Article

Could Be Cancer

Three words no one wants to hear

Could Be Cancer

Futile attempt to make eye contact

The man in the white coat looms over me in the ultrasound room

Doctor, what do you think?

A plea, a question, a whisper

In a voice that was not mine but emanated from me

He spoke into his armpit

Could be cancer

He uttered expressionless

As if he said could be cloudy with a chance of rain

Words like water droplets remain stagnant in the air we both shared

Discarding the hospital gown

I escape

Only

To later learn

Escaping was impossible

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