- Paige's POV - Wednesday -

Pinoe and I made a statement about everything that happened and we settled our differences.

I'm sitting in Danielle's class just hanging out until the bell rings ending school. I light up my phone to see tons of texts from moms and Oakley, telling me to come to the hospital after school.

"What the hell?" I whisper and open my phone to my messages. "You okay?" My sister asks as I read through texts from everyone.

Come to the hospital after I Cal for you to check out.

- Mom

"Paige Krieger Harris, report to the office for checkout."

"Uhm, where ya going?" Danielle asks me. "The hospital apparently." I say causing her to be confused. "I don't know. I'll call you later." I say and she nods before I quickly leave her classroom.

I make my way to the office and all.

"You're already signed out, honey." The secretary says. "Thanks." I say and run out of the school to my car, taking my mask off in the process.

I drive to the hospital and have no idea where to go so I go to call Mom but I see her standing outside the hospital.

"Mom, what's going on?" I ask when I stand beside her. "Uhm... It's Maya." She says. "Cancer?" I ask and she nods. "Fuck." I mumble. She leads me inside and through the hospital to her room.

Well, Maya hasn't been feeling well since right before we went to England but she didn't show it, and she's been getting worse throughout the week. She hasn't wanted to eat or do anything, it was odd. I guess those are signs.

We go into the room and my sister is on an IV drip while laying in bed. She looks pale and weak but she's awake.

"Hey." She says raspily. "Hey, how're you feeling?" I ask. "Tired, but I remember that as being normal." She says and I nod. I look over at Oakley who has her head rested on Maya's right leg, asleep while holding her twin's hand. The area around her eyes and nose are red and puffy.

"She takes it the hardest. Every time." Maya says. "It's because she's your twin. Bestfriend. Sister." Mama says and Maya slightly nods. She then yawns.

"Get some sleep, sis." I say and she nods before shutting her eyes.

I turn to Moms once I know she's asleep.

"What all's wrong?" I ask.

"Her leukemia is back. It's in a weaker stage so they're starting treatments tomorrow with the first round of chemo." Mama says and I nod. "That's rough. No matter what stage it is." I say and my moms nod.

"How's Oak doing with her fear of hospitals?" I ask. "Good. I think it's where we are here." Mom says and I nod.

I then go and sit on the couch like seat in the room after grabbing my homework out of my backpack that I brought in with me.

For the rest of the night, I finish up all of my homework, sit and talk with my younger sisters and mom, and eventually fall asleep even though my mind is racing with possibilities of things that could happen to Maya.

_

"Paige." I hear someone whisper as they shake me gently. "Hmm?" I hum as I start to wake up.

It's dark in the hospital room but I can make out Mama's face in the little bit of light. "You should go home and shower before school." She says. "Mkay." I say. I slowly get up, grabbing my phone from the floor where i had it plugged into an outlet. I put my charger in my backpack and slip my Vans back on.

Once ready, I kiss Moms both on the cheek before heading out, rubbing my face and eyes as I walk through the hospital corridors.

"Could you possibly tell me where the elevators are?" I ask a nurse who's sitting at the nurse station. "Yes, continue down that way and they'll be on your left at the end." She says. "Thank you." I say and give a small smile in which she returns.

I eventually make it to the elevators and make my way completely out of the hospital and to my car.

By the time I get home and shower, it's almost time to leave for school so I quickly get dressed into some skinny khakis with a grey short sleeve button up with a pair of white Jordans.

I then make my way back to my car after locking up the house and grabbing a clean mask, and drive to school.

I literally sprint just to make it to class on time, and Shana of course is gonna be the only one with me today. Fun.

"Lucky you got here before the bell, Paige. Take a seat." Danielle says and I nod as I make my way to my seat.

Danielle then logs onto the Zoom for my classmates who didn't wanna come today before starting the lesson.

I sit and pay close attention the whole class, getting the assignment done quickly and turning it in.

I then take out my laptop and connect my headphones in which I just listen to music as I work on my senior essay for the rest of class and into second period, and through it, not wanting to talk to anyone.

The day goes by quickly and I make it back to the hospital, wanting to stay as much as I can so Maya knows I'm here for her as support and a sibling.

I get there and Maya's currently nauseous and can't shake it but that's normal from the chemo, apparently.

Mom tells me to take Oakley and take her to get some fresh air.

I wrap my arm around Oakley's shoulder as I lead her out of the hospital and we start to take a walk.

"How are you doing, Oak?" I ask the younger girl. "Fine, I guess. It's just so hard to see my twin struggling from this stupid illness. Again." She says. "I would never be able to understand exactly how you feel with having to go through this with her, but I'm here for the both of you, you know that right?" I ask. "Yeah." She says and leans her head on my shoulder when we sit down on a bench.

- Monday -

So, Maya's been feeling the side effects from the chemo and it's pretty rough on her where it's the first round again, but she's taking it like a fucking beast.

I walk into school early this time and sort of just collapse into my seat because I'm tired. I'm listening to music from my phone when my hood gets pulled back and an earbud is taken out of my ear.

I look up to see my sister standing there with a concerned look.

My music automatically paused so I take my other earbud out too and put them away.

"What?" I ask. "You've been more quiet than usual, I haven't seen you eat since Tuesday, and it looks like you've barely slept. You said you were checking out to go to the hospital and you never called me like you said." She says and I don't look at her.

"Paige..." She warns.

"Maya's cancer came back." I say and we lock eyes as her facial expression changes.

"How's she doing?" She asks. "She's not the best but alright." I say and she nods. Then classmates walk in so we stp talking to each other.