Just The Girl

Chapter 28

D A H L I A

"Congratulations, guys," I said, a wide smile plastered on my face as I looked at each of my friends crowded in my hospital room—everyone except Ivan, who was stuck attending his lectures. They all wore their togas and caps, excitement buzzing in the air. In less than two hours, they would be walking across the stage, officially graduates. I felt a bittersweet pang in my chest.

"I wish you could celebrate the ceremony with us," Feather said, her smile faltering slightly. Her eyes glistened, as if she was trying to hold back tears.

I gave her a sad smile in return and slowly reached out to grab her hand. "I wish so too," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. "But I can't move anymore. I'm semi-paralyzed, so standing up would be hard for me to do. I'm really sorry."

9 months and a half. That's how long I had been here, confined to this hospital bed. 9 months and a half of watching life pass me by, unable to participate, just a spectator of my own existence. The disease had taken so much from me, but the worst part was how it crept up, slowly stealing pieces of me bit by bit.

At first, it was the little things—forgetting what day it was or where I'd left something. Small details. But as time passed, the lapses became more frequent, more significant. I feared the day I would forget the faces of the people I loved most.

Two months ago, the worst happened. I'd felt a searing pain shoot through my lower back, and before I could even cry out, I collapsed. When I woke up the next day, I couldn't feel anything from the waist down. The paralysis had set in, another cruel symptom of the disease progressing. I was trapped in my own body, immobile and powerless.

Feather squeezed my hand tighter, as if she could feel my thoughts drifting to darker places. "No, Dahlia. It's alright," she said, her voice filled with forced cheer. "We'll come back right after the ceremony. Just wait for us, okay?"

"Yeah, we'll be back," Ilyon chimed in, offering me a soft smile. "We can celebrate here together if you want."

I nodded, trying to match their optimism. "I'd love that," I said, though my heart ached at the thought of not being there with them in person.

My eyes drifted to the clock on the wall. "Oh dear, it's almost 2 PM. You guys should go, or you'll be late."

Marvin leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the side of my head. "We'll go on ahead, but we'll see you later, okay?"

I waved as they left the room, and once the door closed behind them, the silence descended, heavy and suffocating. The emptiness of the room suddenly felt unbearable. I stared at the walls, the stillness pressing in on me, making my chest tighten. I missed them already, and the realization hit me like a wave—I missed life. I missed being out there, laughing with my friends, walking freely, living without the constant shadow of illness looming over me.

A sigh escaped my lips as I shook off the gloom, patting my chest gently as if to reassure myself. "You're okay," I whispered. "You're going to be okay."

I reached for the book on my bedside table, An Offer from a Gentleman, part of the Bridgerton series I'd been working my way through since I was admitted. The pages felt familiar, a small comfort in the chaos of my thoughts.

But just as I began to read, the door slid open, and I looked up to see Ivan standing there in his usual white medical school uniform. His presence was a welcome surprise, especially since I thought he was still in class.

"Ivan," I said, raising an eyebrow. "What's in the bag?" I pointed to the large paper bag he was carrying.

He walked over to the chair beside my bed, setting the bag down gently before meeting my eyes. "Your toga and cap," he said with a grin.