THE STAND-IN BRIDE

ulations

e pre

nced as he walke

he doctor wit

bad joke

ctor said. He stretched out his hand with a piece o

d, careful not to disrupt

paralyzed my body. I was grip

ite surprised by my reaction. The sm

to myself as I read through

y ears. Tears rolled uncontrollably down my

rom my hand. He reached out for the box of napkins on

. Your recovery process has been slow, and it's bett

ow below the

nted pregnancies, it is always a

d sex", I

e doctor would leave the room. I desperat

?" I asked. I was desperately hoping

nd. Not willing to meet my eyes, I k

r, Lillian; he was appreh

to the privacy

brought in here in a terrible shape. Your body was almo

y was not responding to treatment." your father ac

ed. I was not interested

ded hi

ian; they ordered me to run all available test

er the doctor had left. The incident wit

I was totally focused on deleting the event from my mind that I d

fool

my life. I lost the will to live. I lost the will to fight; I just wanted to

o speak with either my parents or Mac. Neithe

before me. I have played second fiddle to Jackie all my life. Alw

is being presented; I cannot brin

the days my father

d be best if you came out of the room so we can talk about this; you do

resentment grows in me. I didn't want to

it from her parents when she got married to my father and f

r of the bone marrow. She concentrated all her efforts on getting treatment

devastated. He could neither take care

to move into our home. Her reasons seemed perfect at th

ing over my mother's position. A few months later, she announced she w

parents' positions. My father became the one who took care o

oom brought me back to the present. I quickl

t way of drawing attention

g at," I replied dryly. I'm not ready t

naged to get yourself in the hospital, and now

at exactly do y

to you in abc format, Lillian. When I say K

sponded. Totall

ian; I am not interested in having children with you

p inside me. "Who gave you the right to d

find out", Mac th

hat", I smirked, holding