A Little Too Soon for Goodbye

24 -Truth

A few days later, I'm standing outside of Alya's apartment building. I know she's home right now. She always babysits her sisters on Wednesday nights because both of her parents have to work late.

I just sigh, and walk into the building. I take the elevator up to the fifth floor, and walk over to her door. I gently knock and wait.

Just standing here I feel weak, and I can't help but hate it. My body is breaking down. I won't be able to last very much longer.

The door opens, and Alya is standing there, her eyes wide as she looks at me.

"Hello," I say, and she continues to stare. "Can I come in?"

She just slightly steps to the side, and I go into her house. I take my shoes off, and walk into the apartment. "You can put your bag down." She says.

"No, this is connected to my oxygen machine and my feeding tube. They're basically connected to me 24/7. Thank you though."

She just sighs and goes and sits down on the couch. I follow her and sit down too, and the room fills with an awkward silence.

"Where are your sisters?" I ask.

"They're having a sleep over at their friend's house. I'm here alone." I only nod, and stare at my hands in my lap.

"You're really sick, aren't you?" She looks at me, and I look up at her.

"I wish I could tell you no more than anything." She just presses her lips together, and nods. "I just wanted to come over and fix everything with you before I am admitted to the hospital. That's going to probably be within the next couple weeks, and I don't know if I'll have enough energy to walk over here anymore."

Her eyes well up with tears, and she sniffs. "Let's make the most of the next couple of weeks."

—————

A week later, Nino, Alya, Adrien, and I are walking down the street, finally hanging out again. It's been too long. Alya has been by me every free minute she has had lately, catching me up on her life. We sit and talk, and I didn't realize how much I missed her until now.

We are walking past a small cafe when Alya says, "ooh! We should go in!"

"Als, that's rude to Marinette. You know she can't have coffee." Nino says, slightly squeezing his girlfriend's hand.

"No, it's fine. I need to sit down anyway." I say, and we make our way inside.

We sit in a booth, and the three of them pick up their menus. A waitress comes over, a smile on her face. "Hello, what can I get for you all today?" Everyone orders, and I stay quiet.

I look out the window and see people passing by. I realize how beautiful each one of them is. They all have their own lives, their own family, personalities, stories. Every one of them is beautiful. This hits me hard. How beautiful they all are. How beautiful people are. The joy and the sadness and the anger every one of these people have felt. The people rhs have touched them most in their lives and has woven a small bit of each of their personalities together into a beautiful person.

This is such a moment of clarity, and I can finally accept the truth.

"What are you smiling at?" Adrien asks, and I shake my head. This is a moment for me, and only for me.

"I think I'm ready to go to the hospital."

—————

When I walk into the hospital later that day, weaker and happier than I've felt in awhile, Tikki holds me tightly. She eventually leads me up to a room, where I will be staying until I pass.

My parents and friends bring in a few personal belongings, and I smile at all of them. When I told my parents it was time, they broke down a sobbed for hours. I haven't shed a tear, and I don't think I'm going to.

It's weird how a simple moment changed the way I view my life. While even though it is everything to me, I am insignificant to the rest of the world, and life will go on after my heart gives out and my lungs stop filling with air.

Adrien comes up to me and gently kisses me as I sit on the bed. Because I'm still okay enough, I don't need an i.v. for a couple more days, Tikki said a week at most.

I make myself comfortable, accepting this new and final phase of my life. While even though my dreams won't happen, they will for someone else. Someone will get exactly what they wanted, and I can die in peace knowing that.

I can die knowing a woman will become a mother, a child will become famous, just as she always wanted, a little boy will become a scientist, and his sister will be his boss. So much will happen to the world, and so many people will be able to experience their dreams. That's enough for me.

That will always be enough for me.

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A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for another short chapter. This story is ending soon, and I'm not sure how many more chapters are going to be left. I hope you've enjoyed it <3