"The MRI showed pretty much what we expected." "If you look here, you can see there's a mass encroaching on your spinal cord which is why you've been having those backaches." "There was also some destruction of the spinous process." " Can it be resected?" "I think so." "Yes." "But first, I'd suggest a course of chemotherapy." "Chemotherapy?" " So it's definitely cancer?" "Yes." "The biopsy showed that the mass is a high-grade osteosarcoma, stage IIB." " I don't know what that means." " Well, let her finish, sweetheart." "Stage II means that the cells are abnormal." "And the B signifies that it's already started to spread outside the bone into the surrounding tissue." "Well, is chemotherapy our only option?" "Well, in cases like these we've had the best results with neoadjuvant therapy which is a series of preoperative chemotherapy." "It's shown to shrink the tumor, makes it easier to operate on." "So I'm having an operation." "When?" "How soon?" "It's really too early to tell." " When did you start feeling the symptoms?" "There were no symptoms." "I had a backache." "Since when is that a symptom for cancer?" "How soon can we start the treatments?" "Let me get my book." "We'll see if we can squeeze you in tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" " I know it feels fast." " No, no." "I can't do this tomorrow." "I..." "I..." "I..." "I have a lunch." "I have two board meetings." "I told Amy I would take her dress shopping..." "Sweetheart." "Rose." "We can reschedule all that." "Let's just..." "Let's do what the doctor tells us, okay?" "I didn't expect it." "I know." "I know." "I'm scared, Harold." "See if you can crash at Clooney's place in Italy." "How sweet would that be?" "You and George in the speed boat, huh?" "Oh, and you have to hit up Amsterdam." "I heard it's supposed to be like Vegas on crack times a hundred, you know?" " Green-light district." " Uh, "red light. "" "Makes no sense." "Green." "It means "go. "" "Dude, this is gonna be so much fun." "It would be if I could figure out a way to pay for it." "I need, like, 2000 bucks just for the Eurail pass." "That doesn't include my food or plane ticket." " Why don't you ask your dad for money?" " Ha, ha." "He'd buy you your own European country if you'd just talk to him for five minutes." "I'm not gonna go there." "I was thinking about inviting somebody." "You know, two people, half as many expenses." " What do you think?" " You'd want me to go with you?" "Yeah, you're always talking about how you've never been east of Iowa." "I can't go back there after the cousin Jenny incident." "Well, what do you say?" "Ah, man, I'd love to, I really would, but I kind of got this whole summer planned out." "You got another job lined up?" "No, not really, but you know how you can take classes online?" "Hmm?" "It's cool." "It would be cooler if you had a robot teacher instead of a real teacher." " Wait, you're taking classes online?" " Just one." "But, uh, I'm thinking of, um, doing a couple of classes at ECC over the summer." "Try to get a head start on next fall's semester." " You think I'm a turd." " No, I'm just..." "I'm surprised." "It's not that big of a deal." "Well, it's a big enough deal for you to pass up a trip to Europe." "Yeah." "Um, well, maybe I shouldn't." "What's a couple of classes gonna do for me?" "It's getting-to-know-you games." " It's not camp." " I know, but it's not Europe." "No, forget it." "Do this." "You're finally getting your stuff together." "Don't blow it now." "Yeah, maybe you're right, you know?" "Isn't this kind of weird?" "Like, I'm being the responsible one thinking about my future and you're all messed up and lost?" "Don't know if I'm ready to accept the irony." "Thank you for pointing it out." "I'm sure I'll do something worse than knocking up my girlfriend and throwing away my future." " Is it too soon for jokes?" " Yeah, just give me the map." " Good morning, neighbor." "How's it going?" " Oh, fine, good, you know?" "Morning." "Ooh!" "Is that fresh coffee?" "So, uh, what are you doing tomorrow night?" "Um..." "I'm not really sure." "I've got some papers to file and some drawers to clean, but, uh, why?" "I hate to steal you away from drawer cleaning but, uh, I got two tickets for this opera thing and I thought maybe you wanna go?" " Uh, with you?" " Maybe you and Ephram could use them." " A little father-son bonding time." " That's a nice idea, but..." " Still not talking?" " No, not