Flying to Neverland

Chapter 22: Staying true...yet so so scared

Lily's POV:

        "Say wha?" I asked. He looked down.

        "That wasn't exactly the reaction I was hoping for." He said. I frowned.

        "That wasn't exactly the question I was expecting." I said. He sighed.

        "Look, I was stupid to break up with you." He said. I sighed.

        "Yeah, but it's over now Casey. I love someone else. And it won't work out if you can't deal with other people hating you because they don't like me." I said. He looked hurt, and since my emotions were on override these days, I sighed frustratedly.

        "Look, I gotta go. But...I hope you find a girl you're willing to stand up for." I said. I texted Trace to come pick me up.

We sat in silence for a few minutes when his car came. I got up and slowly walked to Trace's car, trying to open the door. 

I felt so weak. A few tears escaped.

Do you know how embarassing it is to have your brother pick you up from awkward situations? Very. Plus the fact that I can barely open a car door by myself.

We sat in silence and I tried hard not to freaking scream. I tried not to cry either.

Trace kept glancing sideways at me. I leaned my face against the window, wishing I could like, just sleep for a while.

He pulled into a strange but familiar parking lot, and opened the door.

        "Where are we?" I asked. He gave me a small smile.

        "Oh, think back to about 8 years ago when we had a treehouse we loved so much." He said. I gasped.

        "No! It's still there!?!?" I asked. He smiled.

        "Yeah, I was driving around the other day and I decided to stop by here and it still happened to be here." He said. I smiled wide and held out my arms for him to pick me up. I could've sworn I saw his smile falter, but it was probably just the lighting.

***

We sat inside our treehouse on the floor like we used to, and I felt myself getting the same feeling as I had with Casey earlier.

        "Trace, when I was talking to Casey and I had to describe what was wrong with me....it reminded me of Ash. And I looked him up on the internet, it showed pictures of him in a wheelchair. And well...I've looked into it and his mom said that he never healed right...oh God Trace I'm so scared!!" I said, putting my face in my hands. 

        "I'm so freaking scared...I don't want to die again Trace, I left you once and I don't think I could do it again...." I said, feeling tears come. I looked at him to find him trying very hard to stay strong. He looked like I felt.

        "I-I'm scared too Lily. But you didn't throw yourself into a house building project. He worked himself too hard. If you take it easy, you could be fine." He said.

I shook my head, putting my hand on his knee.

        "I honestly don't think I'm going to make it Trace....I feel myself getting weaker everyday... and I'm seeing dad in my dreams." I said. His eyes were wide, full of tears and scared as they stared into mine. I crawled over and sat in front of him, uncrossing his legs and pulling me closer to him, wrapping me in a tight hug.

We always came here as kids, playing games, just hanging out, this place still felt just as magical as it had when we were little.

        "You're not dying Lily. Things always get worse before they get better. I'm keeping you with me no matter what." He said, squeezing me tight. 

        "Trace, squeezing me a bit too tight here." I wheezed. He loosened up a little.

        "Sorry." He said. 

        "Trace, I really don't think I'm going to make it. And...you gotta be strong along with me. I can't do this alone. And...I have something to tell you. But you can't tell anyone else." I said. He looked into my eyes.

        "What?" He asked. I took a deep breath.

I decided that I'd tell him about Neverland. If anyone deserved to know, it was him.

After I finished telling him, he looked at me. Just looked at me, didn't say anything.

        "What?" I asked. He shook his head.

        "You gave up what you've always wanted for me." He said.

        "You never left my bedside, you even skipped out on mom buying you all the videogames you've wanted as a bribe. I had to do something." I said. He squeezed me tight again, but I didn't complain.

        "If you do die again..." His voice broke. 

        "A-At least you have some place happy to go to. I couldn't ask for more." He said. I nodded.

God, how on earth was I going to get through this?