Page 29 - Self Talk

saw that I was the only arriving passenger.
“Jack, it was so good of you to cut your conference short to see Susan,” Margaret said as she extended her hand. “These past few weeks have been hard on....”
her voice trailed away as she gestured toward the car.
“How is she?” I asked, stalling for time to gain resolve.
“I have to warn you, she's very ill. Once the cancer spread to her brain, she insisted that the chemo be stopped so now we’re just taking it a day at a time,” she replied. “Some are better than others.”
We rode in silence through a maze of Elm, Poplar, Oak and Maple streets to the house where Susan grew up in the 60s.