“I’m doing well. I’m just a little shocked to see you here. Is everything okay?”
I wasn’t sure why I had asked that when I knew the answer. No one visited the cancer center just for the sake of it.
She sighed. “The doctor sent me here to get some tests done. He thinks the cancer may be back.”
My face must have shown the hurt.
“Oh, don’t start that. We’re gonna beat this thing again. I’ve got the best nurse there is. You helped me last time, and you’re going to do the same. I got a bit more life to live.”
I nodded to keep the tears from falling. Gloria’s journey reminded me of my mom, except my mom didn’t fight. She gave up.
“Let’s get you to the back and get some blood work done.”
She smiled. “Good, that gives me time to catch up with you. Tell me what’s new, tell me what’s old.”
I laughed. One thing about Gloria was that she would ask as many questions as needed until she found out what it was that she wanted to know. For someone else, that would’ve rubbed them the wrong way, but for me, it didn’t. It felt good having someone concerned about what was going on in my life who was like a mother figure. She was there to give me sound advice that I could no longer receive.
We made it to a patient room, and I closed the door behind us, grabbing all the tools to assess Gloria before lab work needed to be taken. Gloria climbed on top of the table and crossed her feet. She still had a big smile on her face.
“I don’t understand how you’re in good spirits, and it’s possible the cancer is back.”
She shrugged. “I’m not scared. I’m ready to fight. I know what to expect. Now, enough cancer talk. What’s new or who is new?” She smirked.
I shook my head as I wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm. “No one is new. I’m not dating.”
“You mean to tell me you haven’t found someone worth keeping your attention yet?”
“I don’t have time to date. Plus, a man will not understand my goals. I work a lot.”
“You work a lot because you don’t have a man to occupy your time. You wouldn’t be staying late or picking up extra shifts if you had one.”
“You don’t know that.”
She smiled. “But I do.”
“Sit still while I take your blood pressure.”
I took her blood pressure as she sat still, and as soon as I removed the cuff, she continued speaking.
“You know, my son is still single.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Gloria, you’ve been trying to put me on with your son since I met you. I’m worried that your son may be a problem if he’s still single?”
She laughed. “No, he’s just looking for the right one, just like you. Y’all have a lot in common. Plus, he’s handsome. He gets his looks from his mama.”
“Let me ask. Do you try to hook your son up with every woman you consider might be good for him?”
She shook her head. “Honestly, you’re the only person I’ve ever tried to hook my son up with. It’s something about your energy and spirit that I feel would complement him and his lifestyle. He needs a person like you.”
Gloria laid it on thick. I didn’t feel as if there was anything I could offer her son. According to what Gloria told me, he led a busy life. I never saw him at any of her appointments, and thatrubbed me the wrong way. There wasn’t a chemotherapy day I missed when it involved my mother. I painted an unpleasant picture of Gloria’s son. Even though I longed for companionship and wouldn’t mind having a partner, it wasn’t worth the risk. On top of that, I didn’t want to hurt myself again or strain the relationship with Gloria if her son and I didn’t work out.
“Let’s not worry about that right now. Let’s focus on getting you back one hundred percent. Can we worry about that for now?” I asked with a smile.
“Sure! But that’s the beauty of the brain. We can worry about more than one thing. Just at least consider it, for me?”
I sighed. “I’ll think about it, but I’m not promising you anything.”
She squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh! This is so exciting!”
