More Time (ONC 2021)

Chapter 1 - The Promise

Shawn believed the worst day of his decade was when Emily announced her engagement.

When she'd video called him, claiming she had more important news, he'd figured she was pregnant with her fiancé's kid and wished for anything but that.

Shawn got his selfish wish.

She had brain cancer.

"I'm flying home," he said without a second thought.

As Emily shook her head, her blonde pixie-cut swayed, and his heart ached. She'd lose that beautiful hair after chemo. "The doctors say we caught it early enough, that my odds are good. Not that I don't want to see you." She grinned. "But you've got your important job in Bangkok."

"No job is more important than you, Em." Staff left during the school year for more trivial reasons. If his best friend needed him, he would drop everything for her. He'd let her down too often in the past.

"Shawn Walker, you're such a drama king. Come visit in March when you're done teaching like we planned. It's only a couple of months away. My parents and Brian are worrying enough for an army right now. Just keep living your awesome life, so I can live vicariously through your pictures, and bring me something cool when you return."

Every muscle in his body argued with him to book a plane ticket and leave, but he listened to her because he didn't wish to add stress to her life if she didn't want him there. After all, she had her family and fiancé. Shawn was just a childhood friend who'd broken her heart in college, and he couldn't get over it. He hadn't earned the right to be at her side again. She'd made that clear when she picked Nebraska and Brian over Shawn and her dream country.

As January melted into February, her calls grew more infrequent. Her snarky personality turned complacent and distant. Her mother confirmed her progress wasn't as steady as they'd hoped, though the doctors were still optimistic. At that point, he'd finished the distance courses for his education degree, so he told his Thai administration there was a medical emergency at home and flew to Nebraska. If there was a chance things weren't going well, he needed to support her, regardless of what she said.

When he visited the Foster's home, Emily looked paler and frailer than she had during their chats. He took her small hand in his, her milky skin tone contrasting with his brown hands. Scars of track marks still ran up her forearms. He tensed. If he hadn't been such a careless idiot four years ago and had told her he loved her the second she doubted him, he could have saved her from some of that fate.

She crossed her arms. "You weren't supposed to come this early."

He pressed his lips together. "You know I can't stop worrying about you."

She shifted the bright blue wig on her head. At least the colour was obnoxiously Emily. "That's my fiancé's job."

"And your best friend's. You deserve more than one important person in your life."

Footsteps padded into her bedroom. "She certainly does. You must be Shawn. I have to admit, you are less intimidating over video." Brian looked up at Shawn, held out his hand, and Shawn stepped back to shake it.

"Thanks for taking good care of her, Brian."

"It's my pleasure."

Brian swept in and kissed Emily on the cheek. She leaned into the action and beamed, which she'd never done with her sketchy, abusive exes. Shawn squashed the uneasiness in his stomach. Why did she get this diagnosis when she was finally happy and sober? Why couldn't he be the man always at her side? Because he'd moved away and failed her again.

"Is Mitch coming?" Shawn asked. The past eight months were the longest period they'd ever been apart.

"Soon. He and Lisa are wrapping up projects at school first. He visited a few weeks ago."