She could tell by the way Greene took the scan out of the folder that the news was not going to be good. As he revealed the scan, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I ask, he said, because I cant understand how something like this was missed.

Something like what?

She could have sworn she asked the sentence out loud, but apparently had not. For. minute, she could not breathe. She could not even quite fathom exactly what he was saying. How was any of this real?

He held the scan up to the light and took a pen out of his pocket. He used it to point at a portion of her brain. When he spoke again, he did it with the gravity of a man that had given similar news far too many times before. Mrs. Gift, right here in the frontal lobe of your brain, is a rather sizable tumor. And I cant imagine how it has not caused you any ill effects until now.

She looked to the scan and even her untrained eye could see it. Is…is that considered big? It sounded like a dumb question now that it was out of her mouth, but it was all she could think to ask in that moment.

Its among the largest Ive seen, he said rather gravely.

And is it…

She couldnt finish the question. It was too hard to get it out, especially when she could already see the answer in his eyes.

This type of tumor is referred to as a GBM, he said. A Glioblastoma multiforme. They are very deadly and Im afraid to say that yours is malignant. He spoke with the candor of a man that had delivered this same news far too many times. Oddly enough, Rachel pitied him for it.

How…how long do I have?

My God, am I really asking that question? she thought? I was fine this morning. Hell, I was great this morning. How is this even happening? She felt a tightening in her chest that she knew wanted to come out as wails and tears. She did her best to keep check on it as the conversation went on.

Theres no single answer to that question, he said. It depends on if you want to try chemotherapy or other avenues.

Is there any hope in those? she asked.

He lowered the scan from the light and saw down in the lone chair in the room. If wed caught this about a year or so ago, there might be a chance. But as it stands now, I just cant say with any confidence that it would help.