From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Gage shook his head, struggling for words. After a moment, he choked out, "The doctor said Tanya... Tanya might only have three months left."

"What?" Karan's face drained of color, and she stifled a sob with her hand.

Three months.

Only three months left...

Tears welled up in Gage's eyes too. "Hey, come on, don't cry. We don't want Tanya to see us like this. Who knows? With all the miracles in the world, maybe she'll beat this thing with the radiation therapy." Karan was inconsolable, sliding down against the wall to the floor, wishing it were her instead.

Why?

"Oh, Gage!" Karan embraced him tightly.

Gage was at a loss for words, not knowing how to comfort his wife.

The couple held each other, sobbing for what felt like an eternity.

Their grief went unnoticed.

Where were they?

In a hospital.

A place all too familiar with parting and loss.

Disease is merciless.

see it

and Gage managed

let Tanya leave this world with regrets. We need

nodded, "Yeah. Let's talk it over when Hank

no

"Alright."

At dusk.

arrived, bringing

nap, Karan and

you wanted to

know her condition. The doctor advised us to prepare for the worst. Your mom and I think... we can't let her leave with any regrets." Jane sensed the gravity behind his words, her brow

wasn't Karan and Gage's biological

abandoned

and Gage who, longing for a daughter,

always treated her as their

"Yeah," Gage confirmed.

to invite Tanya's birth parents to see her. It's only

his concern, "But will they even

sighed. "Facing this, as parents,

"Little sis?!"

Suddenly, Jane gasped.

Tanya

Tanya seemed eerily calm, not at all the emotional wreck they'd anticipated.

bother

me once, they mean