Heh, I guess i deserve it

1.7

Diya's POV

It had been about two days since the fun fair. Jake's message popped up on my phone, and my heart skipped a beat as I read it.

Jake
"um... so I gotta tell you something."

My mind raced with a thousand possibilities, but I pushed them aside and quickly replied.

Diya
"Sure, wanna come over to my place? We can talk here."

I quickly got ready, knowing that he would probably pull up any minute with his Bugatti. Within minutes, he arrived. I opened the door and noticed his usual easygoing manner was replaced by a hint of nervousness. We settled into my room, and I placed the tea I had prepared before he came onto the bedside table. After some small talk, Jake took a deep breath.

"Theres... a reason I've been going to the doctor a lot," he said quietly. I silently wait as I watch him gather the courage to speak up. "I...  I have ligma."

My heart sank at his words. I wanted to ask a million questions, but I held back and let him continue. He pointed at the moles at his neck, which I notice have spread a bit and grown in size.

"The doctors said... I have less than a month left. Around two weeks from now." his voice was barely above a whisper.

I sat there in shock, trying to process the news. Two weeks. Why did he not tell me earlier? How could this be happening? Tears welled up in Jakes eyes, and he blinked them out. "I wanted you to know. I didn't want to keep it from you." I blinked back my own tears.

"Thank you for telling me, Jake. I swear we will make the most of the time we have left."

And so, for the next two weeks, Jake and I hung out almost every day. We visited the beach, feeling the sand between our little sucky toes and the breeze on our faces. Jake taught me how to skip stones, and we laughed as I failed to skid the stones across the water.

We spent an afternoon at the zoo, looking at all the animals around us. We marvelled at the majestic lions and playful monkeys. Jake's eyes lit up as we watched the penguins waddle around.

One day, we went to a local amusement park, riding roller coasters, remembering our first encounter, and indulging in all the sugary treats we could find. 

We had a cozy movie night at my place, with blankets and popcorn, as we watched our favourite films. We found comfort in each other's presence as we aggressively made out during the movie.

Every day we spent together, talking about everything and nothing, sharing stories and dreams late into the night, and then, two weeks had gone by in a blur. We stood at the edge of the park, where we had shared so many memories. The sun was setting, and we were still sharing stories. His laughter was infectious, and even if it were only for a moment, it felt as though all the worries in the world were gone. It felt like the weight of his illness had lifted. For just a moment, it felt like everything was perfect.

And then it wasn't.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I saw him, lifeless, as white as paper.

Everything seemed surreal, like a cruel dream from which I desperately wished to wake up. Panic and grief consumed me as I clung to him, unwilling to let go. I begged and begged, to whoever would listen to me, to bring him back. To bring the colour back into his eyes and skin. To bring the expression back to his face. To bring the rhythmic beat back to his heart.

No amount of begging could change this.

He was gone.