Lettre Fatale
Would Rachael be able to survive after being diagnosed as having cervical cancer? And if so at what cost?
Sample chapter:-
Chapter One
It was one letter that Rachael did not want to receive. Staring down at the white envelope with the Doctors' postmark on it made her quiver as she slowly turned it over and began to open it. Rachael's heart was beating frivolously. Trying to calm herself down, thinking that it was nothing, just a query regarding another test, gave her a sense of serenity.
Pulling herself together, Rachael began to read it:
Dear Miss Jones,
Following your recent smear test it was found that you have slightly abnormal cells. I would very much like to see you to discuss this. There is nothing for you to worry about.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Payne
Rachael stood still, trying to take in what the letter was saying. She re-read it. As she did, she began to cry. Not understanding what it meant, Rachael slowly pulled herself together and began to get ready for work.
She grabbed her black handbag and opened the door. As she did, she remembered the letter', placing it into her bag. She left her house for the number five bus at the bottom of her road.
Whilst on •the bus, all Rachael could think about was the letter. She felt numb, unable to cry. She had no one to tell the news to; all Rachael could do was to remain brave in the face of her work colleagues.
She soon got off the bus and began to walk up the steep hill to the school where she worked. A school that was due to be closed by the authorities, due to falling number of pupils and frequently falling OFSTED. It was a place that she wasn't looking forward to being at. Not today. As she walked through the building into the staff room she began to cry.
"What's up Rachael?" asked Sarah.
"Oh nothing, time of the month probably," she replied.
Sarah wasn't so sure that Rachael was telling the truth and went to the Head Teacher to see if she could find out what was wrong with Rachael, who was quite clearly in no fit state to teach.
Rachael, a young 25 year old originally from London, had moved to Cranston a year ago, following her promotion to Head of Drama. Rachael was vulnerability, and because of this, Sarah, a Maths teacher who had been at the school since her arrival, had always supported her, and helped her through many crises. But deep clown she knew in her heart of hearts that something was seriously wrong.
As Sarah approached the Head Teacher’s office, she began to take a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in," said the Head Teacher, "Oh Sarah, what can I do for you?"
"It's Rachael. She's not herself. She's in the staff room trying to put on a brave face. Can you talk to her?" Sarah asked.
"She's desperately trying not to cry."
"Okay, ask her to come and see me." Sarah left to fetch Rachael from the staff room and take her to the Head’s office.
As Rachael approached the office, the Head Teacher became concerned. She had never seen her looking so pale.
"Please Rachael, sit clown. You're not looking yourself."
"No, l received this letter through the post this morning and l don't know what to do. I’m all on my own, and I’m frightened that it could be cancer."
"Oh Rachael, I’m so sorry. Listen, why don't you give the Doctor a call, and go and see him this morning? Don't worry about trying to teach, go and get it sorted and tell me what he says after lunch."
''Thank you, l will."
Rachael left the Head Teachers office and proceeded to call Doctor. Payne’s surgery. It took her over half an hour to get through. When she finally did, Rachael found the receptionist very unsympathetic, but managed to get an appointment to see Doctor Payne as an emergency. Rachael was relieved.
The appointment was made for ten-thirty that morning. She couldn't wait to get this all sorted out. It seemed like one big nightmare, which at present had no ending. After making the phone call, Rachael went back into the staff room. Mary, a fellow English teacher made her a cup of tea.
"Here you go love," said Mary, "this should cheer you up."
"Thanks," Rachael replied.
"What time do you have to be at the Doctors?"
"Ten-thirty."
"Okay, well I’ll give you a lift. I have to be at the hospital for eleven."
''Thanks Mary."
"We'll leave in thirty minutes."
Thirty minutes soon went by.
Rachael began to feel nervous. But the support from her colleagues had been overwhelming, despite the advocacy surrounding the circumstances of the school and the fact that by the end of July they would all be out of a job.
