support groups with other patients, and trying to find ways to be happy. A small part of her feared she wouldn’t survive this battle and she’d just drift away into oblivion. My life is freaking John Green novel, she thought. Still, she intended to make her life special, to enjoy the moments. But still, she couldn’t help thinking of the inevitable, so she typed away on two separate lists. One was for the best case scenario, and one was for the worst case scenario. Bryce emerged with a cup of water and a smile, making Michelle return the gesture. My angel, she thought to herself.

“Hey there,” Bryce said. “What are you doing?”

Michelle closed one of the documents, not wanting Bryce to see it. She turned the screen to him.

“A hundred things,” Bryce said. “For Michelle and Bryce to do when Michelle doesn’t have cancer.”

“I am trying out some therapy exercises,” Michelle said. ‘Research shows that positive thinking and goal setting helps patients through the process.”

“Well,” Bryce said with a grin. “Let’s take a gander here. You’ve already written seventy two items.”

“I think you’ll appreciate number nine,” Michelle laughed.

Bryce read the words have a ton of crazy sex and laughed.

“I think that needs to move to number one,” Bryce said with a wink.

                “There is so many other things to put on there,” Michelle said. “Besides, it’s not ordered. Like, graduating from college and having a wedding are both there. We’ll probably have a wedding before we graduate.”

“You sure you want to marry me,” Bryce said playfully.

“Well, maybe,” Michelle said. ‘But you’ll have to earn it a little bit.”

“Ha, that’s cute wife,” Bryce said. “What else is on the list… Go to Disneyland with all of our nieces. Dios

“I take it by the slip into Spanish you don’t like that idea,” Michelle laughed.

“Oh, and here is a good one,” Bryce said. “Go to Cancun for spring break. You need to get one of those tiny bikinis.”

“Once I get a body again,” Michelle sighed. “I never thought I’d be sad to loose so much weight.”

“You’re beautiful, as always,” Bryce said. “Holy shit, Michelle. Why is hug Britain Declan on the list?”

“She is my stepmom. I think we should make amends at some point.”

“Then why is the following item pour water on Britain Declan to see if she melts.”

“I’m not saying she is the wicked witch,” Michelle said. “But no one has ever proven she isn’t the wicked witch before.”

                There was a knock on the door and Bryce turned to see Paul Silas, watching them.

“Dad,” Michelle said. “What a nice surprise.”

Michelle and her father had been oddly civil throughout her whole treatment. They still fought, but usually, they just acted cordial and keep things simple. It was working, but Britain hadn’t come to the hospital once.

“Well, Bryce asked me to be here,” Mr. Silas said.

“Oh,” Michelle said. “I guess that’s good. Dr. Bresko wants to talk with me. It appears we have some decisions to make.”

“Well, I will be sure to come back in after you talk to Dr. Bresko.”

“You can stay for the meeting, both of you,” Michelle said.

“No, we have to chat,” Bryce said, smiling.

“Uh huh,” Michelle said. “I know what’s going on. Someone has a birthday next week, and that someone is the room. Don’t do anything fancy, I might die if I get too excited.”

Bryce laughed, but honestly, he had completely forgotten her birthday. It wasn’t intentional, they just had a lot on their plate.

                “Go on,” Michelle said. “Go and have your little ‘chat.’ I’ll just wait in here.”

Bryce kissed her forehead and stood up before he turned to leave. Bryce closed the door behind him and stared at his father in law.

 “So, what is happening,” Paul Silas asked.

“Michelle’s doctor wants her to get a transplant,” Bryce said. “I would appreciate it if you would get some blood work done and consider being a donor.”

“I will,” Paul said. “You know, my daughter and I have come a long way during this time.”

“I would say so,” Bryce replied. “You’ve stepped up.”

“My wife has not,” Paul said. “I am considering leaving Britain. I just need to figure things out first. We have this tricky pre-nup, which protects her if I decide to leave.”

“Oh, ok,” Bryce said. “So, what does this have to do with us?”

“I want my daughter to get better,” Paul said. “And right now, she needs you by her side. Right now, you are her strength. But I don’t care for it. She’s too young to be married.”

“But she is married,” Bryce said. “And none of it matters. You said so yourself, she needs me.”

“And she needs a transplant,” Paul said with a smirk. “You know, I thought I could make you disappear before. I thought you had a dollar amount, or a chance at success, or something I could use to persuade you. Then I realized something, there is only one thing in the world Bryce Santiago wants right now. If I could give it to you, you’d probably do anything. And the only thing you want is for Michelle to be healthy, and I can give it to her.”

                “What the fuck are you saying?” Bryce said. “You’re going to hold your bone marrow hostage unless I leave her? Are you so cruel that you want your daughter to be alone and heartbroken in the oncology ward?”

“You say cruel, but I know best,” Paul said. “I have some papers for you.”

Paul opened his briefcase and handed them to Bryce, his eyes cold and steely.

“It’s a contract,” Paul said. “Complete with an ironclad non-disclosure agreement. It says that you will be leave Michelle two days before your vow renewal ceremony, which will be scheduled within a year after she is in remission. You will divorce her, and you will be contractually obligated to keep our agreement private.”

“And if I break the contract,” Bryce said. “Or if I told her your plan?”

“Then I will be owed reparations,” Paul Silas said. “Four million dollars for breach of contract.”

“I won’t sign that,” Bryce said. “I love her, I can’t leave her. I just can’t.”

“Fine,” Paul Silas said. “Put my daughter on a transplant list. Who knows, maybe she’ll get lucky.”

Paul turned and walked away. Bryce stared at the papers, shaking his head. He didn’t know how, but Bryce was going to find a way. He was going to get Michelle’s father to comply and he wouldn’t sign any damn contract to do it.