WOMAN - H.S

22.

Hi guys welcome back! This is a double update... the next chapter will be up shortly.

!!! TW: Death.

FLASHBACK

I breathed in the cool air of Indiana as I laid on the concrete of the driveway. My head has been foggy, it's been suffocating in my own skin.

"Mom's on month three with leukemia, the doctor say's she might not have long. It hurts to watch the strongest woman I know be in pain. She won't show it but I think she's scared. She keeps talking about when she gets to come home, I want more than anything for her to come home...but what if she doesn't? What if she never see's Jay get married or have kids. What if she doesn't get to see me find the happiness she always talks about. I feel so numb to that word...happy. Without her it's impossible to be happy." I spoke.

"If mom- if mom does leave...make her shine with you, Poppy. Make her be bright like you. You two deserve nothing more than to be the ones everyone see's right away. But most of all... it helps me to believe you are okay." I spoke to the star right above my head.

I sighed resting my hands on my stomach.

"Anna?" I heard my name being called. "Out here" I called back. "Oh, hey" I heard Olive walk over to me. "Hey" I sighed.

Olive sat down beside me laying her self down looking up at the sky with me.

Sometimes I think that stars are little peep holes for peoples love ones to look out at night to make sure they're okay. It brings me comfort because then that means Poppy looks out her peep hole almost every night all night until she has to go.

"She's here" Olive sighed with a small smile on her face. "Yeah" I said in a whisper.

Olive loved Poppy just as much as I did. Poppy spent all of her time with us as we grew up. Olive was at a volleyball camp when I put her down, she got back that day and was just as hurt as me. She was mad at herself for not being here for me, but I told her I was okay. Even though I was so hurt I got to spend my best friends last moments in her favorite spot with her favorite song. It was peaceful.

That night when her star was out for the first time. It was pink and orange and bright like her fur. We cried and listened to her favorite song as we laid on the concrete. We did that every night she was visibly in the sky.

"I told her, if mom doesn't have any choice but to go...to make her a bright star too" I said exhaling a shaky breath.

I felt Olive grasp my hand. She squeezed it, tapping her thumb on my knuckles like she always does to let me know she's there.

"Are you guys out here?" I heard "Yeah" Olive responded. I heard another set of foot steps before I felt presence on the other side of me. "Wow she's really bright tonight" Andrew spoke. "I think she knows something we don't" Olive said suspiciously. I nodded agreeing.

"Is dad staying at the hospital tonight?" I asked Andrew. "Yeah, he said we can go in in the morning" he replied. I nodded. "We should sneak her in pancakes" Andrew spoke. "Great idea" I said.

"Andrew?" "Hm?" "I don't think I'll be okay if mom goes" I spoke quietly. I felt Olives hand grip mine tighter. "I know, I don't think I will be either" he said in a whisper.

I felt tears fill the rims of my eyes but I blinked pushing them away. I felt myself being pulled into the side of my brothers body. "If something does happen...we can be not okay together" he told me pressing a kiss to the top of my head.