–

What Alice could remember was everything after Dana’s diagnose. Everything that was horrible. A few days after her second surgery the doctor had told her there was nothing to do. They had opened her up again to try and remove another tumour and found that the cancer was everywhere. Around the lymph nodes, the liver, the kidneys, the aorta, all of her intestines. It was an inoperable condition. There was no cure. Dana trembled and looked so small when he told her the news. She looked incredibly saddened, but not surprised.

“How long do I have?” A very direct question, asked in a thin voice. Dana had avoided Alice’s stare, as if she was afraid to turn around and see what was in her friend’s eyes. She simply looked at her surgeon, demanding answers. He was uncomfortable with the question, but answered it with routine. After all, he must get questions like this every day.

“Well, Dana, it’s really very difficult to say. The cancer is far more advanced that we could ever have imagined. But you’re young and strong. It could be six months. I’m afraid I can’t guarantee anything. These things can quickly take a turn for the worse.”

And they did. Two months later, Dana was dead.

–

At first, it seemed like Dana adjusted well to the fact that death was suddenly unavoidable. Alice was the one who informed their friends. Dana didn’t want to do it herself. She had enough with telling her family. Dana later told Alice that Howie broke down it tears. He tried to be strong in front of her, but when he failed he didn’t want to cause her distress, so he left the room and didn’t come back until it was time for the family to go. Sharon sobbed and kissed her forehead. Irwin took it with quiet acceptance, though later when they got home he went down the basement, locked the door, and screamed out his pain for over an hour.

“Lit de Parade”, as Dana called it, was over after several hours. Every one of her friends and family had been to see her. “I feel like the Pope.” She muttered, causing Alice to smile, but then to turn away and wipe away the tears with her sleeve. “It was loads of people who came to see him too. On his death bed.”