Since the night we watched The Bachelor, she hasn’t mentioned Australia again — not once. Before the lump, Millie referenced it every time we were together. If we so much as saw a swimsuit or a cute hat through a window she would squeal, ‘Should I get it for Australia?’ but since asking if I would go, she’s been radio silent.

There’s another knock at the door. Millie clears her throat. ‘Come in,’ she says. Her voice wavers. I take a deep breath and try to steady my shaking hands. Millie plasters a smile on her face, completely committed to a positive outcome.

The doctor sidesteps into the room, his face partially obscured by the sheaf of papers he’s holding in his right hand. A shock of white hair sits on the top of his head. ‘Dr Taylor,’ he announces, as he turns to face Millie.

‘Hi,’ she says brightly, extending her hand. ‘Millie.’

‘Ah, so no Millicent then,’ he says, making a note on his clipboard.

‘Nope. No one calls me Millicent, just Millie.’ Except Hugh, I think, remembering our conversation from yesterday.

@hughharris94 America’s policies are the last thing you should be bringing into this argument . . .

@millieandipaxton Right, because your country is perfect and definitely not still dealing with the fact that it was stolen from indigenous peoples . . . oh wait . . . how could I forget it’s STILL stolen because it’s still a commonwealth nation? Although I’m not sure how that slipped my mind, considering you have the most royally pompous name ever.

@hughharris94 Your name is literally Millicent.

His grainy Instagram profile picture blooms across my brain. I’ve been checking to see if Hugh commented on Millie’s article again. He hasn’t said a word, and something about the pointlessness of reloading the page deepens my embarrassment about giving him so much attention. I’ve tried to kick the habit of constantly refreshing our conversation and Millie’s article, but hating Hugh has been a nice distraction from what’s going on with Millie.

As if on cue, Millie speaks. ‘This is my sister, Andi,’ she says, startling me from my thoughts. I watch Millie stretch her lips into another smile and wonder if the doctor can also tell it’s forced.

‘Hi. Pleased to meet you,’ I say.

‘Dr Taylor.’ He turns to greet me with a firm handshake. He has even more wrinkles up close. Despite his warm grandpa energy, his hand is freezing. ‘I can see the resemblance.’ Dr Taylor smiles at us and takes the seat across from me. ‘No use in delaying it,’ he begins, ‘good news, the lump is benign.’

Millie lets out a rush of breath. ‘OK,’ she sighs with relief.

I immediately fish my phone out of my purse to text our mom.

‘We did find something else,’ Dr Taylor continues.

My heart clenches and my hands feel clammy. I drop my phone back into my bag.