Choosing Hope

Chapter Two- “The Diagnosis”
The next morning, Maura went down bright and early to meet Hope, who had arranged to be
there first thing. The minute Hope laid eyes on Maura, she began to sob as she grabbed on to
Maura, who found herself struggling to keep Hope on her feet. She guided her mom over to the
nearby couch. “Here mom, sit down.” Hope’s eyes were red and puffy, reminiscent of hours of
crying. Maura was sure her mom hadn’t got much sleep. She hadn’t herself.
“Look mom, you have to be strong OK? We need to try to stay positive, as hard as that is right
now. If i’m right, heaven knows this is the one time I hope I am wrong, this is going to be a hard
road for Cailin. She’s going to need us.”
Hope leaned back and narrowed her eyes at her daughter.
“Maura, I just found out my daughter may have a disease that is terminal for a huge percentage
of cases. Allow me to process this in my own way. You can do it your way when it’s your
daughter.”
Maura looked at Hope and dropped her jaw in disbelief. “How dare you.”
Hope immediately realized she had struck a nerve.
“I’m sorry Maura. That wasn’t, I didn’t mean that the way it came out. You know I love my
grandbabies every bit as much as you and Cailin.”
Hope sits in silence for a moment before slamming her fist against the coffee table. “I can’t lose
my baby Maura. I can’t lose my baby.” Maura reaches out and Hope collapses into her arms,
where she spends the next five minutes just sobbing.
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