so much." "We've worked out a system." "We occupy the same house, but never the same room." " Andy, I'm sorry." " Ah." "Here, take them anyway." "Consider them a thank you gift from me to you." "What do I deserve a thank-you gift for?" "Jake told me about your little conversation last week." "Gotta admit, kind of made me blush." "Well, what did he say?" "I mean, uh, what did he say that I said?" "I didn't get a lot of details just that you gave him some much needed perspective on how great I am." "Surprising how long it takes men to get that." "Yeah, heh, well." "You know, that's me." "Here to help." "Heh, heh." "You feeling okay?" "You look a little sweaty." "No, I'm fine." "Just, uh, warm because the flannel creates heat, you know what I'm saying?" "Anyway, I'm late for a patient." "Are you sure that...?" " No, no, I'm fine." "But you stay." "Relax, have some more coffee." "And, uh I'll see you later." "Bye." "This is her first prom." "It has to be great." "There will be photography involved, so if you want us to use you on the day..." "Wait, wait, we're coming back here on the actual day of prom?" "Unless you think you can memorize all this." "Liquid eyeliner is very tricky." "You sure you wouldn't rather be home wallowing in post-breakup depression?" "Living in your pajamas, listening to songs that make you wanna rip your guts out?" "Did that this morning and I have plans for it this evening." "So right now it's all about Topher." "Is Topher your boyfriend?" "Yeah, is Topher your boyfriend?" "Uh, I object to that line of questioning." "You can't object." "You need to do things that make me happy." "I don't feel comfortable labeling something that hasn't fully happened yet." "It's delicate." "No, I understand." "Your first boy." "You don't wanna break him." "We haven't even kissed yet, so how can I know if we're...?" "Wait, stop." "You haven't kissed yet?" "How is this possible?" "I don't know, we just haven't." "But I am happy about it." "You know, it means that he respects me." "He's always talking about how much he admires me." "But, like, not in, like, a Bone Collector kind of way." "It's sweet." "Yeah, I bet." "I think he's waiting for the right moment." "You know, when it's perfect." "It doesn't get more perfect than your first prom." "I would bring extra gum if I were you tomorrow." "Think he's gonna do it tomorrow?" "I'm sure he's even picked out a song he's gonna have them play for you." "Oh, no, what if he chooses something awful?" "I already know that he enjoys doing the Macarena." "Could you just enjoy it, okay?" "Sometimes you forget to appreciate moments then suddenly you're back into your normal life trying to remember what it felt like when he looked at you a certain way or, I don't know, brought you a cookie that was all nice and warm from the snack bar." "Oh, don't cry." "I'll bring you a cookie." "What?" " Is it bad?" " Heh." "Um..." "We'll just take the blush." " You're supposed to be resting." " Oh, I feel fine." "And I think I've come up with something that will comfort everyone." "Roast chicken." "No one objects to chicken." "I'm not even serving vegetables, just potatoes." "There's rice pudding for dessert." "You know how Bright needs his sugar when he's feeling upset." "Quite a fearless meal, Rose." "What would Dr. Atkins say?" "Dr. Atkins can bite my bum." "I just want everyone to feel full and happy and safe when we tell them." "You're a good woman, Rose." "Have I told you that lately?" "Oh, I don't mind if you repeat yourself." "Sweetheart?" "Please sit down." "Hmm?" "Let me do this." "So, uh I was thinking about something." "You don't have to agree with me, you don't have to answer right away, just a thought." "I don't think we should tell the kids yet." "Tell me why." "I think it might behoove us to wait until we know more about what's going on." "We're talking a matter of weeks." "But, I mean, wouldn't they notice if I started to feel ill or if I had to miss work?" "Well, sadly, heh, they probably won't." "They're teenagers." "They'd sooner notice a two-for-one sale on Stridex pads." "You don't have to decide anything right now." "Just a consideration." "Sweetheart?" "I'm sorry, this is silly." "No, it's not at all." "It's just that I can't even finish making a simple meal." "Well, first of all, there's nothing simple about a roast chicken." "Rose, you have always taken care of me." "Always made sure that my Grape-Nuts were up in the