Rachael, along with the other staff, had to get on with life, regardless of all its difficulties. Being positive meant survival, even though Rachael did not feel like being positive. All she wanted to know was if she would be alive this time next year.
She had read .articles before about women who had abnormal cells, with treatment they were cured. But there was al ways the notion that something could happen whilst being treated and that she could die. Rachael had to pull herself together.
"Come on Rachael, time to go," called Mary.
"Okay, I’m ready."
As they left the staff room and headed towards Mary's blue Sierra Rachael began to feel queasy: She had an awful feeling in her stomach.
Were her instincts right? Or had they made a mistake and just wanted to re-test her? Just to make sure that everything was really okay.
Rachael wouldn't know until she saw Doctor Payne and found out what happens next.
"Well, here we are Rachael," said Mary. "I hope it goes all right, it’s probably not as bad as you think. Listen, I’ll see you at school later okay?"
"Thanks Mary, good luck at the hospital too."
"Oh there's nothing for me to worry about, it's just routine, but I’m thinking of you."
"See you later."
"Yes, and try to cheer up. We can’t let the Doctor see you looking like that, can we?"
"No, l suppose not. See you later."
"Bye."
Rachael got out of the car and opened the surgery door. As she did, she began to feel very nervous. It was like she was playing the lead role in a movie. Reality just wasn't there.
Maybe it is an audition for a film, thought Rachael, and it will all be over in a few minutes. With this in mind, Rachael felt a little more confident as she approached the reception.
"Hello, my name is Miss Jones. I'm here to see Doctor Payne at ten-thirty."
"Hello Miss Jones, please take a seat and the Doctor will see you shortly."
Rachael took a seat at the back of the surgery. As she did, she began to look around at all the people, wondering what they were all seeing a Doctor for. A couple of them didn't even look very ill.
One elderly man was in a wheelchair; he looked very ill, unable to walk without crutches. His wife helped him into the Doctor’s room. There were several Mothers to be, and a couple of blokes with serious coughs that would probably go away with some cough mixture.
Rachael soon noticed the time. It was eleven. She had been waiting for over half an hour. The wait soon became a lifetime. It wasn't long until Rachael found herself sitting all alone in the Doctors' surgery.
"Miss Jones," announced a voice over the tannoy.
It was Doctor Payne summoning her to his room like a naughty child.
"Well Rachael, what can l do for you?"
"Doctor, it's this letter you sent."
"Oh yes, tell me Rachael, what do you do again? I can never remember."
"I' m Head of Drama at Saxton comprehensive."
"Oh, it's got a reputation as being a particularly demanding school."
"Well, its hard work Doctor, but the local education authority is closing it down in July."
"Oh, what will you do after that?"
"I don't know. Look, what is really going on Doctor? The letter ...”
"Ah yes, the letter. Its bad news, I’m afraid. It is treatable though; we've caught it in time."
Rachael couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"So Doctor, it's serious. Do you think I’ve got cervical cancer?"
'I'm not saying that, but I’ve already referred you to the city hospital. They will be treating you from now on. All we can do is to trust them to do their job, and you'll be fine."
Rachael began to cry, all this information was too much for her to deal with all on her own.
"Do you have anyone who could be with you right now?"
"Yes, my friend Sarah. My family live too far away."
"It is treatable Rachael; we have caught it in time."
"Well thank you Doctor. I’d better go and let you get on with your job."
"Rachael, just call me if you need to talk. I know it isn't going to be easy. But when you come through this you’ll be a stronger and healthier person for it."
"Goodbye Doctor."
Rachael left the surgery feeling bewildered and numb. It seemed like a lifetime had flashed before her eyes. Unable to know what to do next, all she could do now was to wait for the hospital to contact her. Rachael slowly made her way home, to figure out what it all really meant and to spend some time on her own in order to come to terms with the news.
Before facing the reality of life that was to behold her. A dark muddy hole with no way through, until she was given the all clear from the hospital. Then she could finally get on with her life.
