Healing Melody Read Online Free Page A

looks around at some of the nurses and doctors in the hallway. I move in closer and remind her, “She deserted him.”
    “But she’s his mother,” responds Layla. “And you heard him. He wants to see her.”
    Now it’s my turn to sigh. I know she’s right. But the last thing I want to deal with is Monique. “I don’t even know where she is,” I gripe.
    “But you know people who might,” replies Layla.
    “Maybe.”
    “Listen,” she says, changing the topic. “Doctor Wang stopped by while you were gone. He said the last blood test showed his t-count is getting lower.”
    “Fuck,” I reply, shaking my head.  
    Everything is going from bad to worse. My Max doesn’t deserve any of this. Why couldn’t I be the one struck with cancer? Why him? It’s not fair!  
    Layla continues. “Doctor Wang asked if we discussed the experimental treatment he mentioned? He said we should make a decision soon. Max’s body is deteriorating at a rapid pace.”
    I feel a strong knot of anger growing in my chest. I stare at my sister, frustrated. “I already made my decision, Layla. There’s just one problem: How am I going to pay for it? This new treatment isn’t covered by insurance. I’m maxed out on my credit cards. I’ve borrowed all the money I can against the gym.”
    That knot in my chest is now a massive lump in my throat as I realize I might not be able to pay for my son’s treatment – a treatment that might save his life. How could I let him down like this? I glance at my broken leg, then at my crutches. I’m a fuckin’ failure. I couldn’t even win the fight for my son’s life.
    Layla places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll ask Marcus if we can borrow more money against the house –”  
    I shake my head, cutting her off. “No. You two have already helped out more than enough. You have your own family to look after.”
    “You and Max are part of my family,” she replies. “I’ll do anything for you two.”  
    Her generosity makes me want to cry. Even if Layla and Marcus could get a second mortgage, it wouldn’t be enough to cover all the medical expenses. I look down at the floor, defeated. I take a huge breath and try to shove the lump in my throat back down into the pit of my stomach. I remind myself I need to stay strong. But I’m barely keeping it together. “Thanks,” is the only thing I manage to say.  
    I gather the courage to look my sister in the eyes again. Then, I describe to her exactly how bleak things appear.
    “I was doing some research, Layla. Even if this treatment works on Max, it doesn’t mean he’s in the clear. There might be a lot more treatments involved.” As I talk, the emotion I’ve been trying to suppress slowly bubbles to the surface again. I’ve been trying to hold myself together, but I feel like I’m about to break. “I want to do everything in my power to save him,” I confess to her. “But I’m failing.”  
    I smack one of my crutches against the wall. Then I glare at my sister, seething with self-loathing. “I wanted to win this fight so badly, Layla. But I couldn’t even do that. Even though I was fighting for my boy’s life, I could not win the fight.” I try to calm down but I can’t. Hot tears stream down my face. “I would have died in that ring,” I cry, “if it meant Max could walk out of this fuckin’ hospital, healthy.”  
    I take a deep, long breath.  
    With a sigh, I add, “It all comes down to money, Layla. And I don’t have it.” I look at her and confess the sad truth. “Even if you and Marcus take out a second mortgage on your house, it won’t be enough to keep Max alive.”  
    I look back at the floor. I feel like I’m suffocating from the pressure coming at me in all directions.
    “Hey,” snaps Layla. She grabs my head with her hands and looks me squarely in the eyes. She speaks to me with a strength I wish I could manage at the moment. “You can’t lose faith, Kade. You hear me? You never lose faith. So you