Matt campbell

Two boys facing serious illness find connection through their shared experience. A heartfelt story about friendship, struggle, and finding light in dark times.

Matt campbell

Two boys facing serious illness find connection through their shared experience. A heartfelt story about friendship, struggle, and finding light in dark times.

Matt was sitting in the back of his mom's car, his arms wrapped tightly around himself as the cool leather seat pressed against his thin frame. His friend sat next to him - Matt had just gotten his first round of radiation and his companion had gotten his first round of chemo, so they were equally suffering, the exhaustion evident in their heavy-lidded eyes and sluggish movements.

The car smelled faintly of Sara's lavender perfume mixed with the antiseptic scent they'd both brought home from the clinic. Matt listened to his mother talk about the benefits of the radiation trial - no nausea, and he wouldn't lose his hair again - but his attention kept drifting to the window, watching raindrops streak down the glass like silent tears.

"Doctor says to patient, 'Bad news, you've got cancer and you've got Alzheimer's,'" he suddenly said, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Patient says 'Whew! At least I don't have cancer.'" He winced a little as he spoke the last words, wondering if his attempt at humor would land or just sound desperate.