My best friend in the world (Abi*) and I have known each other since birth. I actually went to the hospital and saw her the day after she was born (Of course I don't really remember because I was only eight months old at the time.) She and I are closer than any of my eight other family members to this day.
There was a time in Abi's life that was the most difficult. Her father, the best man in the world!, had cancer in his esophagus. After his surgery, he couldn't eat solid foods for a couple months, but after his throat healed, the doctors thought he was ok. That is until blood started coming out when he used the bathroom. Then they discovered that he had cancer in his liver and several other places in his body.
Abi, of course, took all this very hard. Her parents were constantly on the road, looking for clinics that could try and cure him. Abi ended up staying with me on and off for a couple months. Her main place to stay, though, was her parents friends, Cindi* and Dwight*. They had a bedroom for her and everything.
One night, Abi had this horrible dream. Her dad was lying in a hospital bed. He told her he was dying. She asked if it was the cancer. He said no, I don't have lungs anymore. Of course, Abi woke up bawling and confused.
It was a snow day that day and she called me at 9am and told me about the dream. (She was staying with Cindi and Dwight at the time because her parents were in Minneapolis.) I told her not to worry. Her dad would be home that day and everything would be fine. She told me she didn't think so in the saddest voice she's ever used. I secretly agreed with her.
A couple hours later my mom told me the news. Abi's dad had died. In a shaky, hushed voice I asked if it was cancer that killed him. She said No. It was all the radiation in his body from chemotherapy. It caused his lungs to literally flatten and fail.
Abi called me later that night on her way to Minneapolis. She and I talked for four hours about random stuff. We only talked once about her dad, and then she said she'd rather not think about it. So we just joked with each other, laughing until tears came down our eyes, Abi the same Abi as always even after the loss.
A few days later when she came home, she told me about another dream. Her father was on a giant stage (he loved theater and acted in many many plays around the area) acting as the Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz. He looked over at Abi in the middle of his solo, winked, and told her he was fine now. He told her he was sorry about her other dream, but he needed to warn her. He told her he loved her, and she woke up.
Sorry, I know this story is kind of long. But I had to share it. Thanks for your time.
Resa
*not real names
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