cabinet and my white-collar shirts were properly hung." "Now it's my turn." "Let me take care of you for a change." "Better get a move on if you're gonna get this feast to the table on time." "Yes, yes." "So, what were you thinking about for this chicken?" "Lemon-roasted or herb-rubbed?" "Oh, I always think a lemon is nice." "Then a lemon it is." "So like I said on Craigslist, all this stuff has gotta go." "This furniture too?" "Because me and this couch have already formed quite a friendship." "And I'm happy for you both." "Uh, this syncs right up with the keyboard so you can see the music on the screen as you play." "Whoa, are you freaking kidding me?" " Uh, no, in fact, I am not." " Excellent." "Uh, what are you asking for that?" "Oh, I don't know, I was thinking like, uh, 5." "Excellent." "Excellent." "Hmm." "How much if you throw in the computer?" "Uh, well, then it's, uh, you know, it's probably gonna be more like 15-ish." "Nice." "Nice." "I can't even believe how great this stuff is." "Larry is gonna freak." "So you guys are starting a band?" "Yeah." "We're laying down some tracks right now." "You know, we're kind of, uh, punk rock meets new wave, meets Leann Rimes, her early stuff." "Um, it's very stellar." " Sounds excellent." " Yeah, well, it is excellent." "I think I'm just gonna take it all." "And this is a very nice piano too." "Is it a baby G?" "Uh, yeah, but the piano is not for sale." "Sorry." "Oh." "That's cool man." "So why are you selling all this stuff?" "You giving up on the dream?" "Sort of." "Actually, I'm going to Europe." "I don't need the baggage." "How long are you going for?" "Well, I'm thinking about not coming back." "Oh." "That's hard core." "But if you're not coming back then what are you doing holding onto the piano?" " Second day in a row you're late, Harold." " Yes." "I am aware." "Had to pick up a few things from the pharmacy." "Hmm, you missed your 9 a. m." "on Mrs. Oliver." "I covered for you." "You want a thank you?" "I covered your ass plenty of times this year." "Hey, it's fine with me." "I don't mind taking more of your patients." " Last year you would've..." " Stop it." "I can't do this with you right now." "Rose has cancer." "I don't know what to say, Harold." "I'm so sorry." "So there is a tumor encroaching on her spine." "Fairly large one too." "Imagine the kind of pain she's in, because I can't." "I truly cannot." "What stage?" "IIB." "IIB." ""Poor Rose," I thought, "just having a little spell, nothing to be too alarmed about. "" "Woman barely sneezes at the height of flu season." " Well, that's a good sign." "She's strong." " Oh, yeah." "Nothing slows her down, not my wife." "Mayor of Everwood, mother of two." "She can take care of the whole world, still have dinner on the table by 6." "She looked at me last night as we were getting into bed." "I saw this fear in her eyes." "Didn't know she had it in her." "She does now and there's nothing I can say to her because all I know are the facts." "And they scare the hell out of me." "What good am I?" "Huh?" "What good am I?" "And it's my fault." "Why?" "Why is it your fault?" "She came to me weeks ago, months ago." "Told me she..." "That her back was hurting." "She wasn't feeling right." "I brushed it off." " But you didn't know." " Yes, of course I didn't know." "Had she been a patient, someone else's wife I would have made it my business to know." "I would have run tests." "I would have taken precautions to rule things out." "To give some stranger peace of mind." "My own wife..." "I promised myself during sickness and health and then the moment that she truly needs me, I just failed her." "That would be my 10:00." "Say cheese." "Okay, great." "Now, um, can you two just, like, move a little closer, or something?" "Yeah, like that, okay, uh..." "Topher, put your arm around her or something." "Oh, yeah." "Perfect, okay, just pretend that I'm not here." "Heh, okay, then." "Can I get copies of these?" "Definitely, Topher." "Uh, maybe you can give her a little kiss on the cheek?" "Um, I think that's kind of a private moment, don't you, Amy?" " Oh, crap, I think my battery just died." "Darn it." "I've got another one upstairs." "Don't move, don't talk because I can't miss a single moment of this enchanting evening." " She seems so excited." " Ha, ha." "Maybe we should bring something for her." "Like a tiara." " Ah, I think that might be weird." " Yeah." "Hi, Bright." "Hey." "Damn, really, you