CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: TAMARA

"What is it?" "Sarah?" I asked, my tone concerned, as I stared down at her, waiting for her to tell me what she wanted. 

"I need you to promise me that you will take care of him if I don't make it, I know Damien can take care of himself, but Mr Zane can't, I know Adele is there, but she can't handle him herself," Sarah said, pausing briefly to take another sip of water before continuing, "Even though he doesn't show it, he is lonely and needs people to rely on because Damien isn't always around."

"What are you saying? You're acting as if you're not going to make it through this Sarah, don't be like that," I say, experiencing the same emotions I felt when my mother was about to die, no Sarah can't die like my mother, even if I've only met her few months ago, we've gotten close, and losing her would be like losing my mother all over again.

"Please promise me, Tamara, that you will take care of him," Sarah pleaded, her eyes welling up with tears as she peered up at me, so I had no choice but to say yes; because I couldn't bring myself to say no to her, even though I knew I'd eventually leave them after Mr Kingston and I divorced. 

"I promise," I said, not wanting not to break her already fragile heart.

"Thank you, Tamara." She said with a sad smile while gently squeezing my hands and wiping away the tears that had managed to fall from her eyes.

"You're very welcome, Sarah," I said

After Sarah had calmed down, Mr Zane entered the room with a blank expression on his face, followed by the nurse in charge of Miss Sarah, who was holding a tray of Sarah's medication.

"I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Kingston, but visiting hours are over, and Miss Sarah needs to take her medication and get some rest," the nurse says.

"Sarah, we'll be leaving now so you can take your meds and rest, but if you need anything, tell the nurse and we'll get it to you; please take care of yourself, get better, fight the cancer, and come back home; it's quiet without you," Mr Zane added, causing Sarah's face to brighten.

"I will, Mr. Zane, but for the time being, listen to Adele and remember to take your meds."

"Don't tell me what to do, young lady, I can take care of myself and remember to take my meds without any of you reminding me," Mr Zane grumbled as he walked towards the door, making Sarah and I giggle. 

Mr Zane then turned around to glare playfully at us as he muttered under his breath, "Women, all they do is nag you till you lose your mind," before walking out of the door, leaving me alone with the nurse and Sarah. 

"Take care of him and yourself, Tamara," Miss Sarah whispered as she waved me farewell, her breath labored.

"I will, and take care of yourself as well, Sarah," I murmured before following Mr Zane so the nurse could attend to Sarah, but I paused as I reached the door and turned to give Sarah one final look.

She smiled at me and said, "Don't worry, dear, I'll be fine; go home and rest." 

As I walked out of the room, tears welled up in my eyes because she reminded me of my mother when she was sick; mother always pretended to be fine even when the pain was unbearable and Sarah was doing the same thing.

When I closed the door behind me, I saw Mr Zane sitting on the chairs in front of the room, looking dejected. I didn't know how to console him because I was feeling the same way, so I took a seat near him and said nothing.

"Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people, Tamara?" Mr Zane asked, and I found myself thinking about what he had just said.

It was the harsh reality of life, bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people, it's simply the way life goes, but it isn't always that way, we just have to keep hoping for the best because life wouldn't be worth living if we gave up hope.

"That's just the way life is, Mr Zane," 

"Life sucks."

"I know," I say, "but what can we do?"

"She does not deserve to be in that bed." Mr Zane said as he turned to face me. "After suffering at the hands of my idiot son, I thought maybe I could make up for him cheating on her by giving her everything she wanted and the best cancer treatment, but I can't make it go away and it makes me want to take her place at least I deserve to suffer for giving her to my son," 

"No one deserves to suffer, Mr Zane, and don't blame yourself for your son's actions; it was his choice to cheat; you didn't force him to do it."

"I know it's not my fault he cheated, but I still feel like I did something wrong. Maybe he turned out like this because we didn't raise him right."

"Mr Zane, cheaters aren't born, they're made, so even if a parent raises their children with good morals, it's still up to that child to live a good or bad life."

"You're quite smart for your age, my grandson is a complete idiot." Mr Zane said, his statement sounded as if he knew something I didn't, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it, because with everything going on, I must be overthinking things, so I changed the subject.

"What did the doctor say to you when you left to see him?"

"I don't even know where to begin, Tamara," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "The doctor... he just told me what I've been fearing since she fainted and we found out she had cancer." His voice trembled as he struggled to find the right words.

My heart broke for him as I held his shaky hand in mine. "What exactly did he say, Mr. Zane?" I spoke in hushed tones, my voice barely audible. I dreaded the worst because of the broken look on his face.

His eyes met mine, they were filled with a mix of grief and anger. "He said... he said Sarah's cancer has become extremely aggressive. The chemotherapy she's been receiving, which we assumed would save her this time like it did the last... it's not working."

My breath seized in my throat, and my hold on his hand tightened. I fought to digest the dreadful news that hovered in the air between us. It felt like the room was closing in on me, and I couldn't breathe, the little hope I had that Sarah would be able to fight the cancer and not end up like my mother was now crushed.

"But... but there must be something else he can do, right?" I said, "There must be another treatment, another option."

Mr. Zane's gaze faltered for a moment before he responded, his voice shaking with silent anguish. "He...he said he will try everything he can to help her, look into every possibility. But he also warned me that Sarah's prospects of beating cancer are very slim"

"Did he give you a percentage of her chance of survival?" 

"He said she has a 60% chance of not surviving, Tamara, I don't know what to do to help her, I feel useless," Mr Zane said, covering his face with his hands.

Tears welled up in my eyes and threatened to burst. The weight of the news weighed heavily on my shoulders; maybe this was why Mr Kingston was acting extra sensitive after he came back; he must have spoken with Sarah's doctor.

"I see why that brat was extra protective of his mother today," Mr Zane said, rising to his feet and running his hands through his hair. He had a disappointed expression on his face, so I tried to think of something to say to him to alleviate some of his worries.

"Sarah is a fighter, she will beat this, she will come back and continue nagging everyone, Mr Zane, so don't worry,"I said, forcing back my tears, trying to be strong for the man in front of me, because sobbing in front of him will not help anyone and will only make matters worse.

"I hope she can beat this, I don't mind the nagging, she nags me because she cares, so I hope some miracle happens and the chemo works so she can pull through and come back to us, healthy," Mr Zane remarked with a sad smile on his face.

"I hope so too," I said as I climbed to my feet and faced him, "Come on Mr Zane, it's getting late, we have to get back home, it's almost time for you to take your meds" 

"You sound like Sarah," Mr Zane murmured, his face brighter than it had been a few minutes before but still unhappy. I wish I could take all his pain away and make his heart stop hurting because they are both nice people who don't deserve to go through this, nobody does.