The disease moves quickly

-Who was that with you? — Curious sweet fatty. - Such a little white girl... You walked together.

Actually, she is not white, but very dark: black-eyed brunette. But she’s wearing a white suit, and she’s all light and airy... I understand the fat girl who doesn’t let up.

- You probably already know everything about the girl? What does she have? So young...

I don’t want to tell you, but he won’t let go...

Olya is twenty-five years old. I went to oncology for the first time at nineteen. Only then the operation was simple and easy. Now everything will be more complicated.

And Olya’s mother is lying on Kashirka. My mother is only forty-something: she gave birth early.

I asked Olya why we couldn’t go to the same hospital together. Because they don’t deal with blood here, my mother has blood cancer. Olya’s is different.

Even the nurses here remember her: it’s a rare surname. And these two huge black eyes... You won’t forget.

But dad is not there. There is a dog Darka.

Who is walking with her now?

Boy Andrey. Olin's friend. He is also twenty-five. He remained the eldest: in his arms Olya, her mother, the dog, and at home - his father, paralyzed after a stroke, and his mother, who has difficulty moving due to arthritis. Andrey is one for all. He studies and works. He perfectly knows how to cook, wash, iron, wash floors and make beds for bedridden patients. He goes shopping. He will cope and will never leave anyone. Olya is confident in him.

She cheerfully calls her mother:

- Do you drink a lot? During chemistry you need to drink. Did you forget the kettle? What are you reading? Did you sleep well?

Then he turns to me:

“I gave my mother a teapot with me, it’s small, otherwise it’s difficult.” And so everything is with you...

Laughs. Remembers:

— Andrey is reliable. Rare. I'm lucky.

I believe. And I hope so. It's her luck. At least in this case.

Galina's husband left the next room on the day she brought home the diagnosis of cancer from the clinic.

In exactly the same way, the common-law husband of the beautiful Masha disappeared. She is charming even bald after chemo. And in a wig she is simply irresistible. But only we think so.

The fat woman listens to my short story about Olya and grabs her head:

- My blood pressure has risen! This is terrible, impossible to bear!.. You shouldn’t have told me...

She asked for it herself!

And he rushes to the nurse on duty to measure his blood pressure. It really rose.

Although in the main things everything is okay with the cute fat girl. Her tests are good and she will be discharged soon. And she will only sometimes remember this terrible oncology and false alarm. Or he will try to forget completely. And Olya will stay here.

She is reading. And listens to music. Headphone wires dangle along his cheeks. Then he takes them out and puts the book aside:

- I have a runny nose…

This is a big problem. Don't stay here with a runny nose - it's a potential infection. They may discharge you, and then get on the waiting list at the clinic again. The line is long. There are many patients. But the operation cannot be postponed. Everything is always urgent here.

I take out oxolin and cotton swabs. Olya happily grabs them and chirps:

- I didn’t even know such a remedy! Will it help? Will I not be discharged?

I nod hopelessly. Still, I still hope... Valentina, my third roommate, is also trying to believe in the best.

But in the morning, the runny nose that subsided yesterday wakes up again. And with redoubled force. Olya doesn’t wait for the round and rushes to the head of the department: he operated on her last time. Returns wilted.

- He said he’ll write it out now... Otherwise I’ll infect you all...

- Mom, how are you? Are you drinking water? - this is on a mobile phone.

And again to us:

- What should I do now?! I waited a month for a place in the hospital...

Black eyes are full of despair.

— Sign up for hospitalization immediately! - we answer in unison. - Right today! The line is moving fast!

We know how it goes...

Olya has crazy eyes. The disease is moving even faster. Especially at a young age.

- Do you already have metastases?! — I break down when asked a direct question. - A lot?! Where?

Olya is silent. And he begins to pack his backpack.

- Mom, I’ll call you back... How are you feeling? Andryusha, I'm going home. No, for a while... I have a runny nose. Are you waiting? Uh-huh... Are yours okay? Wow! And what are you having for lunch?

Andrey, apparently, is doing great, no matter what. What are these boys made of?.. I wish I knew the recipe...

I accompany Olya to the elevator. The entire department, thanks to the sociable fat woman, is already aware of Olya’s life: they wave to her, hug her, kiss her... She fights back forcefully:

- What are you doing?! Crazy?! I have the flu!

Near the elevator, she suddenly leans into my shoulder and cries. What words of consolation can you find... I just hopelessly repeat that you need to immediately make an appointment at the emergency department.

Olya enters the elevator without looking back...

And then I regret that I didn’t have time to write down her mobile number. And I can’t find her anymore.

And ever since then I’ve been thinking: how can we whine and fall into depression, what right do we have to curse our life, to sincerely consider it unbearably difficult, if in the world there is Olya and her mother, the boy Andrei and his paralyzed parents?! I really hope that they all EXIST in this world...

Most of us are nowhere near their suffering and resilience. Fortunately and unfortunately...