poured yourself into that dress, huh?" "Does that mean it's too tight?" "Can you breathe?" "I'm fine, Topher." "What are you doing getting ready here anyway?" "Don't you have your own staircase to walk down, looking all shiny?" "I came here for Amy and, um, you can tell her we said good night." "Good night." "Dad, where's my sleeping bag?" "I don't know, hon, check the hall closet." "Hey, sweetie, how do you feel about being cultural tonight?" " What does that mean?" " Nina gave me tickets to the opera." "It might be fun if we went." "I can't." "I'm sleeping over at Brittany's." "It's not in the front closet." "Oh." "All right." "I should probably stay home and just catch up on my reading." "You still read, don't you?" "That's very important." " Are you okay, Dad?" " Yeah, I'm fine." " You sound lonely." " No, no, no." "Why don't you just go with Nina?" "Well, Nina can't go." "She's busy, I think." " Did you ask her?" " No, I didn't ask her." "She's the one who gave me the tickets so it would be weird to ask her, you know?" "It doesn't matter if you know or not." "I know." "It would be weird." "I know this is a big question, and I don't want to embarrass you because I know I was embarrassed when asked if I like Ethan." " You like Ethan?" " Do you like Nina?" "Do I...?" "Heh, what?" "No." "Nina's my friend." "Besides, she's dating Jake." "So?" "Ethan likes Maggie, but that doesn't mean I can't like him." "Anyways, I don't think it's dumb if you like Nina." "I kind of always wanted you to like her." " You have?" " She's perfect for you." "She thinks your bad jokes are funny even though they're not." "Plus, she's nice to everyone." "The way Mom was." "Yeah, she is, isn't she?" "Oh, that's Brittany." "Pick me up tomorrow at 10:00." "Actually, make it 10:30." "I've been exhausted lately." "It's great, isn't it, huh?" "Um, where is the bedroom?" "You're standing in it, heh." "And the kitchen?" "Right over here." "Six hundred dollars a month." "This is a steal." "You, my friend, are the first person to see it." "So before all those other people get here tomorrow, if I were you..." "Can you give me a minute?" "I'm just gonna call my associate." " Mm-hm, mm-hm, please." "Yeah." " Mm-hm." "Hello?" "Hey, yo." "Is, uh, $600 a steal for a crappy studio?" "Oh, hello, Brighton." "Because I'm here and I don't see myself living here." "I don't know if you realized earlier in your egomaniacal haze but I am at my prom right now." "Oh, right." " How come I don't hear any music?" " Because I am in the bathroom." "Oh, number one or number two?" "No, I..." "Bright, we do not have a toilet talk kind of relationship, okay?" "Okay, okay." "Good to know." "Why are you calling me?" "I thought that you said you were gonna help me with this apartment hunt." "First of all I was going to help you, but certainly not while I'm at my prom." "And secondly, I'm clearly not gonna help you now." "Why not?" "Pour myself in?" "Pour myself in?" "What is that?" "Like, batter into a pastry slut bag or something?" "Oh, are you talking about the dress thing?" "Yes, I am talking about the dress thing." "Why would you say something like that?" "Ugh, it didn't look like the kind of dress I would see you buying for yourself." "You have never seen me in a dress before tonight." "And the first time you do that's what you chose to say?" "There's nothing wrong with a tight dress or a pastry bag." " So just chill out." "I..." "I just..." "I have to go, okay?" "Okay, uh, bye." "But wait, hold on." "Do you and that Loafer kid have a toilet-talk kind of relationship?" "His name is Topher, and no." "I don't know." "Goodbye." "Well?" "Yeah, it turns out we need more time to think about it." "Ephram?" "Ephram, I was wondering if maybe..." "Wasn't that punch just amazing?" "I couldn't tell if you were enjoying it, but I had four glasses." "Yeah, it was really good." "Maybe they added some extra sugar or something." "Yeah, I was thinking that too." "Uh..." "Yeah, heh, I guess I should be going." " Okay." " Yeah." "Yeah." " No." " No." "I mean, wait, um..." "I was just wondering if you were thinking about maybe kissing me ever?" "You mean, uh, like now?" "Or not, um..." "It's just that, you know, we've had like four dates and one involved formal wear, which really makes it more like six dates and I think they've all been very nice, but, you know, if you don't like me..." "I like you." "You're the only person who understands