Links to work:-
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96851
Sample chapter:-
Chapter One
It was one letter that Rachael did not want to receive. Staring down at the white envelope with the Doctors' postmark on it made her quiver as she slowly turned it over and began to open it. Rachael's heart was beating frivolously. Trying to calm herself down, thinking that it was nothing, just a query regarding another test, gave her a sense of serenity.
Pulling herself together, Rachael began to read it:
Dear Miss Jones,
Following your recent smear test it was found that you have slightly abnormal cells. I would very much like to see you to discuss this. There is nothing for you to worry about.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Payne
Rachael stood still, trying to take in what the letter was saying. She re-read it. As she did, she began to cry. Not understanding what it meant, Rachael slowly pulled herself together and began to get ready for work.
She grabbed her black handbag and opened the door. As she did, she remembered the letter', placing it into her bag. She left her house for the number five bus at the bottom of her road.
Whilst on •the bus, all Rachael could think about was the letter. She felt numb, unable to cry. She had no one to tell the news to; all Rachael could do was to remain brave in the face of her work colleagues.
She soon got off the bus and began to walk up the steep hill to the school where she worked. A school that was due to be closed by the authorities, due to falling number of pupils and frequently falling OFSTED. It was a place that she wasn't looking forward to being at. Not today. As she walked through the building into the staff room she began to cry.
"What's up Rachael?" asked Sarah.
"Oh nothing, time of the month probably," she replied.
Sarah wasn't so sure that Rachael was telling the truth and went to the Head Teacher to see if she could find out what was wrong with Rachael, who was quite clearly in no fit state to teach.
Rachael, a young 25 year old originally from London, had moved to Cranston a year ago, following her promotion to Head of Drama. Rachael was vulnerability, and because of this, Sarah, a Maths teacher who had been at the school since her arrival, had always supported her, and helped her through many crises. But deep clown she knew in her heart of hearts that something was seriously wrong.
As Sarah approached the Head Teacher’s office, she began to take a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in," said the Head Teacher, "Oh Sarah, what can I do for you?"
"It's Rachael. She's not herself. She's in the staff room trying to put on a brave face. Can you talk to her?" Sarah asked.
"She's desperately trying not to cry."
"Okay, ask her to come and see me." Sarah left to fetch Rachael from the staff room and take her to the Head’s office.
As Rachael approached the office, the Head Teacher became concerned. She had never seen her looking so pale.
"Please Rachael, sit clown. You're not looking yourself."
"No, l received this letter through the post this morning and l don't know what to do. I’m all on my own, and I’m frightened that it could be cancer."
"Oh Rachael, I’m so sorry. Listen, why don't you give the Doctor a call, and go and see him this morning? Don't worry about trying to teach, go and get it sorted and tell me what he says after lunch."
''Thank you, l will."
Rachael left the Head Teachers office and proceeded to call Doctor. Payne’s surgery. It took her over half an hour to get through. When she finally did, Rachael found the receptionist very unsympathetic, but managed to get an appointment to see Doctor Payne as an emergency. Rachael was relieved.
The appointment was made for ten-thirty that morning. She couldn't wait to get this all sorted out. It seemed like one big nightmare, which at present had no ending. After making the phone call, Rachael went back into the staff room. Mary, a fellow English teacher made her a cup of tea.
"Here you go love," said Mary, "this should cheer you up."
"Thanks," Rachael replied.
"What time do you have to be at the Doctors?"
"Ten-thirty."
"Okay, well I’ll give you a lift. I have to be at the hospital for eleven."
''Thanks Mary."
"We'll leave in thirty minutes."
Thirty minutes soon went by.
Rachael began to feel nervous. But the support from her colleagues had been overwhelming, despite the advocacy surrounding the circumstances of the school and the fact that by the end of July they would all be out of a job.
