BEACH ~~ emma wilson

5: tired

Authors note:

Hi everyone! I personally don't know much about cancer, or how it feels. So, I will be kind of fast forwarding the actual chemotherapy, and just focusing on Emma's relationship with Noah and her friends and parents. If anything that I do mention is not medically accurate, please tell me and feel free to give me any other suggestions about the story.

P.S. This is in a world where Covid didn't happen.

Thank you and hope you enjoy the story!

April 17, 2020

It's been seven months since my birthday. I haven't went to school since December, before winter break. Today I had a chemo session and I was really tired afterwards.

Like always, I got home and went straight to my room. I got in a few hours of sleep before school ended and Noah came home.

He came to my room and sat there, doing homework, for some time till I woke up. I had told him a long time ago that he can wake me up, but he never does. I love him for that.

"Noah? Is that you?" I asked, still half asleep.

"Yep, you need anything?"

I sat up and shook my head, but got dizzy.

Noah must have noticed since he was next to me in a few seconds.

I looked up at him and, seeing his worried face, smiled.

"Bathroom..." I whispered.

He helped me get up and out of bed. Even though I had just woken up from a long nap, I was tired. Like always, Noah expected this and caught me as I was falling back on the bed.

He held me up, basically carrying me, as he took me to the bathroom. When we got there, he held me up while I pulled my pant down. Then he put me on the toilet and turned around. When I was done, he helped me up again. I'm so glad he does that. It would be much worse with my mom or dad helping me.

As Noah helped me back, I asked, "Does anyone know?"

I felt him shake his head. "Other than the teachers obviously..."

I nodded. We had reached the bed now and I sat.

"Noah?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you sleep next to me? You can turn the tv on..."

"I'll sleep, but no tv."

I just shrugged and hugged him as I slept.

I woke up a few hours later because of how hot it was. Noah was sleeping next to me, snoring slightly.

It's still spring! Why is it so hot!?

Either way, I decided to remove my sweater and pant. I was wearing a shirt and underwear underneath anyway. I hugged Noah and went back to sleep.

———
I woke up to screaming.

"EMMA WILSON!!! ARE YOU SLEEPING WITH A BOY!!!" My mom screamed.

Noah woke up when he heard and jumped out of bed.

"No! Mrs. Wilson, we weren..." Noah stammered before my mom cut him off.

"GET OUT! She doesn't need any unnecessary extra problems right now! GO HOME!!"

Then she literally pushed him out of my room.

"Mom! Why'd you do that?!" She started to speak but I cut her off. "We weren't sleeping together... I mean, not in that way! I was tired and I asked him to sleep next to me..."

"Then why aren't you wearing a pant? Or a sweater! I told you to always wear a sweater!"

"I was hot! MOM! You really think I'm going to try and get pregnant right now!? I'm not an idiot! Even if I wanted to, which I don't, the chemo already makes me tired, I don't want a baby right now mom!"

She just nodded, "I'm sorry Emma. I should have known but I saw you in bed with a boy and no pant and my logic just disappeared."

"It's fine mom, but you need to apologize to Noah!"

"Of course darling. Also, do you need anything?"

"Food? And some help getting up?"

"I'll bring you food but why do you need to get up?"

"I can't feel my legs anymore, I need to move mom!"

She hesitated but eventually agreed and helped me up. She stayed holding me for a few seconds till I said I'm fine.

Then she left to get me food and I called Noah.

"Hello?"

"Hi Noah, sorry about that..."

He just mumbled it's fine and said he had to go. We said bye and hung up.

I needed someone to talk to, so I decided to call my best friend Shay. I would explain everything to her, Lucee, and Katie. She picked up on the second ring.

"Emma! Where have you been?! Me, Lucee, and Katie miss you! We've interrogated Noah many times but he won't tell us anything!"

"Shay... I have cancer. I can't come to school because I can get sick really easily. I'm definitely not coming back this year... hopefully senior year! Noah and the teachers know... I told them, mostly Noah, not to tell anyone. I thought I should tell you..."

"Oh Emma! I'm so sorry! I really am! You must feel terrible! After what happened to Lucas..."

I didn't say anything. "Emma?! Are you okay!" I nodded before I realized she couldn't see me.

"Yeah..."

"Okay! I have a question..."

"Yeah?"

Her voice dropped to a loud whisper. "Are you bald yet?"

I nodded again. Then I realized how tired I was.

"Can we talk later? I'm really tired..."

"Sure! Call you later!"

I hung up.

Then I got up and went to the mirror. I was bald. I had a wig and things, but I was still bald...

I was thinking about that when I got a message.

It was from Noah. 7 words, but it broke my heart. It said:

Emma, this isn't working out. I'm sorry.

I sat down on the bed, crying. I don't know what went through my mind but I got up and opened the window. There was a way down from the roof that Noah had made so he could sneak here every morning and night. I climbed down. I ran to his house. It was right next door but I was winded by the time I got there. I stood there, on their porch, against the wall to catch my breath.

Then I bent down and took the extra key out from under the mat. They were out at dinner, their car wasn't there. I opened the door and ran upstairs to Noah's room.

When I got there, I trashed it. Well, half of it. I got really tired halfway through and just sat down.

I looked around the room. I hadn't done any permanent damage, just thrown everything everywhere. But still, what was I doing! I got up and ran out the door, only stopping to lock the door and catch my breath. I climbed back up to my room.

When I did, I heard my mom calling me.

"Emma! Foods ready!"

"I'm coming" I tried to scream, but my throat hurt. The whole room was spinning. I reached out for my phone and saw my hand shaking. I tried again to call for my mom, nothing happened. I needed to get to my bed. I took a step, still shaking. I took another. Just one more and I would be there. I took one more step. Then I black out, falling backwards. Away from the bed. Onto the hard floor.