Sickness AU [COMPLETED]

♡chapter thirteen♡

•Riley•
I felt tears come to my eyes.
"Riley, the cancer has gotten worse. We are diagnosing you again with acute myeloid leukemia-"
"That's not right, I have chronic."
"You did. Since your last check up a little over a year ago, that one cancer cell has split and intensified. You have come back positive for acute myeloid leukemia."

I begin to sob covering my face with my hands. I remember hearing about acute myeloid leukemia. It was the type that killed you faster, the kind nobody ever wanted.
"I'm sorry." The nurse whispered, touching my cheek then leaving the room.

My hospital room was dark except for the glow of the computer and the clock that read 12:19am. My eyes were swollen and puffy from crying and my fingers shook.
I just wanted to go home, I wanted Maya to hold me again. I wanted to feel her warmth around me and her voice in my ears. This scratchy hospital bed did nothing but make me more scared than I was. I felt trapped and helpless.

I closed my eyes again and cried silently, later falling asleep.
~ *1 day later*
They had sent me home after a depressing night inside the cancer centers walls. And Maya was waiting for me on the bay window when I walked in.
I smiled weakly and sat next to her, explaining my condition.

I saw her face fall, and her skin loose color.
"What?" Her voice cracked.
I pinched my eyes together, tears falling.
"It's not getting better. I'm getting worse and worse as time goes on."
Maya gulped hard.
"You're not. Because you're Riley Matthews, the strongest person I know. And I'm your girlfriend and your best friend Maya Hart, and I'm supposed to be here for you when you can't be there for yourself, well I'm here."

"How? How am I supposed to be strong when I'm walking the line between life and death?"
"I don't know. But reach down deep inside you and you'll find out how to be. I promise." Maya said, her big blue eyes filling with hope for me.

My heart went warm and I felt love. I stared into her eyes, wishing I could spend the rest of my life looking into them. I opened my arms and Maya ducked her head into my shoulder. I could feel her nose rub against my neck and I weakly smiled.

I ran my hands up and down her back as her fists grasped my shirt. I felt a wetness on my skin and knew it was from Maya. I pet her hair kissing it, rocking her slowly.
"It's okay." I shushed, trying not to cry myself.
Why would I lie to her? But it wasn't a lie if she already knew that was a lie.
"It's not, Riley I can't live without you. I need you. If you go, I go."
"No, no, no. Listen to me, look at me Maya." I grabbed her by her shoulders making her look me in the eye.

"Don't ever say that. You. Are. Strong. Hear me? Strong. And strong people live on, if I go and I loose my battle. Cry, but then dry your tears because I am still here, I will always be here." I said sternly.
I kissed her tears then pecked her lips.
I cupped her cheeks then whispered. "It's gonna be okay." And kissed her again.
~
My mom and Lucas's mom hugged and stood by moms car talking away.

Lucas was in the back yard playing with his sister. Maya and I stood on the back porch laughing at them playing together. Claire did a cartwheel, falling on her stomach at the end.
She looked at us and grinned.
"MAYA AND RILEY!" She yelled, running as fast as her little legs could carry her.

When she reached us Maya and I both picked her up, her inbeteeen us giggling away.
Lucas stood up dusting off his jeans, walking twords us.

He hugged us both, and pulled back when he hugged me too tight and I winced because of the bruises.

"What's all these bruises?" Lucas asked running his thumb softly over them.
I looked into his eyes, waiting for him to look back into mine.
His eyebrows fell. "What happened?"
I took his hand and licked my bottom lip.