The ring is a part of a set. One with my mother, my father, and I.

My name is Jessica Aphmau Irene Demetria Devonne Odinsdottir. Daughter to the King of Asguard. Long name, huh?

I twisted the metal on my finger as the doctor took my scan off the machine, leaving me to stare at the blank X-Ray.

"Son of a bitch. . ."

"Take some time to let this sink in."

"I might need years." I swallowed tears. "I thought I was just sick, just had a cold."

He smiled sadly. "A lot do."

"When do you want to start radiation and chemotherapy?"

I shook my head. "My friends will find out that way. I don't want anyone knowing."

"If you don't take the chemotherapy, the cancer will spread and we can't help. You're already a stage 2. Let's get it while we can."

"Thank you for your time, Doc."

When I got home, I still had tear tracks on my cheeks and clutched my bag's strap tightly.

This could be fixed easily! A voice in my head told me.

I'm not taking the easy way out.

Then you're going to die. You refused chemotherapy and radiation! Why are you so stubborn?

I don't know, ask my bloodline. My brother probably has a lot to say.

He's adopted!

"Aphmau, you're home! A-Aphmau? Were you crying?"

I choked on tears as Katelyn put her arms around me. "I don't want to - to talk about it."

"Then don't. Just breathe, Aph."

Her hand rubbed small circles on my back and I put my hands delicately on her back as well.

"Aaron is coming over soon. Maybe you'll tell him."

"N-No. . . I-I don't want him even knowing I was crying or upset - please don't tell him."

". . . Ok."

I went up to my room and looked at the picture of my family, the one I kept hidden in my medicine cabinet.

My father was to the left, I was in the center with my brother, and my mother was on the right. Of course my mom was as short as me, while my dad was a skyscraper.

My parents live way too far away, but my brother lives. . . who knows where. It's ever-changing, and we don't exactly speak.

I got tired of nostalgia and turned on the shower.

★·..·★ D҉ Y҉ I҉ N҉ G҉. S҉ T҉ A҉ R҉ ★·..·★
Word count: 400