Just The Girl

Chapter 27

D A H L I A

I made a mental note to stay strong, to carry on like the world hadn't been relentlessly cruel to me. It's funny how I used to think I had time to figure it all out, to fix things. Now, every breath feels borrowed, every day a question mark. But I owe it to my friends to be honest, to let them in on what's happening. They deserve that much from me, especially after all they've done. They've been by my side, loving me even when I didn't know how to love myself.

Still, the thought of telling them made my stomach churn. How do you casually drop a bomb like that? How do you look people you love in the eyes and say, "Hey, I'm dying, and there's nothing you or I can do about it"?

So, I texted all of them if they wanted to go on an overnight camping tomorrow, just a little escape from the world, a little adventure together. All of them agreed, two which I wasn't expecting at all. I wasn't expecting Ivan to be free, but for some reason, he told me he didn't have class when usually medical schools would always have lectures on Saturdays.

Whether Ivan was lying or not, whether I would bug the truth out from him, I knew I wasn't going to have a trip around to change his mind.

At least I'll get to tell them all at once, that's a relief.

Tomorrow came, we all decided to meet up at my house. Ivan was driving all of us to the camp. Our camping gears up and ready, organized behind his truck.

The drive up to the campsite felt endless, but when we finally arrived, the sight of the place made the long, winding road seem worth it. The trees stretched tall and proud around us, their leaves dancing in the late afternoon breeze. The air was cleaner here, fresher, filled with the earthy scent of pine and moss. It was like we'd stepped into a postcard—lush green everywhere, and not a single sign of civilization in sight.

Ivan pulled the car into a clearing, killing the engine as we all sat there for a moment, just taking it in. "We made it," he said, turning to me with that easy smile he always wore, his eyes bright with excitement.

I glanced back at the others. Feather was practically bouncing in her seat, eyes wide with wonder. "This place is perfect!" she exclaimed, throwing full of energy as always. Marvin, next to her, nodded in silent agreement, his usual laid-back demeanor unchanged, but I could see the slight smile tugging at his lips. Ilyon, who had been quiet the whole ride, was already reaching for his sketchbook, eyes darting around as if trying to capture the scenery in his mind before he could put it on paper.

"Alright, let's set up," Ivan said, stepping out of the car and stretching his arms toward the sky. I followed, feeling the slight crunch of gravel beneath my boots as I stepped onto the ground. The breeze hit me first, cool and refreshing after the stuffy car ride. It was peaceful here—so peaceful that it felt like the world had paused for a moment, giving us time to breathe.

The clearing wasn't too big, just enough space for two tents and a fire pit. Beyond the clearing, the trees thickened, promising trails and streams we'd probably explore later. I could hear birds chirping somewhere in the distance, and the soft rustle of the wind through the leaves made everything feel alive, like the forest itself was welcoming us in.

We started unpacking the car, Feather grabbing the tents with enthusiasm, practically skipping as she dragged them toward the middle of the clearing. "This is going to be so much fun," she said, flashing a grin at Ilyon, who was more measured in his movements, carrying the cooler filled with snacks and drinks.

I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, heading toward the spot Ivan had picked for our tent. "This looks like a good place," I said, glancing at him as he knelt, smoothing out the area with his hands.