Chapter 3.

The fact that Rose was so broken that the nurse with the high-pitched voice had to give her two tranquilizers, just made the whole situation worse. She was now on the top of the table, curled up into a little ball, with her eyes half closed, and breathing softly. I had to sit on the chair across Dr. Felipe who, once again, showed regret. He didn't have to, though.

"I know that she is", he motioned toward Rose with one hand, "technically an adult, but I will still have to have a consultation with your parents."

He said the only thing I wanted to avoid so bad I was ready to sell my organs just so it won't happen.

"Is that necessary?" I grimaced, fiddling with the hem of my sweater.

"I'm afraid it is", he nodded confidently, while looking through the papers that now were laying on his lap.

"Well, I'm afraid, too", I stated, and a shiver ran down on my spine at the mere thought of having to tell all about this to my parents.

"You don't have to be afraid. We'll do everything to cure your disease", he told me while circling something on one of the many papers. We clearly weren't afraid of the same thing, though.

"Yeah, you're fine", I said nonchalantly, causing Dr. Strange to look up curiously, his eyebrows raised so high they almost disappeared in his hair. I figured I could play the eyebrow game I invented like half an hour ago with him, too, but I didn't want to mess with him more than I already did.

"Miss-"

"Thompson", I helped him out, although he didn't need my help. Well, that was it for the "don't mess with him more" part.

"Yes", he sighed resignedly at my remark, then continued, unbothered. "So, I don't know if you are, um, aware of how serious your issue is."

"Yes, I'm aware", I confirmed that I am indeed in the state of processing the status of my health, it's just that the state is 'I don't give a damn'.

"Well, yeah, um, in this case please take it a little more seriously. It's not a common cold, or a sore throat. It is cancer. Stage IV. The most dangerous state. It is not a game", he said authoritatively, but I couldn't take him seriously. It's not his fault, though, I'm just crazy.

"I think it is exactly like a game", I snapped and watched as Dr. Strange's eyebrows do their crazy dance and hop on the top of his forehead. "I either win or lose."

"Miss Thompson this is not funny", he burst out, and watching him sweat made me feel some kind of relieved.

"I think it is. Just a little bit", I smiled at him, but his disapproving look didn't change in the slightest.

"Anyways", he sighed and turned a page, looking through that awful amount of information. I couldn't do that. I could never be a doctor. It's just too much stress. Too much pressure. And since I can't take lethal diseases seriously, imagine me telling a patient about his or her results. "Dear Mrs. Parker, you have an incredibly serious heart disease, but don't worry about it. I mean, like, literally don't worry. Worrying just makes it worse. Would you like to see your results? It's on pink paper!" And I don't even like pink. "There are treatments which I recommend using, because they can make it a hell lot of better. Even though we only noticed it now, there's still a lot you can do."

"What if I don't wanna do it?", I inquired mostly because I wanted to see the desperation on his face, but also because I really didn't want to treat my body like that.

"Your choice", Dr. Felipe said in a neutral tone and I knew I lost him. He completely gave up on me. Could I blame him? Most definitely not.

"Do it", I jerked at the sound of Rose's voice that was dazed but firm still. How could she manage to get herself into the conversation even with two happy pills inside of her is still an unsolved mystery to me. "Do it or I'll cut off your ears", she mumbled into the table and made a (failed) attempt to reach out with one arm to pinch my ear.

"Guess I'll have to do it", I imitated a nervous laugh, but the doctor's appreciation for my mischievous remarks faded away like that guy on that meme with the peace sign. "No, seriously", I sighed and there could've been something in my tone, because my Dr. Strange looked up. "I'll do it", I nodded, I wasn't joking for once. If Rose wanted me to do it that meant she believed it'd help, and if she believed I had too. She's the only one I'd do it for.

"Are you kidding?", the doctor asked, suspicion raising in his voice and I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

"No, I'm not. Sign me up", I clasped my hands together expectantly.

"Sign you up for what?" Dr. Felipe scrunched his nose and it made him look like a very angry mongoose.

"The list. The treatments, whatever", I shrugged, indicating that it was his job to know what the hell is going on. I'm just the receiver of all this.

"This is not how it works", he shook his head vehemently, put the papers down on the table and pressed the heel of his palms against his temples. It was sure better to do that than to slam his head to the keyboard. That'd make the bathing parrot disappear from the screen, and that, ladies and gentlemen would be the ultimate disaster. "I have to talk to your parents", he repeated and at this I felt the urge to massage my temples at a tremendously fast speed.

"Ugh", and that simple 'ugh' included everything I had to say.