Rachael, along with the other staff, had to get on with life, regardless of all its difficulties. Being positive meant survival, even though Rachael did not feel like being positive. All she wanted to know was if she would be alive this time next year.
She had read .articles before about women who had abnormal cells, with treatment they were cured. But there was al ways the notion that something could happen whilst being treated and that she could die. Rachael had to pull herself together.
"Come on Rachael, time to go," called Mary.
"Okay, I’m ready."
As they left the staff room and headed towards Mary's blue Sierra Rachael began to feel queasy: She had an awful feeling in her stomach.
Were her instincts right? Or had they made a mistake and just wanted to re-test her? Just to make sure that everything was really okay.
Rachael wouldn't know until she saw Doctor Payne and found out what happens next.
"Well, here we are Rachael," said Mary. "I hope it goes all right, it’s probably not as bad as you think. Listen, I’ll see you at school later okay?"
"Thanks Mary, good luck at the hospital too."
"Oh there's nothing for me to worry about, it's just routine, but I’m thinking of you."
"See you later."
"Yes, and try to cheer up. We can’t let the Doctor see you looking like that, can we?"
"No, l suppose not. See you later."
"Bye."
Rachael got out of the car and opened the surgery door. As she did, she began to feel very nervous. It was like she was playing the lead role in a movie. Reality just wasn't there.
Maybe it is an audition for a film, thought Rachael, and it will all be over in a few minutes. With this in mind, Rachael felt a little more confident as she approached the reception.
"Hello, my name is Miss Jones. I'm here to see Doctor Payne at ten-thirty."
"Hello Miss Jones, please take a seat and the Doctor will see you shortly."
Rachael took a seat at the back of the surgery. As she did, she began to look around at all the people, wondering what they were all seeing a Doctor for. A couple of them didn't even look very ill.
One elderly man was in a wheelchair; he looked very ill, unable to walk without crutches. His wife helped him into the Doctor’s room. There were several Mothers to be, and a couple of blokes with serious coughs that would probably go away with some cough mixture.
Rachael soon noticed the time. It was eleven. She had been waiting for over half an hour. The wait soon became a lifetime. It wasn't long until Rachael found herself sitting all alone in the Doctors' surgery.
"Miss Jones," announced a voice over the tannoy.
It was Doctor Payne summoning her to his room like a naughty child.
"Well Rachael, what can l do for you?"
"Doctor, it's this letter you sent."
"Oh yes, tell me Rachael, what do you do again? I can never remember."
"I' m Head of Drama at Saxton comprehensive."
"Oh, it's got a reputation as being a particularly demanding school."
"Well, its hard work Doctor, but the local education authority is closing it down in July."
"Oh, what will you do after that?"
"I don't know. Look, what is really going on Doctor? The letter ...”
"Ah yes, the letter. Its bad news, I’m afraid. It is treatable though; we've caught it in time."
Rachael couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"So Doctor, it's serious. Do you think I’ve got cervical cancer?"
'I'm not saying that, but I’ve already referred you to the city hospital. They will be treating you from now on. All we can do is to trust them to do their job, and you'll be fine."
Rachael began to cry, all this information was too much for her to deal with all on her own.
"Do you have anyone who could be with you right now?"
"Yes, my friend Sarah. My family live too far away."
"It is treatable Rachael; we have caught it in time."
"Well thank you Doctor. I’d better go and let you get on with your job."
"Rachael, just call me if you need to talk. I know it isn't going to be easy. But when you come through this you’ll be a stronger and healthier person for it."
"Goodbye Doctor."
Rachael left the surgery feeling bewildered and numb. It seemed like a lifetime had flashed before her eyes. Unable to know what to do next, all she could do now was to wait for the hospital to contact her. Rachael slowly made her way home, to figure out what it all really meant and to spend some time on her own in order to come to terms with the news.
Before facing the reality of life that was to behold her. A dark muddy hole with no way through, until she was given the all clear from the hospital. Then she could finally get on with her life.
Links to work:-
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96851