MY SHAYLA
It had started like any other evening. Kris and Celina had come over to Sam and Colby's apartment for a casual hangout. Sam was lounging on the couch, looking pale but smiling through it. Kris had been the first to notice something was off.
"Sam, you've barely eaten," Kris said softly.
"I'm fine," Sam replied with a wave of his hand, his usual charm trying to mask the strain in his voice.
But Colby had been watching him closely all night. He'd seen the way Sam's hand trembled when he lifted his water glass, the way his breaths were shallow, and how his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Sam, sit down," Colby urged when Sam got up to grab something from the kitchen.
"I'm-" Sam's voice cut off as his knees buckled. He clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain, and collapsed.
"Sam!" Colby screamed, catching him just in time.
The next few hours passed in a blur. Paramedics, hospital corridors, the sterile scent of antiseptics. Colby never let go of Sam's hand.
When the doctor finally pulled him aside, the words hit Colby like a physical blow.
"Stage four lung cancer. It's aggressive. He has weeks, maybe a month at most."
Colby stumbled back into the hallway, his breath coming in gasps. He pulled out his phone with shaking hands and called Jake.
"Colby? What's going on?" Jake's voice was laced with concern.
"It's Sam," Colby sobbed. "He's... he's dying, Jake. Cancer. How... how am I supposed to do this? I can't-I can't live without him. He's my everything. He's my whole world."
"Colby, breathe," Jake said, his own voice cracking. "We'll get through this. You're not alone, okay? I'm coming right now."
---
The hospital room became a second home for their close-knit group. They refused to let Sam feel like a patient; instead, they filled the space with laughter and love.
One afternoon, Jake and Tara brought in a deck of cards and challenged Sam to a game of poker.
"You're terrible at this, Jake," Sam teased, his voice raspy but full of warmth.
"Not as bad as you," Jake retorted, grinning.
"I'm literally winning," Sam pointed out, holding up his hand of cards.
"Only because we're letting you," Tara joked, winking.
Another day, Kris and Celina brought in art supplies, determined to brighten the sterile room.
"Sam, paint something with us," Kris insisted, setting up a canvas.
"I don't think finger-painting counts as art," Sam said with a chuckle.
"Yours might not, but mine will," Kris shot back, sticking out her tongue.
Even Colby couldn't help but laugh as Sam attempted to draw a smiley face that ended up looking more like a blob.
Despite their efforts, there were quiet moments too. Late at night, when everyone else had gone home, Colby would sit beside Sam, holding his hand tightly.
"I'm scared, Colby," Sam admitted one night, his voice trembling.
Colby leaned closer, pressing a kiss to Sam's forehead. "You don't have to be. I'm here. Always."
"I don't want to spend my last days like this," Sam whispered. "Stuck in a bed, hooked up to machines. I want to be home. With you. With everyone."
Colby's throat tightened, but he nodded. "We'll make it happen."
---
Sam's apartment became a sanctuary, filled with the laughter and love of his friends.
One evening, they all gathered for a movie night. Sam was curled up on the couch, his head resting on Colby's shoulder. Colby's arms were wrapped tightly around him, one hand running gently through his hair, the other drawing lazy circles on his back beneath his shirt.
"Look at these two," Jake teased, smirking. "Solby in full effect."
"You jealous?" Colby shot back with a grin.
"Definitely," Jake replied, earning a round of laughter.
Tara leaned over and nudged Sam. "Bet you fall asleep before the movie's halfway over."
"No way," Sam said, his voice muffled against Colby's chest. "I'm staying awake."
Not five minutes later, his soft snores filled the room. Everyone laughed quietly, their smiles bittersweet as they looked at him snuggled into Colby.
---
Another day, they set up a board game marathon. Sam, despite his frailty, insisted on being part of it.
"You're all going down," he declared, his competitive spirit still intact.
"You're literally losing, Sam," Kris pointed out with a smirk.
"Details," Sam said, waving her off dramatically, earning a round of laughter.
---
When Sam woke up one morning, he knew. He felt it in his bones, a quiet acceptance settling over him. But he didn't tell anyone. He didn't want tears or goodbyes; he wanted one last day filled with love and laughter.
That evening, everyone showed up as usual, armed with games and snacks. They joked, played, and laughed like they always did, though a quiet heaviness lingered in the air.
As the night wore on, Sam looked at Colby. "I want to go exploring," he said softly.
Colby's heart clenched, but he nodded. "Let's do it."
With Colby's help, they made their way to a nearby field. The stars above sparkled brilliantly, and the group spread out on the grass, their laughter quieter now, more reverent.
"Thank you," Sam said, his voice filled with gratitude. "For everything. For being here."
They all looked at him, tears glistening in their eyes but smiles on their faces.
As the night stretched on, they talked about old adventures, shared secrets, and laughed softly under the blanket of stars. Sam lay on Colby's chest, Colby's arm wrapped protectively around him, his fingers gently brushing through Sam's hair and tracing circles on his back.
Sam paused, his voice barely audible as he looked up at Colby, his eyes filled with both love and sadness. "Promise me, Colby... promise me you'll be okay. You'll keep living. You'll find happiness, even if I'm not there."
Colby swallowed, choking on the weight of the promise. "I don't want to," he whispered, his tears falling freely now. "I don't know how I can without you."
"You'll find a way," Sam said softly, his voice full of an unspoken strength. "You're stronger than you think."
And then, as the air grew colder and the night stretched into the early hours, Sam went still. He relaxed into Colby's chest, his breath slowing until it stopped entirely.
Colby held him tighter, pressing his lips to Sam's forehead. He could feel his heart breaking, but there was a strange peace in the way Sam had gone-no more pain, no more struggle. He looked down at Sam's face, so peaceful now, and whispered, "Thank you. For everything."
It wasn't until Celina spoke, her voice trembling, that Colby lifted his gaze to the sky.
"Look," she said softly, pointing up at the stars. "There's one... it's brighter than all the others."
For a brief moment, Colby felt the weight of Sam's presence around him-the way that star seemed to shine just for them, as though Sam was still there, watching over him.
That was when Colby broke, the floodgates opening as he clutched Sam to him. His sobs filled the night air, but there was also a quiet peace, a knowing that Sam was no longer in pain. He had left this world in the arms of the person who loved him most.
As the rest of their friends gathered around them, they all looked up, silently agreeing. The star was Sam. And he would never, ever be forgotten.
