(Date: February 19, 2009. {8 months 12 days after diagnosis.} Location: 1327 Pine Street, Maine.)
"Mama, will Father be here today?" The small girl asked.
"Well, I suppose that depends on whether he can make that deal today, so I am sure he will be home soon!" Elizabeth's mother responded in a cheerful tone. "It is your birthday after all!" She said as she looked into the medicine cabinet, searching for something.
"Mama, do I really have to carry that bottle around today…?" Elizabeth said dropping off at the end as she searched for words. "Wh-what if I drop it while I am playing?" Elizabeth said as she was handed a bottle of pills.
"Your safety is both my concern as well as your father's, after all it could happen any day now." Her mother responded with concern in her voice. "Alright, now go play." She said putting the small bottle in Elizabeth's pocket and gently pushing her to the backyard. Get home soon Mark… Elizabeth's mother thought to herself.
...
Mark turned onto Stillwater Avenue as his phone rang. "Mark! Are you almost home? Elizabeth's worried you wont make it this year." Elizabeth's mother said in a worried and hushed tone.
"Don't worry, I just turned onto Stillwater, I'll be home soon Lizbeth." Mark stated.
"Alright, be safe and hurry home. I love you..." Lizbeth said as she hung up.
Mark continued driving for a few minutes, then parked his 2007 Accord in his driveway, as he looked at the time. "Just in time, thank God." Mark whispered to himself as he relaxed.
"Father!" A voice cried with a slight English accent.
Mark looked up, seeing his little girl running to the car while his wife chased after her. Mark let out a quick sigh of relief and opened the car door while grabbing a clipboard with papers and a gift bag. "Hey Lizziebear! I told you I'd make it today!" Mark said as Elizabeth jumped into a hug, the two hugged for a few seconds. "Alright Lizziebear, I need to talk with your Mother for a minute, so why don't you go play with you friends?" Mark said in a cheery tone as he smiled at his wife.
"Yes, Father!" Elizabeth said in a delighted tone of voice as she ran off to the backyard.
Before going to talk with his wife, Mark looked at his house, as if it would be one of the last times he saw it. The house itself was nice, two stories, four bedrooms and two bathrooms, all within a 2500sqft building. "Lizbeth, I got the deal!" Mark said with excitement and sorrow, all raveled in one.
"Thank God! We're going to have tell Elizabeth that we're moving soon..." Lizbeth said, starting of with a relieved tone, but ending in a regretful tone.
"It'll be a lot for her to take in... I mean, she'll be leaving all of her friends after all, and this is the first house we bought together... The only home Elizabeth's ever known... It'll be hard to leave it behind." Mark said. "But, I am sure she will understand, after all, she takes after you when it comes to intelligence." Mark stated, trying to lighten the mood.
Lizbeth sighed. "Well, let's make today great for her. Oh, and Mark, remember, we need to keep an eye on her, it can happen any day now." Lizbeth said.
"Alright, we should head inside now, does she ha-" Mark started, but was interrupted by screams of agony from the backyard. "Lizbeth go get a cup of water I'll go see what's happening!" Mark said with a thick English accent and a panicked tone of voice.
"Alright!" Lizbeth responded with a worrisome expression and tone.
When mark reached the backyard he saw Elizabeth on the ground in pain with everyone crowded around unsure of what's going on and why Elizabeth started screaming. Mark went over to Elizabeth and asked her to hand him the pill bottle she has in her pocket. "I-I d-don't have it." Elizabeth struggled to say as tears began to run down her face. "I-it burns Father, it b-burns!" Elizabeth exclaimed in agony.
Mark looked around in a panic searching frantically for the small pill bottle. "Does anyone see a small pill bottle?! It should say G.O.C.R.D.P.R!" Mark exclaimed as he got up, holding Elizabeth gently in his arms.
"Is this it?" One of the adults from the small crowd asked as he brought a bottle to Mark.
"Yes! Yes it is! Thank you!" Mark responded as he put Elizabeth down on a lawn chair and opened the pill bottle.
"Mark! I have the water!" Lizbeth said as she brought the water over to Mark.
Mark took the water and said. "Elizabeth open your mouth." In a gentle tone of voice as he grabbed one small circular pill from the bottle. Elizabeth did as she was told, trying to push through her agony. "Good girl... Good girl..." Mark said trying to calm Elizabeth down as he placed the small pill in her mouth alongside some water.
After about thirty-seconds, Elizabeth calmed down, though her breathing was still unsteady as she was gasping for air and she was still crying. "Elizabeth... Why didn't you have your pill bottle in your pocket?" Mark asked in a caring tone.
Elizabeth calmed her breathing a little more. "I-I didn't want anyone t-to see me with it... I was afraid th-that they wouldn't want t-to be friends anymore..." Elizabeth said in a hushed tone still sobbing.
"Lizziebear, you shouldn't worry about what other's think about you, you should be proud of who you are... So please, don't do anything like that again." Mark said bringing Elizabeth to her feet. "She's alright now." Mark stated to the guests. The rest of the party was as good as a four year olds birthday party gets.
Later that night Mark and Lizbeth went to talk with Elizabeth in her room. "Hey Lizziebear, me and your mother need to speak with you." Mark said in a light, but caring tone.
"you see Elizabeth, We'll be moving soo-" Lizbeth started.
"But why are we moving, I like where we are now..." Elizabeth asked in a slightly saddened tone as she hid slightly under her blanket.
"We like where we currently are too Lizziebear, but We'll be moving somewhere nice, and your medication will be cheaper there too." Mark said, trying to cheer up Elizabeth.
"B-but... What about my friends...?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am sure that you'll make new friends at the new neighborhood. You shouldn't worry about it, for now just sleep, we'll start packing tomorrow." Lizbeth said petting Elizabeth's hair.