Millie - in loving memory Maddy Jane Nicol

Chapter 2

The morning crept through the windows, a cold crippling type of weather. I was still feeling numb. "Good morning Millie. If you were here, we would be making snowballs to throw at each other." I thought, as I looked out the window towards the cold, moody grey sky. I climbed back into my half-made bed, unlocking my phone and opening Instagram. I shed many, many tears when I watched the first reel when I opened my for you page. Two teenage girls, stood by the beach together filming a tiktok dance. Millie and I used to do that together at the hospital. I would sit beside her on her hospital bed, scrolling through each one, and laughing at the animals that would do funny, and stupid things. I couldn't do that anymore. I lay tucked in a ball for the remainder of the morning, then I decided to unpack the boxes.

My comforter lay in a bundle, tangled between the sheets. I removed the pile of glossy photos from it, and spread them out on the old desk that sat opposite. later that afternoon, I had everything in its place. The small rectangular frame holding my favourite memory, stood proud on the ruined nightstand I had painted at the age of 2. Covered in glittering nail polish and bright murky colors, The handles falling off. The Ariel doll I had rescued , lay inside the top drawer of the nightstand. My clothes folded neatly and ordered in the required drawers, complete with a made bed.

I had just sat down when my mother knocked and entered. She held out the phone to me, looking as sad as ever before. As her arm extended, her arm started to shake. "Cassandra called. She's waiting on the line for you." I took the telephone from her grasp, and held it to my ear. "Cassandra? Hello?" "Anna. I'm glad you answered. Your mother said something about you not wanting to be disturbed." "Just for this morning, I felt I would need some time to myself." "Fair enough. Um I wanted to tell you that if you are up to it you may come by tomorrow to see her room a last time. I know that's what she would've wanted. The funeral will be 3 weeks from now." "Okay" I breathed through the phone. "Would you like to make a eulogy?" "Of course I would." "Oh that's just great. Thankyou Anna. And just warning you, her father will be attending the funeral." "Dammit. You know, Millie always told me, that when you two divorced, that you wanted custody of Millie, and he wanted custody of the family dog." "Yes that's right." her voice breaking slightly. "I'm sorry, Casandra, I didn't think." "Yes. Well will you be coming tomorrow?" "If that's alright." "Alright then. I'll buy some cookies." "That would be nice. Thanks Casandra. bye-bye now." I ended the call, and gave the phone back. I walked to my laptop, and opened notes. I started writing my speech until it was time to go to bed, and then the next morning, Millie's old home.

Casandra led me to her koala infested room, her neatly made bed she had once slept in. Casandra left the room so I could look around on my own. I sat down on her bed, looking out the window at her again. My eyes fell upon her nightstand, and filled with tears when I realised she had kept the same photograph that meant so much to me, also in a frame right beside her bed. I had never noticed that before. She had left an envelope lying upon the dresser. When I picked it up, I read that it was addressed to me. I slipped the rather lengthy letter out of it.

"Dear Anna. I'm so sorry. I wish I could still be there with you down there. I've known I was going to die for a few months now, but didn't bring it up, because I wanted you to remember me as your bestfriend. I just knew that it would be my birthday as the day I would wake for the last time. Now I know this may be unfair to you, but I have two favours to ask you. My mother is alone now, I need you to be her best friend, like you did for me all the years when you didn't have to. I also know, that the plushy I once called Mr. Snugglesworth, needs a home. So, I'm giving you a choice. Either you can bury him with my body, or take him home and give him a new life. Since we were babies, born in the same hospital just a few months apart, I knew I would find a great friend just like you. You never let me be sad, and were there every step of the way. Know that I could never have been more grateful. I know that you always loved that top I own, so you can have that if you want. I love you so much Anna. I hope you get your dream job, and find someone worthy of your affection. Unfortunately, god wants me to help him up in heaven, so I must go and leave you. Goodbye Anna."