Alina stood on the makeshift stage in her school's gymnasium, the air filled with the echoes of cheers and claps. The tassel on her graduation cap bobbed as she beamed, her heart swelling with pride. The principal's words blended together in her mind as she stared out at the sea of people, searching for her family's faces in the crowd. There they were—her mom, dad, and younger brother—waving wildly at her, pride radiating from their expressions.
The ceremony ended, and the graduates tossed their caps into the air, releasing an eruption of cheers that seemed to reverberate off the walls. The weight of her diploma in her hand felt like more than just a piece of paper; it was a milestone, a celebration of all the hard work, late nights, and stress that had built up over the past four years.
"Alina!" her mom called as she rushed toward her, her arms wide open. She enveloped Alina in a warm hug, squeezing her tightly.
"We're so proud of you," her dad said, patting her shoulder with a broad smile. Her little brother, Ethan, stood next to him, grinning up at her.
"Thanks, guys," Alina said, pulling away just enough to see their faces. It felt surreal, standing there in her cap and gown, knowing that this chapter of her life was finally over.
Later that evening, they gathered at her favorite restaurant to celebrate. The conversation was light and filled with laughter as they reminisced about her school years, the ups and downs, and the fact that she had made it through it all. But even in the midst of the joy, a small knot of unease curled in her stomach. Her family had no idea that the future wasn't as bright for her as they believed.
As they finished dessert, Alina looked around the table and forced herself to smile. She wasn't going to ruin this moment. She'd keep up the charade a little longer. After all, they deserved to enjoy the evening, to celebrate her success.
When the night came to a close, and they headed home, Alina lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The knot in her stomach tightened. This was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one filled with college plans, dreams, and endless possibilities. But for her, the pages were rapidly running out, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
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The next day, Alina and her best friend, Holly, met up at the mall. It was their favorite place to go when they needed a distraction, and today was no different. The summer sales had just started, and the mall was bustling with people hunting for the best deals. Alina found herself walking through the aisles with Holly, who had already picked up a couple of shirts and a pair of sandals."This summer's gonna be so great," Holly said with a grin as she held up a bright sundress. "We're free! No more homework, no more teachers—just us and the world."
Alina smiled, nodding as she thumbed through a rack of graphic tees. "Yeah, I can't wait," she said softly. But there was a hollowness in her words, one that Holly didn't seem to notice.Holly threw her arm over Alina's shoulder. "We're gonna make this the best summer ever. Beach trips, late-night bonfires, parties—we're doing it all, okay? None of this boring, stay-at-home stuff. This is the summer we'll never forget."
"Yeah," Alina agreed, though a lump was forming in her throat. "It's gonna be unforgettable."They spent the rest of the afternoon trying on clothes, joking around, and talking about their plans for the months ahead. Holly rambled on about how they had to hit the road and drive to the coast, or how they should throw a huge party to celebrate their newfound freedom. But all the while, Alina's mind drifted to the ticking clock that no one else seemed to hear but her.By the time they were done shopping, both girls had bags full of new clothes for their summer adventures. Holly dropped Alina off at her house, honking the horn as she drove away with a promise to text her later.
Alina stood on the front porch, watching Holly's car disappear down the street. The weight of the day finally pressed down on her shoulders, and she leaned against the doorframe, staring up at the sky. The sun was setting, casting the world in a soft golden light. It should have filled her with hope, but instead, it made her feel smaller, more fragile.
She walked inside and set her bags down on the floor of her bedroom. As she collapsed onto her bed, her thoughts turned dark. She only had a few months, maybe even weeks, left to live. The doctors had given her the news a month ago—cancer, stage four, too late for any treatment that could save her. They had told her to make the most of the time she had left, to surround herself with family and friends, to live her life as best she could. But how could she do that? How could she pretend everything was fine when her days were numbered?
Alina closed her eyes, letting out a long, shaky breath. She should tell Holly. She owed her best friend that much, didn't she? But the thought of seeing the hurt in Holly's eyes, of watching her break down—Alina wasn't sure she could handle that. Holly had always been the strong one, the one who lifted her up when things got hard. Alina didn't want to be the one to tear her down.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She reached over and grabbed it from her nightstand, seeing Holly's name flash on the screen.
"Hey!" Holly's voice was bright and cheerful when Alina answered the call. "Just wanted to check in. What do you think about hitting the beach next weekend? We could rent a cabin for a couple of nights, get away from everything."
"That sounds amazing," Alina said, her voice betraying none of the turmoil inside her. She wanted that more than anything—to escape, to pretend everything was okay, even if just for a little while. "Let's do it."
"I knew you'd be down," Holly said with a laugh. "This is gonna be our dream summer, Alina. Just you wait. We'll be making memories we'll talk about forever."
Alina forced a smile, even though Holly couldn't see it. "Yeah," she whispered. "Forever."They chatted for a while longer about their plans—what to pack, what music they'd listen to, who else might come along. But eventually, Holly had to hang up, promising to text her later about the details.
As Alina lay there, staring at the ceiling once again, she felt a tear slip down her cheek. Her dream summer was going to be a lie. There would be no forever for her, no endless memories to reminisce about. But for now, she would let Holly believe in their perfect summer. Maybe, just maybe, she could believe in it too, even if it was only for a little while longer.
YOU ARE READING
My Last Summer
Teen Fiction"What begins but has no end, and ends all that begins?" A riddle that once stumped me but now I wish I never knew the answer. **************************************************************************************** Alina Doe, a cute, short and curvy...
