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“No,” Jazz whispered as her legs seemed to lose all their support She sank down on a chair opposite the couple who’d come to mean so much to her since she’d moved to Townsend “Who…What…” She sed around a lump in her throat as tears ilanced between the two until her gaze finally settled on Mama V She’d thinned, almost too much, and her face had taken on an ashy tone over the past feeeks “Oh, God,” she whispered

How had she not known so? How oblivious could she possibly be?

“I made sure no one knew,” Mama V said in a voice full of sorrow

“Huh? What?”

The co around her like a rope Here she was, obviously suffering through so comfort Selfish much?

“I can practically hear the questions bouncing around in your head You couldn’t have known I was very careful to hide it from everyone and made sure Viper knew to keep it quiet” As she spoke, she lifted a frail hand to her head, brushing her long hair behind her ear “Won’t be able to hide it for h”

Her hair had thinned, the thick silvery locks Jazz loved looking stringy and sparse Life could be so cruel

“So, uuess I’ll start there”

Viper, who’d reh h his wife’s Cassie tightened her hand around his as she smiled at her husband

Jazz’s heart clenched Cassie would h their golden years together until they reached the end far, far in the future

After a heavy sigh, Cassie said “I have lynosis, and we’ve chosen an aggressive treatment course” She winked “Don’t worry, Jazz, this old bird isn’t ready to fall from the nest just yet”

“But how are you feeling?”

“I’ht”

Viper snorted as he rolled his eyes,his wife chuckle

“Okay, fine I feel like crap ninety percent of the tih”

“Yes, you are, beautiful,” Viper said “You make Izzy look like a kitten”