Pinning my wet hair back, I leave it to air dry in the beachy waves I like.

When my hair started to grow back after chemo, it was much lighter than the strawberry blonde it used to be: mostly blonde, with a few glints of red shining in the sunlight. It was also less curly.

Finding a pair of dark, thick tights and my favorite gray sweater dress, I quickly finish getting ready in our empty bedroom. Parker left for work earlier than normal for a staff meeting. He seemed a little cold and standoffish after our conversation last night, but he insisted he was fine and okay with giving me time to think about the idea of having a baby.

I unpin my hair, shake out the damp waves, and slip into my black boots. Putting on a bit of make-up, I glance in the mirror to give my final approval before grabbing my purse off the kitchen table. I take one last look around to make sure I have everything before heading to the clinic to volunteer.

At the Mayo Clinic, I give the security guard a quick nod as I pass him and step into the elevator. It’s the same guy, each week. He seems friendly enough, even though we’ve never said more than a few words about the weather.

My boot heels click softly against the boring white tile of the Oncology floor. I like the way heels look, but I love my flats more, though I’d never say that around Jean. The woman wholeheartedly believes every woman should wear heels daily, no matter their height or what they’re doing.

Casey, the receptionist, greets me with a smile over the shoulder of the man she’s helping. She’s beautiful, with olive skin and long, silky black hair with straight bangs that frame her heart-shaped face perfectly.

It took me a while to start volunteering my time here. Coming face to face with others battling cancer and seeing them so vulnerable was difficult. But then I met Amy, a volunteer and cancer survivor who taught me that it’s about giving people hope; encouraging them to keep moving forward and be strong because there is an end to the disease and that end doesn’t have to result in something terrible. Being here is not only inspiring, but rewarding.

In the employee lounge, I put my things in a locker and put on my red volunteer vest. I pick up the tray of juice and packaged gingerbread cookies, chuckling. I remember the volunteers passing these out when I was getting chemotherapy. As a patient, I never understood the need for it, because patients rarely accept them. Now, though, I see that it’s an icebreaker—an easy way to strike up a conversation. I never force anyone to talk to me or share anything about their cancer that they don’t want to. I just let them know I’m available in case they want to talk. That I know what it’s like to try and protect your friends and family from what you’re feeling.

In a few strides I’m in the treatment room, and I scan the patients, taking in the familiar faces. Amy’s already here, but instead of wearing the red vest and assisting the patients, she’s reading in a chair, wearing a plain gray T-shirt and jeans.

She’s been a huge inspiration to me and I’ve grown to really trust and respect her. It’s hard to find someone you connect with who also understands what you have been through. We’ve become so close, I don’t know what I’d do without her. I still go to Jean, but Amy understands me on a different level.

“Hi, Dre!” Her face brightens as I approach. Bless her heart, she’s always happy and smiling. I’ve never heard her complain.

“Hey, you. What are you doing sitting over here?”

She grins. “I have the day off.”

“Day off? Do you usually come in on your day off?”

She laughs, eyes bright. “I had an appointment this morning for a lab draw. Brandon and Ethan ran across the street to get some coffee and a donut before we drop Ethan off at school.”

I smile. “What are you reading?” I motion at her Nook, changing the topic to one of my favorites.

It’s one I’ve never heard before. “I just started it while I wait for the boys to come back.”

“How is it?” I ask, setting the tray down and taking the seat next to her.

“It’s so good. I’m loving it. Friends turned lovers. I’m a sucker for that.”

“I love those too.”

She pulls down the edges of her blue knitted hat with a small white flower on the side, as if trying to disguise the wig she still wears. After Amy finished chemo about a year ago, her hair grew back frail and thin, making it difficult to grow out. She’s been on multiple medications and has seen a few specialists to help, but so far nothing has worked.

“Enough about my book. Did you get the job?”

“I did!” I cheer. I recently finished a small internship program at Astrotek Incorporated. During my exit interview they told me about a position that was opening up in the fall, so I applied and was called in for an interview shortly after.

“That’s awesome!”

“Thank you. Parker and I are pretty excited. It’s great to already know the staff, so it won’t be awkward being the new girl, and the department I’ll be in works closely with NASA.” I tap my feet on the floor with excitement. I’d love to work for NASA someday, but I would need a PhD in Astrophysics to do what I’d want.

“Wow.”

“I know. And my brother-in-law offered me my job back at For the Love of Paws for the summer. I’ll still volunteer here one day a week with you, so that will be nice.”

“It seems like everything is falling into place for you.”

“It appears to be.” I take a deep breath. I itch to tell her about last night, but hold off.