Judge

[|Someday By Nina] Someday, By Stephanie Juge

“Did I do something wrong? Did he forget about me? Was he nervous? Did he stand me up? Did he lose interest in me?” These were the thoughts that rushed through Melanie’s cluttered mind as she sat in wonder on her family’s lazy boy couch. She wore a bright sapphire mini-dress, her hair cascading in long brown curls down to her 32-inch waistline. Her mystical deep blue eyes were brimmed tears.

It was the night of the homecoming dance. She sat in wait for her black-haired boyfriend of a year and a half to bang on the front door and whisk her away for a night of friends and fun. Only it was 7:17 and he should have been there over an hour ago. Six o’clock to be precise. Though Melanie knew Chase did this kind of thing all the time, she was really excited about this dance. Chase seemed to be as well, so she thought for once in his life he would be on time. “He at least usually has the decency to call and let me know he’s going to be late. He’s so inconsiderate!” Melanie yelled in her thoughts. Just then, the silver v-tech house phone began to ring. She hurriedly rose from the sofa, then immediately regretted her decision. She cringed and grabbed her stomach and doubled over in an instant pain. Just as quickly as the sharp sting had come, it had gone. She regained her composure and reached for the cordless phone. “Hello?” Melanie stated in her singsong voice. “Hey babe! It’s Chase!” Her careless boyfriend exclaimed. “I know I’m late and everything, I just got caught up in running some errands for my dad. I still have a little bit more to take care of, but I should be there in around thirty minutes. Don’t worry, the dance starts at 8, we’ll get there in time. Love you babe, bye!” And with those few short sentences, he hung up on the other line. This enraged Melanie a bit. “I’ve had been waiting since 6 o’clock for him to get here, tear-filled eyes and unanswered questions twirling around my mind. Then he calls and gives me a 30 second explanation and hangs up. I don’t understand why I stay with him, I mean it’s not like he’s a good boyfriend. He doesn’t listen to me, he is never on time for dates, he is way more into himself than he could ever be in me, and the worse thing of all, he didn’t even know about my…” “Hey honey.” Melanie’s thoughts were interrupted by the soft voice of her mother as she gracefully descended the stairs. “What are you still doing here?” “Chase is going to be another 30 minutes until he gets here. He had to run errands for his dad.” She enlightened her mom. “Ok, well I was just about to head over to McDonalds and grab some dinner for your father and I. Do you want to come with me?” “Sure mom, I’m getting hungry.” With that they were off to the fast food restaurant. Within 7 minutes, they were pulling into the parking lot. Melanie was the first to walk inside, the salty smell of fries tickling her peach colored nose. As they were treading over to the register to decide on what to get to eat, she happened to peer over to the tables by the restrooms. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing and did a quick double take. It was Chase. Her Chase. Sitting at a table kissing all over some blonde. Her heart must have skipped a beat, maybe two. Just then, Chase lifted his brown eyes to meet Melanie’s. You could see the look of horror on his face. Not because he was sorry for what he had done, but because he was sorry he got caught. Without a second thought, she turned on her heels and headed back for the door she has just came through moments before. Chase immediately ascended from the red chair in pursuit of Melanie. “Mel! I’m sorry! This isn’t what it looks like! You can’t walk out on me! Just give me a chance to explain! I love you Melanie! This was just a mistake.” He finally caught up with her and spun her around to face him. “Please Mel. Give me a chance to explain. I do truly love you. This wasn’t what it looked like.” He tried to explain to her. “Chase,” she spoke in soft words as she grabbed his soft tan hand, “I love you. I really do love you.” “See and I love you too baby. Lets not let this get in between us.” “Let me finish. I love you. The thing is, when I say I love you. I actually mean it. Unlike you. You’ve cheated on me numerous times and I’ve taken you back each and every time. This time, I can’t. I need to do what’s right for me. So… it’s over.” Right with those words, she turned and headed back to her parents silver Mercedes, warm tears running down her rosy cheeks and strong wind whipping her hair into her eyes. She had given him enough chances, and she just couldn’t take the hurt anymore. She knew what she had just done was the right thing. Her mother gallantly followed in behind her and started up the car. “I’m so sorry darling,” her mother began in that comforting voice of hers, “I know you really care about that boy. I’m glad you finally realized he wasn’t worth it though honey. You deserve better than that Mel dear.” “Thank you mom, you’re right.” “Do you want me to take you over to the dance? It starts in a couple of minutes.” “No thank you mom. I think I just want to go home and go to bed. I don’t want to be tired for my appointment in the morning. Plus I’m a little nervous.” “You have every right to be nervous darling. This is it. After all of the chemotherapy and restless nights in the hospital, your cancer might actually be gone.” When her mother said that, instead of worrying about what tomorrow was going to bring, Chase popped into her head. She had to hide one of the biggest parts of her life from him. He didn’t even know about her cancer. Its not like she ever had a chance to tell him. He was always talking about sports or himself and it’s like he never had enough time for her. So anytime he would question her to why she was out of school for multiple days at a time, she would hand him the little white lie of her going on a family vacation. She couldn’t believe he always accepted that excuse, but as self-centered as he is, it wasn’t really a surprise. With all of her bumbling thoughts and her tear-stained cheeks, she fell asleep in the grey leather seat.

