| 17. Reality Friday, July 6, 2001 9:24 am Meg stepped out of the cramped hospital shower somewhat grateful. It was the first non-sponge bath she'd had in days, and she was certainly ready for a real one. She wiped the fog off the mirror and was shocked by what she saw. Someone she didn't recognize. The glow that once brightened her face was dull and gray half-moons descended from her eyes. Her skin was pale and translucent. This is what cancer really looks like. Makeup. Must do makeup. She blotted the water out of her curly, black hair and wrapped a robe around her thin frame. Walking out of the dressing room, she turned on the TV to watch the daily news. "We'll have more updates on the situation in the west end periodically, so stay tuned to KKRM Channel 10. We'll now go to Kim French in the newsroom who has the latest in entertainment news. Kim?" "Thanks, Alan. In music news, Hollywood Records just released a statement regarding the collapse of pop sensation Meghan Whitley during a Saturday show in Chicago. Publicist Dana Anderson had this to say, and I quote: 'Ms. Whitley collapsed due to pain caused by complications with her ovaries. Ms. Whitley is currently resting in a Chicago hospital and is not expected to return to the Gold Tour as a precaution, though she will still make appearances promoting her album.' So, pop music fans, if you have tickets to the one remaining show, don't expect to see Meghan there, but you'll still see a great show featuring Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears." "Thanks for the update, Kim. I'm sure she has quite a few fans out there ready to hear from her. Her album has just been certified platinum as of its release in May. Any idea when the next single will be released?" "Well, representation for Meghan says that the next single will be the title track off of her album, �Just for Tonight�, but we don't know when it will be released." "Thanks Kim. That's the news for now, tune into KKRM Channel 10 at noon, six, and ten for the latest news and updates. We'll be keeping you posted on the hostage situation in the�� Meg switched off the television. Pain. I wish it was only that. The media�s gonna to have a cow when they find out that pain turned to cancer. She sighed and began to pilfer through the change of clothes Mandy had packed for her the day Meg came to the hospital. Mandy has great taste, so hopefully, she didn't screw this up. Fortunately, she hadn't, and Meg changed into the acid-wash jeans and black one-shouldered top. I'll have to thank her for this later. Meg noticed, while again looking through the bag, that Mandy had put Meg's toiletries in. Thank God for Mandy. She put gel in her damp hair and let it begin to dry in the curly mass and began applying makeup to transform the tired, dead-like Meg to Meghan Whitley, pop star. She knew the guys' flight landed at 10:00 and that they'd be at the hospital by 10:15. It was 9:48. She blew out a breath, trying to figure out a nice way to say it. What's up, guys? I have cancer! She groaned, "There is no easy way to say it." "Say what?" a familiar voice chirped. She looked up. "Jill!" She stood up and hurried over to her friend in the wheelchair and hugged her. "Come in, come in!" "Okay!" Dionna wheeled her daughter in as Meg greeted Dionna with a hug. "You got a lot of flowers!" Jill said, awed. "Yeah, I do!" Meg walked over to a bouquet of white and yellow roses and picked up the card stuck in them. "Guess who these are from." "Who?" "Jessica Simpson." Her eyes grew wide. "Really?" "Yeah!" She handed her the card. "'I'm praying for ya Meggie! I'll miss you on tour! Love, Jess.'" Jill read. "Wow! How do you know her?" "We were on tour together, silly!" "Oh yeah!" She paused. "Will you not tour any more?" Meg nodded. "Not for a while." Jill handed her the card and Meg turned around to put it back in the bouquet. "Do you have cancer?" she asked, her voice quivering. Meg swallowed with tears in her eyes. She turned around. "Yeah, sweetie." Jill's eyes softened. "I know how it feels, Meg. The doctors don't think I'm gonna live much longer. You've got a while. You're lucky." "Jill." Meg kneeled on the floor near her and took her hand. "Honey, I'm not lucky. None of us are. It's just the hand that's been dealt to us. We can't change it. What we can do is be there for each other and look out for each other. You're one of the most precious girls I've ever met and I want you to know that I won't abandon you, no matter if I get better or if I get worse. Friendships don't work that way." "You're my friend?" she asked, on the verge of tears. "Of course I am! And I always will be." Jill threw her arms around Meg and Meg returned the embrace. She looked up and noticed that Dionna was crying. "Thank you," she mouthed. Meg only smiled. She released Jill and said, "Listen, I have to go to a clinic in Hollywood tomorrow and I'll be there for about two months. I want you to be here when I get back, alright?" "I will be." She smiled. "Good. I promise I'll write you and call you and maybe I can get some of my friends to come visit you in my place." "Like who?" "Oh, just Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears. Just some old friends." Her eyes grew wide. "You'd do that for me?" "I'd do anything for you!" "Thank you so much!" Jill exclaimed, hugging her. "You're welcome. I'll come up and see you tomorrow before I leave, okay?" "Okay." She released her and smiled. "Bye!" "Bye, Jill." Meg stood up as Dionna and Jill left. She realized how much of an ally Jill would become in the next few months. Jill knew what was running through her mind and what fears she faced. Thank God for Jill. She looked at her watch. 10:10. There's no use in waiting around for the guys. I might as well go into the lobby and meet them. Who cares if I'm not supposed to leave my room? What are they gonna do, inject me with morphine? With that, she strolled out of her room, stooping at the waist when she passed the nurses' station. Soon, she was in the elevator en route to the lobby of the building specific for cancer patients. |