Somewhere Only We Know

Chapter 15

A couple of weeks later...

When my mom came home, she had a smile plastered on her face. I hadn't seen her smile in what felt like months.

"What is it?" I asked.

She sat down on the end of my bed, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"You're getting new lungs tomorrow."

I looked at her shocked. I knew this was amazing news, but I couldn't find myself feeling happy about it. Mom pulled me into a tight hug, I knew she was ecstatic.

"You're finally going to start feeling more normal again." She said. When we pulled apart, mom put her hands on my cheeks and kissed my forehead. 

"I'm going to inform work and then start getting everything packed. I suggest you start packing as well."

I nodded and gave her a small smile. I found myself jumping from the bed when she left the room. Not from excitement, but from panic. I wished for this surgery ever since I found out my lungs were failing and here, we are. Yet now I don't want to have this surgery. I needed to get out of the house I've been trapped in.

I ripped my oxygen out of my nose before quietly opening my window and climbing down. I found myself running. I felt free for a moment. The breeze feeling amazing against my warm skin. Adrenaline pumping through my veins.

I soon found myself standing outside Ashton's door. I haven't been here since the party. Charlie told me Luke was staying here. She didn't want to tell me, but I begged her to. I wanted to know that he was safe.

After knocking at the door, I stood there nervously. I felt a chill run up my back. It was quite cold out. I hugged myself, waiting for someone to come to the door.

The porch light turned on, which startled me before someone opened the door. It was Ashton.

"Marie?" He looked at me confused.

"Is Luke here?" I asked.

Ashton nodded, opening the door more to let me in. "Come in, it's freezing out there."

I walked inside and he closed the door behind me. I paused when I heard Luke's voice coming down the stairs.

"Ash?" 

When he saw me, his mouth opened wide. "Marie?"

He made his way towards me, looking me up and down. "Are you okay? Did something happen?" He asked worriedly.

I found myself throwing my arms around him and hugging him tight. He hesitated at first before putting his arms around me as well. Ashton excused himself, leaving us alone in the foyer. When we pulled apart from the hug, Luke left his hands on my shoulders.

"Marie, what's going on?" 

I sighed before saying "Can we go to our spot?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Let me grab you a coat, it's freezing outside."

I nodded, giving him a small smile which he returned. Luke rushed off to grab me a coat before coming back and helping me put it on. The coat smelled strong of his cologne.

Luke led us outside and to the car. He got in on the driver's side, and I took my place on the passenger side. He turned the car on and turned the heat up before starting to drive. I laid my head against the window, humming along to the song that was playing on the radio.

When we got there, I jumped out of the car smiling happily. 

"It feels nice to be back here."

Luke looked at me confused. "Marie, what's going on?"

I made my way over to him, taking his hand. "Wanna race?"

"You can't. Your l-"

I cut him off by saying "I'm fine."

"Where's your oxygen?" 

"I don't need it."

"Yes, you do." I was still holding his hand. I surprised him by starting to run, dragging him behind me.

When I stopped running, I felt myself struggling to breathe, so I plopped down on the ground. Luke doing the same next to me. We were quiet for a moment, the only sound coming from nature around us.

"I'm supposed to be getting next lungs tomorrow." I said casually.

Luke's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets. "What!? That's amazing, shouldn't you be home?"

"I snuck out." I played with the grass beneath me.

"What!? Why?"

"Because I don't want to be in the hospital. I've spent my whole life there." I said, turning my head to look at Luke. He looked shocked.

"You need this though. You need new lungs."

I sighed. "I'm so tired of fighting Luke. I've done this for so so long. I just want to give up. Doing the same treatments everyday so that I stay healthy is exhausting."

Luke frowned, taking my hands in his.

"Life is worth fighting for."

I shrugged. Luke tilted my head to look at him. His eyes seemed brighter in the moonlight.

"Life is always going to be a battle. Nothing comes easy. You have to fight for what you want in this world. I know that I wasn't the best boyfriend in the world, but I miss you Marie. I miss seeing you everyday. I miss your face. I miss holding you tight and laughing with you. Please fight. I need you in this world. I need you to please find strength in you and fight."

I nodded slowly, looking Luke in the eyes.

"I'm going to fight."