Before she knew it, it was the next morning and she was riding in the back seat of the Mercedes on the way to the cancer clinic. Her brunette father driving and her fidgeting mother in the passengers seat. She believed her parents were more nervous than she was. She didn’t waste many thoughts on her cancer. She thought of it as a blessing rather than strife. She tried to use it to benefit her instead of bringing her down. Her optimism often baffled doctors, considering a lot of cancer patience around the age of 15 suffered from depression. Soon they were pulling into the front lot of the clinic. Her expressionless father got out and opened Melanie’s door for her and held out an umbrella to protect her hair and clothes from the pouring down rain. The family quickly rushed into the dim lit building to sign in. Melanie and her father sat in the hard black chairs as her mother conversed with the receptionist. They waited and waited in the white walled waiting room for a doctor to come out and give them the news. Just then, angst hit Melanie. Her leg began shaking and her heartbeat increased ten-fold. Doctor Martin, her specialist, was heading over to where they sat. It seemed as though he was walking in slow motion, as if every step he took was a minute long. Suspense rattled through Melanie. What was to become of her? Finally, after what seemed like an hour, he reached his patient. He held an old brown clipboard in his hand, which in turn held Melanie’s fate. So, as cliché as it is, he held Melanie’s future in his hands. “Could my cancer really gone? Am I cured? Do I still have the cancer? Could I possible… Die?” These few more treacherous thoughts rushed through her mind. “Well your results are in dear,” words being spoken in his raspy voice, “It’s good news. All of the endless chemotherapy didn’t go to waste. It was a success! Your cancer is gone…” Melanie had completely zoned out in her own world after those few sentences. Her cancer was really gone! She couldn’t believe it! All of the pain and agony for the past two years and it was over! Well she knew there were going to be those recovery pains, like the one yesterday before she answered the phone, but that was nothing compared to being cured of this cruel disease, which claimed many lives before her. Just as soon as they were entering the clinic, they were heading out. Right as she was about to go through the glass sliding doors, the Atwood’s came in. A widow, her ill daughter (who was suffering of the same kind of cancer as Melanie), and her 17-year old son who Melanie had become rather close to in the past 2 years of her illness. He was there the very first time Melanie came to the clinic, right there with his sister. Whenever he would come with his sister, Melanie and him would have long conversations about anything at all. Occasionally he would bring her her favorite candy, sour patch kids. “Hey Melanie! How are you?” Derek, the 17-year old son questioned. “I’m doing amazing! My results got in today and I’m cured! My cancer is gone! It’s gone for good!” She couldn’t help but scream. Suddenly he embraced her in a big bear hug. “See I told you there was nothing to worry about! I just knew you’d be fine!” Then both pair of blue eyes met… and so did their lips. They stood there passionately kissing for a good few minutes. In that instant, Melanie knew that everything would be ok. She left her no good boyfriend, her cancer was gone, and she found an amazing guy who had been there for her since day one in the cold clinic. The right guy had been right in front of her the whole time. For once in her dreary life, everything was working out. No more painful chemotherapy, no more endless nights of pain and wondering, no more feeling like she wasn’t important. All of the strife was gone, put to a complete end, and a new beginning was upon her.