From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea ) novel Chapter 385

Baldie just couldn't believe his ears. Scoring a whopping 688 on the SAT – that was 34 points higher than his cousin!

Now, 34 points might not sound like much, but in the world of college admissions, it's like being galaxies apart. With his score, Baldie was Ivy League material, aiming for the stars with places like Apex Ascent College within reach. Meanwhile, his cousin was looking at state schools.

"Baldie! You've really made your mom proud this time!"

Baldie himself was over the moon. He had lived up to his mother's expectations and his own. Apex Ascent College! And then there was Anthea. If only she knew about his score, she’d be floored.

All Baldie wanted was to rush over with his SAT score report, stand in front of Anthea, and share his joy. And, why not confess his feelings for her while he was at it? After all, who wouldn't want a boyfriend headed to Apex Ascent College? It was a surefire way to impress friends and family alike.

Grabbing his phone, Baldie texted Anthea to meet up. It was time to spill his heart out.

...

Tanya was having a rough day, feeling a sharp pain in her stomach that even meds couldn’t ease. Reluctantly, she headed to the hospital.

After a series of tests, the doctor's expression turned grave. "Are you here alone?" he asked.

Nodding, Tanya mentioned her busy family, brushing off concern with a smile. "Just tell me straight, doctor. I can handle it."

The pause that followed felt eternal before the doctor softly uttered, "Lung cancer."

The words hit Tanya like a freight train. How could this be happening? She was only 19.

Despite the doctor's attempts at reassurance, citing advancements in medical science, Tanya knew the odds. She'd lost her grandmother to lung cancer. She understood the bleakness of a late-stage diagnosis.

Holding back tears, Tanya insisted she wouldn’t pursue painful and costly treatments that offered little hope. She wanted to face whatever time she had left with dignity, without the added struggle of fighting a losing battle.

Stumbling out of the hospital into a day that seemed suddenly colorless, Tanya couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Sitting on a busy sidewalk, she broke down.

A kind elderly woman offered her a tissue, her words of encouragement a small comfort in Tanya's world that had just come crashing down. "Life’s full of hurdles, dear. Face them head-on, and you'll find a way through."