Rebecca smiled at the familiar scent of fresh pastries and the sight of bustling customers. She quickly tied on an apron and joined the woman behind the counter.
"Rebecca, what are you doing here?" the woman repeated, her tone now tinged with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Rebecca chuckled. "Couldn't stay away, Sofia. Besides, I saw the line and knew you could use a hand."
Sofia, the bakery's owner, shook her head but smiled gratefully. "You always know when to show up. But aren't you supposed to be on your way to the hospital?"
Rebecca waved off the concern. "I'll get there soon enough. They can wait a few more minutes."
Sofia raised an eyebrow. "You always say that, but one day you might actually miss something important."
Rebecca shrugged, her expression playful. "It's all about priorities. And right now, helping you is at the top of my list."
As they worked together to serve the remaining customers, Sofia couldn't help but ask, "How's Wisdom doing? He must be getting pretty busy with his own life now."
Rebecca's face softened at the mention of her son. "He's doing well. He's in college now and trying to find his way. You know how it is."
Sofia nodded knowingly. "Kids grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday he was running around here, getting into all sorts of mischief."
Rebecca laughed at the memory. "Yes, and now he's all grown up, still getting into mischief but in his own way."
With the last of the customers served, the bakery finally quieted down. Rebecca and Sofia took a moment to catch their breath and enjoy the relative calm.
Sofia glanced at the clock and then back at Rebecca. "You should really get going. The hospital won't wait forever."
Rebecca sighed, knowing her friend was right. "Alright, alright. But you have to promise me something."
Sofia looked curious. "What's that?"
Rebecca smiled warmly. "Promise me you'll take a break soon. You work too hard."
Sofia laughed softly. "I'll try, but you know how it is. Running this place takes a lot of work."
Rebecca nodded, understanding all too well. "Just don't forget to take care of yourself too. I'll be back to check on you later."
Sofia gave her a quick hug. "Thanks, Rebecca. You're a lifesaver."
Rebecca waved as she headed toward the door. "See you soon, Sofia."
As Rebecca left the bakery, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, causing her to stumble slightly. Sofia, noticing the unsteady movement, looked concerned.
"Rebecca, are you alright?" Sofia asked, her voice filled with worry.
Rebecca tried to brush it off with a smile. "Ah, I think I overdid it a bit," she joked, though the effort to sound casual was evident.
Sofia frowned but didn't press further, knowing Rebecca's stubborn streak. "Take care, okay?" she called out as Rebecca made her way to the door.
Once outside, the dizziness intensified. Rebecca's body felt unstable, and she noticed her hands trembling uncontrollably. She leaned against a nearby wall for support, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
"I should probably head to the hospital now," she muttered to herself, her voice a mix of determination and exhaustion.
The trip didn't take too long; Rebecca arrived at the hospital quicker than expected. She greeted the man behind the reception, stating her name and the appointment she had.
"Please take a seat, ma'am," the man said. Rebecca followed his request with no issue.
She didn't have to wait long since it was an appointment. All she heard was her last name being called, "Mrs. Ruby?"
Rebecca responded quickly with a smile, the doctor doing the same gesture as well. Surprisingly, Rebecca took the lead, knowing very well where Dr. Thompson's office was.
As she walked, her mind drifted back to the first time she felt the dull pain in her abdomen. It was easy to ignore at first, but over time, the pain became sharper, and she started losing weight without trying. Her doctor had recommended a series of tests, and the CT scan revealed the worst: pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Thompson, her oncologist, entered the room after her with a comforting smile. "Rebecca, I've reviewed your latest scans. The tumor has grown slightly, but it's still operable. I'm going to prescribe you some medication that can help manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the cancer."
Rebecca nodded, her expression calm and accepting. "Thank you, doctor. I've been feeling weaker lately, and the dizziness is getting worse."
Dr. Thompson handed her a prescription. "These pills should help with that. They won't cure the cancer, but they can help you feel better and give you more time. We'll continue to monitor your condition closely with regular scans."
As he handed her the prescription, there was a slight hesitation, which she picked up on.
"What is it?" she asked, knowing something was unsettling him.
A brief silence passed before he spoke. "Have you told Wisdom about this yet?"
Rebecca's expression remained steady. "No, I haven't. Wisdom has enough on his plate. I don't want to burden him with this. I'll handle it as it comes."
Dr. Thompson looked concerned. "Rebecca, you're running out of time, and you may have to start staying at the hospital soon."
Rebecca took a deep breath, her resolve unwavering. "I understand, doctor. But Wisdom doesn't need to know right now. I don't want to distract him or make things harder for him. I've accepted this, and I'll face it when the time comes."
Dr. Thompson nodded, respecting her decision but still worried. "Alright, but remember, you're not alone in this. If you need any support, please let us know."
Rebecca smiled warmly. "Thank you, doctor. I appreciate everything you're doing for me."
She left the office, feeling a sense of determination. Despite the illness, she would continue to live her life to the fullest, savoring each moment and making the most of the time she had left. Rebecca knew she was strong enough to face whatever came her way, without adding to her son's worries.
Upon returning home, Rebecca unlocked the door and entered the house she was all too familiar with. She noticed Wisdom nodding off on the couch and couldn't help but give a slight smirk, reminded of when he was just a kid.
When Wisdom heard the door, his body started to wake up. He greeted his mother despite still feeling sluggish.
"Oh hey, Mom… where have you been?" he asked, yawning.
"Mind your business," she replied, lightly hitting him on the head. A small laugh escaped her lips. "I was just visiting the bakery again. I felt hungry." Rebecca knew better than to mention that she had been helping out, or how busy it had been. Wisdom knew his mother all too well.
Just hearing that made Wisdom's body completely wake up with worry. "You didn't end up working again today, right?"
Rebecca chose to ignore his question and changed the topic. "Tell me more about your new friend."
Wisdom realized she was deflecting but decided not to push any further. He sighed inwardly. "Well, I wouldn't say we're friends," he said, uncertain about how to describe his relationship with Freya. They hadn't actually done anything together outside of school. Did he want to push that boundary?
"What do you mean? You go to the same college, and she just dropped off what you missed the other day," Rebecca said, confused.
Wisdom realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself. "We haven't done much outside of school, which is why I said that."
Rebecca, still unsure, said, "Invite her over, especially with her other friends." It sounded more like an order than a suggestion.
Wisdom thought about it and realized it wasn't a bad idea. It would get his mom off his case, and he could check up on Freya again. The thought of seeing her made him happy, which flustered him. He decided to avoid questioning why he was so happy.
"Yeah, it's because Mom will be off my case," he convinced himself.
He told his mom that he'd message Freya now to set up a date, keeping her off his back. His phone was still on charge, so he went upstairs to get it.
"I'm making your favorite!" Rebecca shouted as he ran up.
"Thank you, Mom!" Wisdom called back. He absolutely loved sweet and sour chicken.
As Rebecca headed into the kitchen, a slight sweat broke out on her face. She opened the cupboard and grabbed some pills hidden at the very back behind other items. She quickly took two pills before putting the bottle back, her breaths becoming quicker and feeling a slight dizziness. She knew she would be fine once the pills kicked in, and she gained the willpower to continue.