{Billie Joe Armstrong} - Sex And Drugs And Rock'n'Roll

Chapter 28: Upside Down

We spent two hours at the hospital that morning.

"I love you, Billie." I said before we left.

"I love you, too, Liz." Billie told me. I leaned in and kissed him.

"I'll miss you tonight!" I said, dreading the lonely night ahead of me.

"I'll miss all of you guys tonight!" Billie said.

"Bye." Tre said as we walked out of the room. We went down the salmon pink hallway.

It wasn't a very nice hospital. I saw a nurse pushing a woman on a gurney that was super rusty and squeaky, there was a huge yellow spot on the ceiling from water damage, and the smell of mold lingered in the hallways.

Infortunately, Billie had to stay there for six days. We went there on all of those days, and I had five nights of getting barely any sleep. But on the sixth day, everything changed.

It was a Sunday afternoon in late October. I entered Billie's room with Mike and Tre.

"Hi." Tre said.

"Oh, hey guys." Billie sighed. "I... I have some awful news.".

"Fuck." I said under my breath. I sat on the bed and took Billie's hand. Before he even said it, I already knew what he was going to tell us.

Tears filled his eyes and he let out a sigh. "I have terminal cancer." he told us.

"No!" I cried. I let go of his hand and put my hands over my face. Tears ran from my eyes. I sobbed uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry, babe." he whispered, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight. "I'm really sorry.". I took my hands down from my face and held onto Billie.

Mike was sitting on a chair, in the corner, crying. Tre was standing against the wall, also crying.

"I love you, Billie." I said in between sobs. "I love you so much.". I kissed his cheek.

"When do you get to leave?" Tre asked.

"Well, I don't know. I want to leave today." Billie said. "But I don't know if they'll let me.".

"I'll make them release you." I said. "If you want to live the rest of your life at home instead of staying in a hospital, you should be able to.".

"I know. But they might not want me to.".

"Get your doctor in here.".

***

After some arguing, the doctor finally agreed to let Billie come home.

"You'll want to take it easy." he told Bille.

"I will." Billie said.

"Okay.".

"How much longer do you think he's going to live?" I asked.

"Oh," the doctor sighed. "I was afraid you would ask. Well, not very long. If he makes it to summer, I'd be surprised.".

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

"Fuck." Mike sighed.

"I'd say that he probably has about four or five months left." the doctor sighed.

I nodded.

"I'm terribly sorry. I wish that there was something I could do, but there isn't.".The doctor turned and left the room.

"Billie, I..." I started, but I couldn't speak. Billie put his arms around me and I sobbed into his shoulder. All of us were crying.

"Babe, we should go back to the hotel soon." he said slowly.