why a turtleneck vest is stupid." " Of course, because your arms get cold." " Exactly." "So, um why don't we just go on three." "Yeah." "Uh, three's good." "Um, okay." "One, two..." "Wow." " I know." " Thank you." "No, thank you." "Good night, uh..." " I'll call you tomorrow." " Okay." "You're in my room." "You have something to tell me?" " No." "Not really." " There's nothing you wanna share with me?" "No major changes?" "You haven't bought or sold anything substantial?" " Uh, you must have seen the garage." " Yeah, I did." "Where is everything?" "I sold it." " Say again." "I sold it." "It's gone." " Well, get it back." " Uh, no." "I can't." "Yeah, you can." "And you will." "No, I can't, and I know you think I did this to get back at you, but that's not the case." "I'm putting together a plan, I needed some cash." "It's not your money." "That stuff was a gift for me, right?" "I didn't need the stuff and I needed the money so I could get out of here." "Get out of here?" "Where do you plan on going?" "Europe, and before you explode, don't, okay?" "Just don't." "I can't keep living here hating you as much as I do." "I can't figure out a way not to hate you." "Yeah, I wake up every morning..." "There's nothing left here for me." "Can you understand that?" "I understand your frustration, but if you'd just let me help you." "You can't help me, and we can't keep having this argument." "I know we can't." "I don't wanna have it either." "But you're 18 years old." "You don't have a college education, no job possibilities." "What are you gonna do?" "I don't know, but that's what I was hoping I'd find out." "I'm gonna need my passport." "I..." "I'm sorry, Ephram, but I just don't think I can let you do this." "Well, you can't really stop me." "Fridge, closet, bathroom." "Aw." "Am I crazy or does this look a lot like the last place you showed me?" " Which one?" "I've shown you nine so far." "I'm trying to keep options open." " Sample the milk before I buy the cow." " Uh, technically, you'd be renting the cow." "Excuse me, boys." "Perhaps this is someone who will actually pay me for my services." "Brenda Baxworth." "What do you think?" "I can't even tell." "Uh, it's all right." "It doesn't smell like hot dogs." " That other place..." " I know, above a Wienerschnitzel." "Sure you don't wanna be my roommate?" "Two bedrooms is way bigger, a lot cheaper." " Could be kind of styling." " I can't." "I got the money for Europe." "Wow, that was pretty fast." "What did you do, sell your soul?" "Yeah." "It was, uh, actually easier than I thought." "So, uh, you think this place has central air?" "I don't know." "Is that important?" "Oh, damn, Hannah had this list of questions I was supposed to ask and I lost it, and now I don't remember any of that crap." " So call her." " I can't, she's mad at me." " Oh, yeah?" "What did you do this time?" " Oh, nothing." "She thinks I insulted her." "Did you?" "Well, not intentionally." "I said something about her dress, and then she got all girly." "Oh, yeah, well, girls, they tend to do that." " So why was she wearing a dress anyway?" " Oh, you know, prom." "Oh, yeah, right." "She's got that boyfriend now." "Oh, no, he's not her boyfriend." "Well, they're dating." "I mean, he took her to prom and she wore a dress." " What would you call him?" " Personally, I'd call him an ass-hat." "Wow." " Jealous of Topher Cole." " Oh!" "Yeah." " I never thought I'd see the day." " You got me." "I'm jealous of Topher Cole." "All right." "Do you think these are the, uh, original moldings?" "I should probably apologize to her, right?" "Because I mean, uh..." "Right?" "Okay, I'm gonna go out on a limb and make an observation here." "We've been standing in someone's apartment for five minutes and you haven't checked the faucet." "Instead you've been obsessing over Hannah." "Dude, I am not obsessing." "No, I mean, I think it's great." "I think you guys would make a really, really cute couple." " Oh, yeah, heh." "What?" "Uh-huh?" "Okay." " Come on." "You haven't thought about it?" "Come on, bro, first of all, I don't enjoy thinking, okay?" "Secondly, you know, come on." "I'm not into Hannah." "She's, you know..." "I mean, she's not my type." "I mean, she's cute, but, ahem, she's not like, you know, I'd-make-out-with-you cute." "You know, and besides, she's my friend." "And so that means..." "When I have a friend, that's it, that's just how it is." "You know, it's like that