I think were good for now, Rachel said.

Jack looked to her and she saw an emotion in his eyes that she could not quite read. But when he passed by her and spoke two simple words to her, she thought she recognized that emotion as fear.

Come on, he said, marching out of the room without bothering to look behind him.

***

They sat on a wooden bench in the small garden area to the right of the hospital. The garden was nothing special, just a thin trail that wound through a thin grove of trees and passed by a flowerbed in need of a good weeding. Afternoon had set in, and the sun beat down on them gently.

Is it true? Jack asked.

She thought it would be harder to answer, but it came out easy. She supposed her admission in room 36C had been the equivalent of pulling off a band-aid and now the rest wasnt going to be as painful.

Yes, its true.

Jack hung his head and looked to the ground. Rachel felt that she knew him well, but she had no idea how he would react. Would he be mad because shed kept it from him? Would he be saddened to have to accept the fact that she was going to die? Or…and this was the one she was really interested in, would he try to talk her into doing whatever was possible to increase her odds of beating her cancer?

How long have you known? he asked with a soft tone.

Nearly a month now.

He didnt turn to fully look at her, but his eyes turned in her direction. And youve been working as if nothing was wrong?

I have. I dont know if you can understand this, but I sort of had to.

Does your family know?

Peter does. I just told him a few days ago.

He looked off in the direction of the path that led into the trees. She followed his gaze and wondered if maybe she could go hide there for a while…a day, a month, however much longer she had left.

I told you that you looked sweaty and pale when we met in the hallway upstairs. Had something happened?

Yeah. I have these…these episodes sometimes and

Wait, hold on, he sounded angry for the first time as he looked her directly in the eyes. So when you told me about your grandmother being sick, you were telling me lies? It was you the whole time?

No, actually. Believe it or not, my grandmother has cancer, too. Breast cancer, and its pretty advanced. She told me not long after I found out. She shrugged and, doing her very best to make light of the situation, added: Talk about your ultimate double-whammy, huh?

You cant keep coming to work.

I know. I figure one or two more cases and then Im out.

How about zero more cases?