"I don't understand," Sophia whispered. "My mom is perfectly healthy—there's no way she has a brain tumor. There must be some mistake."

The doctor sighed deeply, "I'm afraid this isn't a new discovery—according to our files, the patient has known about the tumor for a while."

​​

"What?" Sophia gasped.

"I wasn't the attending doctor the last time the patient was here," the doctor said. "But I've studied her files, and it appears that the last time she came to the hospital with a head injury, the doctor noted the growth of a tumor. It says in the file that the patient refused further treatment and was discharged later that day."

"Oh my god," Sophia whispered. "Could the tumor cause headaches?"

"Very likely, yes," the doctor answered.

"I can't believe it," Sophia said. "I've been so blind. How could I have been so blind?"

"What are you talking about?" Catherine asked, taking her friend's trembling hands in her own.

"Mum has been complaining about horrible headaches for months," Sophia said, staring down at the floor. "I told her she should see a doctor about them, but she refused. She got really defensive, too. Now it makes sense. She already knew what was causing the headaches. But why would she hide it from me? Why wouldn't she get treatment?"

Catherine took a deep breath and answered, "Think, Sophia. How would your father have reacted if she got treatment?"

Sophia's already pale face went even whiter. "Do you think he knew?" she asked. "Do you think he forbids her from getting treatment?"

"We don't know that," Maria said gently. "Let's not jump to any conclusions, okay?"

Catherine let go of Sophia's hands and let her stepmother take over. She walked a few steps to Sean and stared up at his face, taking his long, cool hands in hers. He looked down at her with calm, clear eyes.

"Please help us," she whispered. "She's going to need an entirely different set of doctors now and—"

"I'll take care of it," Sean replied, his voice calm and even. He lifted his head and looked at the doctor, "Run the tests you need and get her ready for transportation."

"I really wouldn't advise that right now," the doctor said. "She's stable, but she's not free from risk, and moving her would increase that risk."

"Get her ready for transportation," Sean repeated.

The doctor nodded and rushed away, leaving them in the busy emergency room. Maria still hugged Sophia, and Samuel stared pointedly at his scuffed tennis shoes. Catherine realized she was still holding Sean's hands in hers and dropped them immediately.

"Cathy, why don't you and Sean go home," Maria said.

"What?" Catherine gasped. "And leave you here alone? Of course not! I want to help."

"No, it's okay," Sophia whispered. "I have Maria and Samuel—there's no need for all of us to stay here."

"Are you sure?" Catherine asked.

Sophia just nodded.

"Okay, but call me the second there's an update," Catherine said. "I don't care what time of the day or night it is—call me. And if you need anything, and I mean anything at all, please ask. Linda is family, and I'm going to help her get through this."

Sophia threw her arms around Catherine and hugged her tightly. Catherine hugged her friend back, noticing the way Sophia's shoulders shook and heaved with silent sobs. She pulled Sophia into an even tighter hug.

"It's going to be okay, Sophia," she whispered. "Linda is strong, and she's not fighting alone. She has you and me and Maria and Samuel."

"And me," Sean added.

Catherine craned her neck to stare back at Sean. A strange warmth rushed through her body, and she fought the urge to let go of Sophia and throw her arms around him. He inclined his head and smiled slightly, and she smiled back.

"Sean is going to make sure she has the best doctors," she said to Sophia. "Under their care, she's sure to get better."

"Thank you," Sophia whispered.

She lifted her head, leaving a damp patch of tears on Catherine's shoulder, and rushed over to Sean. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a warm hug.

"Thank you, Sean," she said. "You have no idea what this means to me."

Sean shifted uncomfortably and patted her awkwardly on the back.

"Don't mention it," he said stiffly.

As if suddenly coming to her senses, Sophia let go of Sean. Tears still trickled down her cheeks, but her face was flaming red. She looked down at the floor and walked back toward Maria and Samuel, and Catherine stifled the urge to laugh. Both Sean and Sophia looked equally embarrassed.

"We should be going now," Sean said.

"Thank you, Sean," Maria said. "This means so much to all of us."

"There's no need to thank me," he said coolly.

"But there is," Maria said. "I should have never let any of this happen. I should have stopped Linda from marrying that son of a bitch or forced her to leave him or—"

"We all should have done something," Catherine said. "But don't worry—Tom will pay."

Sean wrapped his arm around her and led her out toward the parking garage. He helped her into the passenger seat and drove her through the darkening city streets. She barely noticed the surroundings as the city streets slipped by the window.

"What are you thinking about?" Sean asked.

"Hm?" she asked.

"You keep sighing," he said. "What are you thinking about?"

"About Sophia's family," she answered.

For a moment, she thought he'd ask her to explain, but he simply pressed his lips together and continued to drive in silence. She closed her eyes and immediately saw the wedding photograph that hung in Sophia's family's home. Though the family often moved due to Tom's gambling habit, Linda always hung the same silver-framed photograph in their living room.

Sophia had often complained about the photograph. She called it a delusional lie, and Catherine had always agreed. In the photograph, Tom had an arm wrapped around a laughing Linda and kissing her on the cheek. They both looked young and happy—Tom was handsome and clean-shaven, and Linda looked carefree.

Catherine sighed. According to Sophia, everything had changed before she was even born. In less than three years of marriage, he began to drink and gamble, demanding more and more money from Linda. Though Linda's parents weren't wealthy, they'd given her a bank account with some money to use to support her family and pay her children's tuition fees. By the time Sophia was born, the money was almost gone, and Tom was furious about having a daughter. He complained that she did nothing but cost him money and refused to buy her the food and clothing she needed.