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 often grow

and Gage managed

in pain, said, "Since it's come to this, we can't let Tanya leave this world with regrets.

it over when Hank and Jane come

was no small

"Alright."

At dusk.

and Jane arrived, bringing some comfort

of Tanya's nap, Karan and

wanted to talk to us

about Tanya. You 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,

wasn't Karan and Gage's biological

abandoned at

Karan and Gage who, longing for a daughter, had

treated her as

"Yeah," Gage confirmed.

birth parents to see her. It's only right they know, and she knows the whole

concern, "But will they even

this, as parents,

"Little sis?!"

Suddenly, Jane gasped.

Tanya

all the emotional wreck they'd anticipated. Instead,

bother reachin

they mean nothing