“A seizure?”

“You know, like a fit,” Dad says, trying to be helpful.

“I don’t understand.” I struggle up on to my elbows. “Where’s James?”

My parents exchange looks, and then my mother makes what she thinks is a soothing noise. It might have worked when I was four, but right now it does nothing to settle my confusion. The door opens and Dr. Harrison’s head pops through.

“Is this a bad time?” he asks.

“No,” my mother replies. “Come in.”

“Yes,” I say. “Go away.”

“Ava.” Mum gives me a scolding look. It is a reminder that no matter how sick I am, I was raised to be polite to people in authority. Out of habit, I look down apologetically.

Dr. Harrison comes into the room and closes the door behind him. Closed doors mean bad news, in my experience.

“How are you feeling, Ava?” he asks.

“Confused.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I don’t know why I’m here. I can’t remember…” I try again to remember something. The last thing I can remember is James. The beach. The almost-full moon. His friend, the job offer.

“Confusion and memory loss are normal after suffering a seizure.”

“There’s nothing normal about any of this,” I say helplessly. “Why did I have a seizure?”

He takes a deep breath in and exhales it slowly, buying himself some time. Probably wishing he was on a golf course somewhere, anywhere, rather than here. Why would anyone choose a career where you have to convey awful news to good people?

“We will know for sure after a scan and some more tests, but judging from your symptoms and preliminary results, it’s highly likely the cancer has metastasized to your brain.”

My mother starts to cry. My father puts his arms around her and braces himself to be the strong one today. I feel the bottom drop out of my world.

I look Dr. Harrison in the eyes. “What does that mean?”

He gives a small shrug. “It means the disease is progressing. We do have some treatment options available.”

“Surgery?”

“No.”

“Am I going to go crazy? Before I die?”

“No, not crazy, no. But there will be…effects. Yes.”

I lie back against the pillows. “I want to be alone for a while.”

“Of course.” He backs away from the bed. “We can discuss everything more once we know exactly what we’re dealing with. In the meantime you need to rest up.”

He’s almost out the door when I call his name. He turns back around.

“Yes?”

“When can I get out of here?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have an exact answer for that, Ava. We need to run some more tests, like I said, and keep an eye on those seizures. Don’t worry, this is the best place for you to be right now and we’re going to take good care of you.”

“I have an important event I need to be at, on Saturday.”

“This Saturday?”

I nod.

“I can’t make any promises, I’m sorry. We just have to take it a day at a time for now.”