Emily's sobs broke through the silence. "She collapsed... out of nowhere."
As Anne moved closer to Heather, a strange scent hit her—something thick, pungent, and unnatural. Sickness. She wondered how none of them had noticed it before.
Anne's hands trembled as Emily passed her a folder of papers—medical reports, hospital scans, blood work. She read the words, and her heart lurched, each line sinking deeper into her gut like a heavy stone.
Cancer.
"W-what?" Anne's voice was barely a whisper as she looked up at Heather, the words catching in her throat. "How long...?"