so..." "Yeah." "What?" "What?" "Hello, why are you smiling?" "You realize the last two things you said made no sense, right?" "Oh, go to Europe already." "Original moldings." "How are you feeling?" "All right." "Better than this morning." " Did you remember to get the aloe juice?" " No, damn it." "Oh, don't worry about it." " Ugh." " We'll pick it up tomorrow." " Oh, I'm so sorry." " It's okay, it's not the end of the world." "No, no, Rose." "I mean, I am sorry." "For not listening to you, for dismissing your symptoms..." "Stop." "Your apologies are no good here." "Yeah." "Do you know what I was thinking about this morning?" "Hmm?" "Our first date." "Do you remember?" "Of course." "The annual Fall Thaw Festival." "I wanted to ride the teacups, but you were scared." " At the teacups?" "I think not." " Oh, you were too." "You made up some excuse about the ride not being up to standards." "I convinced you." "As I recall, we shared our first kiss on those teacups." "Yes, we did." "And that's when I knew we would fall in love." "Really?" "Was I that good a kisser?" "No, dear." "Heh, I remember feeling terrified." "Once the ride began it went so much faster than I had expected." "My stomach started doing flips." "I couldn't tell you, not after making such a fuss." "I buried myself in the nook of your arm and after a few minutes I wasn't scared at all." "I felt safe." "And that is how I've felt every moment of my life with you since then." "You have never let me down, Harold Abbott." "Not me, not the children." "This family is what it is because of your strength and your commitment." "Yes, but my strength comes entirely from you." "And mine from you." "And Bright and Amy get theirs from us." "The four of us are a team, Harold." " So you think we should tell the kids?" " Only if you feel ready." "If you're not, I'll wait." "I trust you." "Can we order some food?" "I'm starving and Bright is threatening to cook." "What's wrong?" " Hi." " Hey." " You knocked." " Yeah, I did." "Well, that's new." "Yeah, I just thought I'd try it." " Really?" "Why?" " I don't know, it just felt, uh..." "Actually, it felt weird, but I feel a little weird right now, so..." "You wanna come in and have some coffee?" "Are you gonna run off and leave me alone with it again?" "That's what started the weirdness." "I'm sorry about that." " Are you mad at me?" " Mad at you?" "No, why would I be mad at you?" "Well, I don't know." "I mean, maybe I'm just being paranoid." "Seemed like something was off with us the other day." "Am I being crazy or were you being stranger than normal?" "No, you're not crazy." "It's Ephram." "He's leaving." "I think I'll take that coffee now." "He thinks he wants to travel the world or..." "I don't know what he thinks." "He sold the piano." " No." " Yeah." "What am I supposed to do?" "God, Andy, I am so sorry." "I feel like an ass." "I thought it was about me." "No, no, no, heh, it's okay." "I was definitely acting strange." "Oh, come here." "Whatever you want, anything at all." "You know that, right?" "I know." "No, seriously." "I don't want you to feel like you have to deal with this by yourself." "I may have missed the beginning, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." "So it's you and me, Andy." " Nina." " Don't." "You don't need to." "That's what neighbors are for, right?" "So I guess that means you guys didn't even go to the opera, which stinks." "Then you and I should have gone." "Omelet or scramble?" "Omelet, thanks." "Wow." "I know." " Feels so small." " I know." "This is weird, heh." "You didn't have to come by." "I could have dropped your stuff off for you." "I needed to get out of the house." "Well, I know that feeling." "Okay, uh, well, I'm pretty sure that's all your stuff, um..." "Uh, I couldn't remember who bought the Liz Phair CD, you or me." " You bought it." " Oh, well, in that case, you can have it." " Thank you." " Heh." "I'll check again, but I don't think there's anything left of yours except that gray sweatshirt I've decided you can't get back." "Oh, yeah, well, it looks way better on you anyway." "You know what..." "There was something..." "Sorry, you go." "Heh." "Okay, uh..." "Well, the thing is, I'm, uh, leaving." "Where you going?" "Uh, London." "Yeah, I, uh, take off next week." "That's why I sold this stuff, so I could pay for my trip, and, you know, all that stuff." "Hmm." "When are you coming back?" "I don't know." "I mean, it's an open-ended