Gabriel's Hope

He chuckled, this smile the largest she'd seen yet.

"Wynn, I will call you for dinner when I get back," she said. "Promise."

"I hope you do," he said. The façade returned, and he moved towards the door. "Have a nice weekend, Deidre."

"You, too, Wynn."

He left her alone. If nothing else, Wynn was going to make a terrific friend during the last leg of her life, which comforted her a little. She stared at the charts again. It was hard to imagine she had a tumor in her brain the half the size of her fist. She was happy to be functional, though that wasn't likely going to last long.

She wasn't going to let things get worse. She lived on her terms; she'd die on her terms. Her hands trembled as she got dressed. The decision made to face death soon, the only thing she hadn't quite worked out was how she planned to do it. Did she tell Wynn what she planned? Ask him for help? Or just disappear one day? Somehow, it seemed wrong not to warn him.

Deep in thought, she left the hospital. The spring air was heavy and humid already in Atlanta; it felt like summer. She walked from the hospital campus to a crowded sidewalk that ran beside a main street. The scents of food from street vendors and car exhaust filled the air outside the quiet hospital grounds. It was lunchtime, and the sidewalk was packed with people in business attire headed to the small bistros, cafes and other eateries lining the business district of downtown Atlanta.

Pausing at her normal bus stop, Deidre debated walking instead of taking the bus. Soon, she wasn't going to have the option of walking. She needed to put more effort into taking advantage of life while she could. She moved away from the bus stop and joined the crowds on the sidewalk.

She waited until she reached a quieter side street before dialing her boyfriend. Logan picked up on the third ring.

"Hey." He sounded distracted.

"Hello to you, too!" she said cheerfully.

"I'm running behind. Anything new?"

"Not really." She frowned at his tone. "Got word the inevitable is coming in three months or so."

Logan was silent. She heard him typing in the background. He didn't respond.

"You still there?" she prompted.

"Sorry. New client brought in a dump truck full of receipts and needs his return done by close of business today. I'm trying to wrap up everything as fast as I can," Logan said.

"You didn't hear what I said."

"No, Dee," Logan sighed. "I've got a lot going on. Did Dr. Wynn have good news?"