The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #2
The Angel's Game
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Contents
Act One - City of the Damned — Chapter 14
Overview
David Martín visits an eminent physician and is diagnosed with a likely malignant brain tumor. The doctor estimates a year to live and warns he will soon be unable to write or think clearly. Confronted with a terminal prognosis, David rejects passivity, insisting he cannot die yet because he has unfinished tasks.
Summary
David Martín arrives at an upscale medical practice, noting its polished calm and efficiency. He is ushered to meet Doctor Trías, a composed, authoritative figure whose gentle manner masks grave intent. After brief small talk, Doctor Trías confirms that recent tests support his initial fears.
Doctor Trías explains that David has a growth in the left lobe of his brain, likely a carcinoma, accounting for David’s symptoms and recent work difficulties. David absorbs the news with numb detachment, asking practical questions about duration and treatment.
Pressed for specifics, Doctor Trías estimates David has roughly a year to a year and a half to live. He clarifies that while palliative measures can manage pain and provide comfort, there is no curative treatment. As the disease advances, David will lose cognitive function and will eventually require hospitalization.
When David asks how long he can still work, the doctor warns that, because the tumor affects the brain, writing will soon become impossible—perhaps within nine or ten months. The prognosis threatens David’s identity and livelihood.
Overwhelmed yet resolute, David stands to leave. Despite the doctor’s urging to begin treatment immediately, David insists he cannot die yet, asserting he has things to do before surrendering to the inevitable.
Who Appears
- David MartínWriter and protagonist; receives a terminal brain tumor diagnosis and vows he cannot die yet.
- Doctor TríasPatrician physician who calmly delivers David’s diagnosis, prognosis, and palliative options.