Chapter 16: Rain

The bone-marrow transplant was a success. I survived the observation period and my body was rapidly recovering. This was just another step in a long, slow process that would test our faith, hope, and love.

“You’re alright now, Rain,” Doctor Brown told us with a smile. “You’re one hundred percent cancer-free. Enjoy your life.”

I had broken all hospital records for quick recovery from the transplant.

I closed my arms around the good doctor’s neck and kissed his cheek, making him blush.

“Thank you, doctor, for everything you did. I longed to hear this news, and I still can’t believe I don’t have this monkey on my back anymore.”

Rolf and I were over the moon. It felt like a weight had been lifted from our heads, and we could start to look forward to the future again.

“Are you going to stop running now?” he asked.

I pretended to think, “No, but I’ll do it only if you come with me. You’re stuck with me, for life, Rolf.”

“That’s a life-sentence I can live with,” he said, kissing me.

Middletown organized a Night Beach Party for us, when we finally got back to town.

The bonfire was set up in a secluded section of the beach, a small bay sheltered by rockfall and bushes called ‘Lover’s Beach.’ When we arrived, the fire was already blazing and all of our friends were there.

I got a lot of hugs, tears, kisses, and cheers.

Someone had dragged logs close by the fire, and people were sitting on them, warming themselves by the heat, as twilight descended. Music played from some speakers nearby, although it wasn’t loud, more like soft world music. The kind of music I loved. The sound of chatter and laughter filled the air.

Janice was there, too, and I made my way across the sand to her. I stood in front of her, and I pulled her into a tight hug, wrapping my arms around her and pressing my lips to her cheek.

“Thank you, I owe you my life. Whatever you need, you have made a friend for life.”

“Um ... you’re welcome. Let me interview you for The Gazette and you can call us even.” I could tell Janice was obviously uncomfortable with the hug. She allowed it just for a few seconds, and then she drew back.

I was hugged and petted and kissed until I felt like a newborn baby, as delighted as a small child on her birthday.

“Welcome back, Rain,” was said over and over and over again. “What are your plans now?”

Rolf and I hadn’t talked about the future yet. We loved each other and that was fine for us. We had gotten used to enjoying one day at a time.

“I plan on staying here with Rolf. I finally found a home in Middletown.”

Someone handed me a beer and then someone else made a toast to me, reiterating my good news. I smiled and sipped my drink.

Rolf was taken to the side by Daniel and his friends. I sat by the fire on one of the logs. Tania sat down beside me and offered a small smile. I shifted uncomfortably, remembering the last time I had spoken to Tania at Theodore’s store.

“Sorry to hear about your cancer,” Tania said, quite abruptly. “I didn’t know at that time. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks, I guess,” I replied warily, “although it’s not my cancer.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry. Wrong choice of words, I guess.”

I nodded, doing my best to ignore her. People didn’t know what to say, and cancer made them awkward and uncomfortable. I understood that.

“So, you and Rolf are a thing?”

“Yes, we are. We are in love.”

“He’s sure acting like you’re the greatest couple ever.”

“I don’t care about other couples, but we went through hell together and that created a very strong bond between us.”

Tania twisted her mouth, but said nothing.

“If something good came out of all this, it is that it taught us to appreciate simple joys in life.”

“Well, you’re getting a lot of attention out of it.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Do you think I got sick to get attention?”

The idea that anyone would even think that about me made me feel sick.

“No. But I think you took advantage of it to steal Rolf from me.”

“Tania!”

Tania jumped at the sound of her name.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Janice demanded, her voice seriously pissed off. She moved past me to come toward Tania.

“Rolf ... is not ... interested ... in you...” she said, poking a finger in her chest with each word.

“Janice ... I...”

“Get the fuck out of this party,” she roared. “If I see you near Rain again, I’ll make your life very difficult.”

Tania colored and left with a mix of hurt and fear.

As soon as Tania left, Janice took me into her arms. “I can’t believe she would say that,” she muttered. “I can’t believe anyone would say something like that. She’s jealous. I guess she’s always thought there was more between her and Rolf than friendship.”

I smiled at Janice, “Thank you, Janice. For everything.”

We held each other tight this time.

“Listen, I need to talk to you...” she took a look around, “ ... alone.”

I looked around too, and said, “No time like the present.”

She licked her lips, looked into my eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “When the doctors told me that I was a match, and they informed me about the odds of something like that happening, I asked them to run a DNA test...”

Janice made a pause to lick her lips again.

“And...?” I asked, my heart thumping in my chest.

“It turns out we are related. We are half sisters...”