I kept a straight face. Or, rather, I kept my expression open, listening; I didn't wince like I wanted to. It was pretty obvious from his tone that Jake didn't want it to be a big deal, so I wouldn't make it a big deal, like cancer obviously was.

"I'm sorry," I said. "It does suck. And it must suck to be away from her." I thought about how much I had complained about being away from my family and felt a little bad about it. At least I didn't have to sit with the knowledge that my mom, or anyone in my family, was slowly dying without me.