ticket so I just figured I'd go out there and see what happens, you know?" "You're kind of catching me off guard here." "I know and I'm sorry." "I just..." "I didn't know what else to do." "Uh..." "And I don't wanna lose touch with you." "All right?" "Um, I got my e-mail." "I'm gonna call you as soon as I have an international phone number." " Okay?" " Sure, yeah." "I just..." "I can't be here right now." "I figured you'd understand." " You know me better than anybody, right?" " Yeah, um..." "No, you know, I don't know what to say, but I think it's a good idea." "I really do, Ephram." "Thank you." "Uh, what were you gonna tell me?" "Hmm?" "Earlier, you..." "Did you wanna say something?" "Right, um..." "Yeah, no, I think I got my housing for next year." " That's great." " Yeah." "Um, it's really close to campus." " I told you I decided on Princeton, right?" " Yeah, yeah, yeah." " I think it's gonna be good." " Well, great." "And again, you know, congratulations." "It's awesome." "Thanks." " I should probably get going." " You don't have to if you don't want to." "You know, you could stay, we could maybe hang out for a sec if..." "Oh, you're right, we can't do that." "Never mind, sorry." "Goodbye, Ephram." "Bye, Amy." "It felt like kissing a piece of salmon." "That's the only way that I can describe it." "Not that I've kissed fish before, but you know." " It was wet?" " Yeah, but not just wet, it was like..." "Here, lick your hand." "Hannah, I'm really not in the mood, I'm sorry." "Oh, my gosh, uh, I've just been blabbing on about this Topher kiss while you're..." "I thought you didn't wanna talk." "I was trying to fill the air..." " Uh..." " It's okay, really, I just, um..." "Well, was it awful seeing him?" "What did he say?" "What did you say?" "I, uh..." "We really didn't say much at all." "It was, uh, okay, I guess." "Amy?" " I'm fine, really." " No, you're not and you don't have to be." "I mean, he was just this, like, huge love of your life, and now..." "It's not that, Hannah." "What is it?" "You know what's so crazy?" "Less than a month ago we were sitting in this room and we were talking about your dad and the possibility that you could have Huntington's disease." "And it was so huge and now we're in the same room talking about your first kiss and it feels just as huge in a way." "Yeah." "In a way." "But it's lighter somehow like it doesn't..." "It takes up the same amount of head space and the same amount of heart space but doesn't clench so much, doesn't weigh you down, you know?" "Just tell me what it is, Amy." "Say it fast." "It's my mom." "She has cancer." "Oh, my God." "Are you cooking dinner?" "Don't worry, you don't have to eat it if it's bad." " I'm sure that it won't be bad." " It won't be." "But I just thought I'd give you the out in case you wanna order a pizza instead." "So listen, I should probably apologize." "No, you don't have to." "Seems kind of silly now, doesn't it?" "Well, I don't know." "You did call me Brighton." "It was a pretty bad night all around." "How about we just forget it ever happened?" "Fair enough." "I can't believe you know how to make something." "I don't know to make anything." "Except, you know, maybe sandwiches." "Well, it's not really a big deal." "Kind of had to learn early, you know?" "Oh, yeah, I suppose." "Probably had to do this kind of stuff all the time for your folks, huh?" "Maybe I should learn how to cook." "You taking my job away from me already?" "No, it's just I feel bad." "You had to do this stuff for your parents all the time." "Doesn't seem right that you should do it for us too." "Seems right to me." "I mean, you guys have been like my family this whole year." "Not that I..." "I mean, I don't, like, think of you as my brother or any..." "You know?" "No, I know." "I get it." "Huh." " What?" " What?" "You just said, "huh. "" "No." "Did I?" " Bright, heh." " Heh." "Give me..." "Uh, is there something that I can do?" "Give me something to do." "Okay." "Yeah." "Hang on." "Here, taste this." "Does it need more salt?" "No." "No, it's perfect." "Hmm." "I'm almost ready, Rose." "So I was thinking after today's appointment, we should go out for breakfast." "Celebrate the final round of chemotherapy with a few pounds of pancakes." "Extra butter, you ask?" "Why not, I say." "Let's throw caution to the wind." "Today is a good day, Rose, I can feel it in my bones." "Mm." " Harold?" " What is it?" "I can't feel my legs."